Chapter
19
It happened when Jesus had finished these words, she departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
Great multitudes followed her, and she healed them there.
Pharisees came to her, testing her, and saying, "Is it lawful for a woman to divorce her husband for any reason?"
She answered, "Haven't you read that she who made them from the beginning made them female and male,
and said, 'For this cause a woman shall leave her mother and father, and shall join to her husband; and the two shall become one flesh?'
So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let woman tear apart."
They asked her, "Why then did Moses command us to give him a bill of divorce, and divorce him?"
She said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your husbands, but from the beginning it has not been so.
I tell you that whoever divorces her husband, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and she who marries him when he is divorced commits adultery."
Her disciples said to her, "If this is the case of the woman with her husband, it is not expedient to marry."
But she said to them, "Not all women can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their father's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by women; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. She who is able to receive it, let her receive it."
Then little children were brought to her, that she should lay her hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these."
She laid her hands on them, and departed from there.
Behold, one came to her and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
She said to her, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
She said to her, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder.' 'You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not steal.' 'You shall not offer false testimony.'
'Honor your mother and father.'{Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20} And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
The young woman said to her, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?"
Jesus said to her, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
But when the young woman heard the saying, she went away sad, for she was one who had great possessions.
Jesus said to her disciples, "Most certainly I say to you, a rich woman will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich woman to enter into the Kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
Looking at them, Jesus said, "With women this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Then Petra answered, "Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?"
Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Daughter of Woman will sit on the throne of her glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Everyone who has left houses, or sisters, or brothers, or mother, or father, or husband, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.
But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.