1   On leaving those parts he came into the regions of Judaea and Transjordan; and when a crowd gathered round him once again, he followed his usual practice and taught them. 2   The question was put to him: ^note ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ This was to test him. 3   He asked in return, ‘What did Moses command you?’ 4   They answered, ‘Moses permitted a man to divorce his wife by note of dismissal.’ 5   Jesus said to them, ‘It was because your minds were closed that he made this rule for you; 6   but in the beginning, at the creation, God made them male and female. 7   For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be made one with his wife; ^note and the two shall become one flesh. 8   It follows that they are no longer two individuals: they are one flesh. 9   What God has joined together, man must not separate.’

10   When they were indoors again the disciples questioned him about this matter; 11   he said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her: 12   so too, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’

13   They brought children for him to touch. The disciples rebuked them, 14   but when Jesus saw this 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. 15   I tell you, whoever does

Growing tension not accept the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ 16   And he put his arms round them, laid his hands upon them, and blessed them.

17   As he was starting out on a journey, a stranger ran up, and, kneeling before him, asked, ‘Good Master, what must I do to win eternal life?’ 18   Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19   You 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, Master,’ he replied, ‘I have kept all these since I was a boy.’ 21   Jesus looked straight at him; his heart warmed to him, and he said, ‘One thing you lack: go, sell everything you have, and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, follow me.’ 22   At these words his face fell and he went away with a heavy heart; for he was a man of great wealth.

23   Jesus looked round at his disciples and said to them, ‘How hard it will be for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!’ 24   They were amazed that he should say this, but Jesus insisted, ‘Children, how hard it is ^note to enter the kingdom of God! 25   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.’ 26   They were more astonished than ever, and said to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’ 27   Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For men it is impossible, but not for God; everything is possible for God.’

28   At this Peter spoke. ‘We here’, he said, ‘have left everything to become your followers.’ 29   Jesus said, ‘I tell you this: there is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother, father or children, 30   or land, for my sake and for the Gospel, who 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. 31   But many who are first will be last and the last first.’

Challenge to Jerusalem

32   They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, Jesus leading the way; and the disciples were filled with awe, while those who followed behind were afraid. He took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was to happen to him. 33   ‘We are now going to Jerusalem,’ he said; ‘and the Son of Man will be given up to the chief priests and the doctors of the law; they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the foreign power. 34   He will be mocked and spat upon, flogged and killed; and three days afterwards, he will rise again.’

35   James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, ‘Master, we should like you to do us a favour.’ 36   ‘What is it you want me to do?’ he asked. 37   They answered, ‘Grant us the right to sit in state with you, one at your right and the other at your left.’ 38   Jesus 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; 40   but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant; it is for those to whom it has already been assigned.’ ^note

41   When the other ten heard this, they were indignant with James and John. 42   Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that in the world the recognized rulers lord it over their subjects, and their great men make them feel the weight of authority. 43   That is not the way with you; among you, whoever wants to be great must be your servant, 44   and whoever wants to be first must be the willing slave of all. 45   For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom for many.’

46   They came to Jericho; and as he was leaving the town, with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was seated at the roadside. 47   Hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me!’ 48   Many of the people told him to hold his tongue; but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ 49   Jesus stopped and

Challenge to Jerusalem said, ‘Call him’; so they called the blind man and said, ‘Take heart; stand up; he is calling you.’ 50   At that he threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 51   Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Master,’ the blind man answered, ‘I want my sight back.’ 52   Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has cured you.’ And at once he recovered his sight and followed him on the road.

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