1   When Jesus had finished this discourse he left Galilee and came into the region of Judaea across Jordan. 2   Great crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3   Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any and every ground?’ ^note 4   He asked in return, ‘Have you never read that the Creator made them from the

Jesus and his disciples beginning male and female?’; 5   and he added, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be made one with his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. 6   It follows that they are no longer two individuals: they are one flesh. What God has joined together, man must not separate.’ 7   ‘Why then,’ they objected, ‘did Moses lay it down that a man might divorce his wife by note of dismissal?’ 8   He answered, ‘It was because your minds were closed that Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives; but it was not like that when all began. 9   I tell you, if a man divorces his wife for any cause other than unchastity, and marries another, he commits adultery.’ ^note

10   The disciples said to him, ‘If that is the position with husband and wife, it is better not to marry.’ 11   To this he replied, ‘That is something which not everyone can accept, but only those for whom God has appointed it. 12   For while some are incapable of marriage because they were born so, or were made so by men, there are others who have themselves renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. Let those accept it who can.’

13   They brought children for him to lay his hands on them with prayer. 14   The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not try to stop them; for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.’ 15   And he laid his hands on the children, and went his way.

16   And now a man came up and asked him, ‘Master, what good must I do to gain eternal life?’ ‘Good?’ said Jesus. 17   ‘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; 19   do not give false evidence; honour your father and mother; and love your neighbour as yourself.’ 20   The young man answered, ‘I have kept all these. 21   Where do I still fall short?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to go the whole way, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and then you will have riches in heaven; and come, follow me.’ 22   When the young man heard this, he went away with a heavy heart; for he was a man of great wealth.

23   Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you this: a rich man will find it hard to enter the kingdom of Heaven. 24   I repeat, it is easier for

Jesus and his disciples a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ 25   The disciples were amazed to hear this. 26   ‘Then who can be saved?’ they asked. Jesus looked at them, and said, ‘For men this is impossible; but everything is possible for God.’

27   At this Peter said, ‘We here have left everything to become your followers. 28   What will there be for us?’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you this: in the world that is to be, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne in heavenly splendour, you my followers will have thrones of your own, where you will sit as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel. 29   And anyone who has left brothers or sisters, father, mother, or children, land or houses for the sake of my name will be repaid many times over, and gain eternal life. 30   But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

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