| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. | 1When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. |
| 2Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick. | 2Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. |
| 3Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” | 3Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” |
| 4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ ” | 4Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ |
| 5And 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.’ | 5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? |
| 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” | 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” |
| 7“Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked. | 7“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” |
| 8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. | 8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart; but it was not this way from the beginning. |
| 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful. ” | 9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.” |
| 10Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!” | 10His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.” |
| 11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. | 11“Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given. |
| 12 Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” Jesus Blesses the Children | 12For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” |
| 13One 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. | 13Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. |
| 14But 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.” | 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” |
| 15And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. The Rich Man | 15And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there. |
| 16Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” | 16Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” |
| 17 “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, keep the commandments.” | 17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” |
| 18“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. | 18“Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, |
| 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” | 19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” |
| 20“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” | 20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?” |
| 21Jesus 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.” | 21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” |
| 22But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. | 22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. |
| 23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. | 23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. |
| 24 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!” | 24Again I tell you, 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.” |
| 25The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. | 25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” |
| 26Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” | 26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” |
| 27Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” | 27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?” |
| 28Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. | 28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. |
| 29 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. | 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. |
| 30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. | 30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. |
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