Dual PanelOn the road to Jerusalem
1WHEN Jesus had finished this discourse he left Galilee and came into the region of Judaea on the other side of the Jordan.
2Great crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause he pleases?”
4He responded by asking, “Have you never read that in the beginning the Creator made them male and female?”
5and he added, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is united to his wife, and the two become one flesh.
6It follows that they are no longer two individuals: they are one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.”
7“Then why”, they objected, “did Moses lay it down that a man might divorce his wife by a certificate of dismissal?”
8He answered, “It was because of your stubbornness that Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives; but it was not like that at the beginning.
9I tell you, if a man divorces his wife for any cause other than unchastity, and marries another, he commits adultery.”
10The disciples said to him, “If that is how things stand for a man with a wife, it is better not to marry.”
11To this he replied, “That is a course not everyone can accept, but only those for whom God has appointed it.
12For while some are incapable of marriage because they were born so, or were made so by men, there are others who have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. Let those accept who can.”
13They brought children for him to lay his hands on them with prayer. The disciples rebuked them,
14but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me; do not try to stop them; for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”
15And he laid his hands on the children, and went on his way.
16A man came up and asked him, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
17“Good?” said Jesus. “Why do you ask me about that? One alone is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18“Which commandments?” he asked. Jesus answered, “Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not give false evidence;
19honour your father and mother; and love your neighbour as yourself.”
20The young man answered, “I have kept all these. What do I still lack?”
21Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.”
22When the young man heard this, he went away with a heavy heart; for he was a man of great wealth.
23Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you: a rich man will find it hard to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
24I repeat, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25The disciples were astonished when they heard this, and exclaimed, “Then who can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible; but everything is possible for God.”
27Then Peter said, “What about us? We have left everything to follow you. How shall we fare?”
28Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you: in the world that is to be, when the Son of Man is seated on his glorious throne, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29And anyone who has left houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or land for the sake of my name will be repaid many times over, and gain eternal life.
30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.