New Living Translation

New King James Version

Discussion about Divorce and Marriage

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River.

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Marriage and Divorce

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

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Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.

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And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

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Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

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The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

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“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’a”

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And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who [a]made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’

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And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’b

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and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

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Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

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So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

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“Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?”c they asked.

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They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”

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Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.

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He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

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And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery — unless his wife has been unfaithful.d”

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And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for [b]sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

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Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”

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His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

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“Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps.

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Jesus Teaches on Celibacy

But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:

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Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marrye for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”

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For there are [c]eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

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Jesus Blesses the Children

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

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Jesus Blesses Little Children

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.

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But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

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But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

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And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

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And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

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The Rich Man

Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher,f what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

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Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[d] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

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“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question — if you want to receive eternal life, keepg the commandments.”

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So He said to him, [e]“Why do you call Me good? [f]No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

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“Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely.

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He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’

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Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’h”

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‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

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“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”

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The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept [g]from my youth. What do I still lack?”

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Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

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Jesus said to him, “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.”

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But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

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But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

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Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

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With God All Things Are Possible

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

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I’ll say it again — it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

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And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

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The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

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When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

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Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

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But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

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Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”

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Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

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Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made newi and the Son of Manj sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

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So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

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And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.

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And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother [h]or wife or children or [i]lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

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But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.k

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But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

Matthew 19

Matthew 19