Matthew 19
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus ended these words, he removed from Galilee and came into the bounds of Judaea beyond the Jordan.
At the conclusion of this teaching, Jesus withdrew from Galilee, and went into that district of Judea which is on the other side of the Jordan.
2 And there followed him large multitudes, and he cured them there.
Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there.
3 And there came unto him Pharisees, testing him, and saying, —Whether is it allowed a man to divorce his wife, for every cause?
Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said: “Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?”
4 And, he, answering, said—Did ye never read—He who created at the beginning, Male and female, made them, —
“Have not you read,” replied Jesus, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’
5 and said—For this cause, will a man leave his father and his mother, and be united to his wife, —and, the two, will become, one flesh;
and said — ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife, and the man and his wife shall become one’?
6 So that, the longer, are they, two, but, one flesh, What, therefore, God, hath yoked together, Let not, a man, put asunder.
So that they are no longer two, but one. What God himself, then, has yoked together man must not separate.”
7 They say unto him—Why then did, Moses, command, to give a writing of repudiation and to divorce?
“Why, then,” they said, “did Moses direct that a man should ‘serve his wife with a notice of separation and divorce her’?”
8 He saith unto them—Moses, in view of your hardness of heart, permitted you to divorce your wives; From the beginning however, hath it not been done, thus.
“Moses, owing to the hardness of your hearts,” answered Jesus, “permitted you to divorce your wives, but that was not so at the beginning.
9 And I say unto you—Whosoever shall divorce his wife, saving for unfaithfulness, and shall marry another, committeth adultery.
But I tell you that any one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of her unchastity, and marries another woman, is guilty of adultery.”
10 The disciples say unto him—If, so, is the cause of the husband with the wife, it is not expedient to marry.
“If that,” said the disciples, “is the position of a man with regard to his wife, it is better not to marry.”
11 But, he, said unto them—Not all, find room for he word, save they to whom it hath been given;
“It is not every one,” replied Jesus, “who can accept this teaching, but only those who have been enabled to do so.
12 For there, are, eunuchs, who, from their mother’s womb, were born so, and there, are, eunuchs, who were made eunuchs, by men, —and there, are, eunuchs, who have made, themselves, eunuchs, for the sake the kingdom of the heavens: He that is able to find room, let him find room.
Some men, it is true, have from birth been disabled for marriage, while others have been disabled by their fellow men, and others again have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let him accept it who can.”
13 Then, were brought unto him children, —that he might lay his hands upon them, and pray. And, the disciples, rebuked them.
Then some little children were brought to Jesus, for him to place his hands on them, and pray; but the disciples found fault with those who had brought them.
14 But, Jesus, said—Suffer the children—and do not hinder them—to come unto me, —for, of such, is the kingdom of the heavens.
Jesus, however, said: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs.”
15 And, laying his hands upon them, he went his way from thence.
So he placed his hands on them, and then went on his way.
16 And lo! one coming near unto him, said, Teacher! what good thing shall I do, that I may have life age-abiding? (aiōnios g166)
And a man came up to Jesus, and said: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain Immortal Life?” (aiōnios g166)
17 And, he, said unto him—Why dost thou question me concerning that which is good? There is, One, that is good! But, if thou desirest, into life, to enter, be keeping the commandments.
“Why ask me about goodness?” answered Jesus. “There is but One who is good. If you want to enter the Life, keep the commandments.”
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus, said—These: Thou shalt not commit murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, —Thou shalt not bear false witness;
“What commandments?” asked the man. “These,” answered Jesus: — “‘Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not say what is false about others.
19 Honour thy father and thy mother, —and—Thou shalt love thy neighbour as, thyself.
Honour thy father and thy mother.’ And ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thou dost thyself.”
20 The young man saith unto him—These all, have I kept, —What, further, do I lack?
“I have observed all these,” said the young man. “What is still wanting in me?”
21 Jesus said unto him—If thou desirest to be perfect, Withdraw! sell thy substance, and give to the destitute, —and thou shalt have treasure in the heavens; and come! be following me.
“If you wish to be perfect,” answered Jesus, “go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; then come and follow me.”
22 And the young man, hearing, this word, went away sorrowing, —for he was holding large possessions.
On hearing these words, the young man went away distressed, for he had great possessions.
23 And, Jesus, said unto his disciples—Verily, I say unto you, A rich man, with difficulty, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
At this, Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you that a rich man will find it hard to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
24 Again I say unto you—Easier, is it for, a camel, through the eye of a needle, to enter, than a rich man—into the kingdom of God.
I say again, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”
25 And, hearing it, the disciples were being struck with the greatest astonishment, saying—Who then can be saved?
On hearing this, the disciples exclaimed in great astonishment: “Who then can possibly be saved?”
26 And, looking intently, Jesus said unto them—With men, this is, impossible, but, with God, all things are possible.
But Jesus looked at them, and said: “With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible.” Then Peter turned and said to Jesus:
27 Then, making answer, Peter said unto him—Lo! we, have left all, and followed thee, —What then shall there be, for us?
“But we — we left everything, and followed you; what, then, shall we have?”
28 And, Jesus, said unto them—Verily, I say unto you, As for you who followed me in the regeneration, When the Son of Man shall take his seat on his throne of glory, ye also, shall be seated upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“I tell you,” answered Jesus, “that at the New Creation, ‘when the Son of Man takes his seat on his throne of glory,’ you who followed me shall be seated upon twelve thrones, as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And, whosoever left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for sake of my name, manifold, shall receive, and life, age-abiding, shall inherit. (aiōnios g166)
Every one who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or land, on account of my Name, will receive many times as much, and will ‘gain Immortal Life.’ (aiōnios g166)
30 But many shall be—first-last, and last-first.
But many who are first now will then be last, and those who are last will be first.
