19:1 When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee and entered the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan.

19:2 A large crowd followed him, and he healed them there.

19:3 Then the Pharisees came to test him: “Is ‘No-Fault Divorce’ legal?”

19:4 “Haven’t you read,” replied Jesus, “that God made them male and female from the very beginning,

19:5 and that ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

19:6 So then, what God has joined together, people must not separate.”

19:7 “Then why did Moses command that she be given a certificate of divorce and released?” they asked.

19:8 “Moses permitted it because of your stubbornness,” Jesus answered.“ But it was not originally that way.

19:9 So it follows that if any man divorces his wife when she hasn’t been unfaithful, and he marries someone else, he is committing adultery.”

19:10 Then his disciples remarked, “If that’s how it is between a husband and wife, it would be better not to marry!”

19:11 “Not everyone can accept this,” Jesus replied.“ But only those to whom it has been given.

19:12 Some men were born eunuchs, others were castrated, and still others have chosen to be celibate for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. Those to whom this applies can accept it.”

19:13 Next some people brought their little ones to present to Jesus so he could pray for them, but the disciples rebuked them.

19:14 So Jesus said, “Leave them alone! Don’t forbid them to come to me, because the kingdom of the heavens is composed of such people.”

19:15 Then he blessed them and went on from there.

19:16 Suddenly someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good things must I do in order to have eternal life?”

19:17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “Only One is truly good. But if you want to enter into eternal life, hold tight to the commandments.”

19:18 “Which ones?” asked the young person. “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony,

19:19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself,” Jesus answered.

19:20 “I’ve kept all those since my youth,” the person replied. “What am I missing?”

19:21 “If you want to be complete,” replied Jesus, “go and sell all your possessions and give the proceeds to the destitute, and you will have treasure in the heavens. Then come and follow me.”

19:22 Now when the young person heard this, he went away dejected, because he was very wealthy.

19:23 So Jesus remarked to his disciples, “It is truly difficult for the rich to enter into the kingdom of the heavens!

19:24 I tell you, it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

19:25 This shocked the disciples, so they asked, “Then who can possibly be saved?”

19:26 Then Jesus looked at them and said, “This is impossible for people, but God can do anything!”

19:27 Then Peter spoke up: “See, we’ve given up everything to follow you. So what will happen to us?”

19:28 And Jesus answered, “I can assure you who have followed me, that when everything is made new again and the Human sits on his majestic throne, you Twelve will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

19:29 Everyone who has given up houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother, children, or land on my account, will be given back a hundred times as much, along with inheriting eternal life.

19:30 And the prominent will be least important, while the least important will be prominent.