Dual Panel1ON leaving there he came into the regions of Judaea and Transjordan. Once again crowds gathered round him, and he taught them as was his practice.
2He was asked: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” This question was put to test him.
3He responded by asking, “What did Moses command you?”
4They answered, “Moses permitted a man to divorce his wife by a certificate of dismissal.”
5Jesus said to them, “It was because of your stubbornness that he made this rule for you.
6But in the beginning, at the creation, ‘God made them male and female.’
7‘That is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is united to his wife,
8and the two become one flesh.’ It follows that they are no longer two individuals: they are one flesh.
9Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.”
10When they were indoors again, the disciples questioned him about this.
11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and remarries commits adultery against her;
12so too, if she divorces her husband and remarries, she commits adultery.”
13They brought children for him to touch. The disciples rebuked them,
14but when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not try to stop them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15Truly I tell you: whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
16And he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
17As he was starting out on a journey, a stranger ran up, and, kneeling before him, asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to win eternal life?”
18Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not give false evidence; do not defraud; honour your father and mother.’”
20“But Teacher,” he replied, “I have kept all these since I was a boy.”
21As Jesus looked at him, his heart warmed to him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.”
22At these words his face fell and he went away with a heavy heart; for he was a man of great wealth.
23Jesus looked round at his disciples and said to them, “How hard it will be for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”
24They were amazed that he should say this, but Jesus insisted, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26They were more astonished than ever, and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?”
27Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God; everything is possible for God.”
28“What about us?” said Peter. “We have left everything to follow you.”
29Jesus said, “Truly I tell you: there is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother, father or children, or land, for my sake and for the gospel,
30who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much -- houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and land -- and persecutions besides; and in the age to come eternal life.
31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
32THEY were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was leading the way; and the disciples were filled with awe, while those who followed behind were afraid. Once again he took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was to happen to him.
33“We are now going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles.
34He will be mocked and spat upon, and flogged and killed; and three days afterwards, he will rise again.”
35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we should like you to do us a favour.”
36“What is it you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37They answered, “Allow us to sit with you in your glory, one at your right hand and the other at your left.”
38Jesus said to them, “You do not understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39“We can,” they answered. Jesus said, “The cup that I drink you shall drink, and the baptism I am baptized with shall be your baptism;
40but to sit on my right or on my left is not for me to grant; that honour is for those to whom it has already been assigned.”
41When the other ten heard this, they were indignant with James and John.
42Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that among the Gentiles the recognized rulers lord it over their subjects, and the great make their authority felt.
43It shall not be so with you; among you, whoever wants to be great must be your servant,
44and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.
45For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
46They came to Jericho; and as he was leaving the town, with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was seated at the roadside.
47Hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me!”
48Many of the people told him to hold his tongue; but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”
49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him”; so they called the blind man: “Take heart,” they said. “Get up; he is calling you.”
50At that he threw off his cloak, jumped to his feet, and came to Jesus.
51Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabbi,” the blind man answered, “I want my sight back.”
52Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has healed you.” And at once he recovered his sight and followed him on the road.