Matthew 19:1-15 ▼

1 When Jesus had finished these discourses, he departed from Galilee, and came into the confines of Judea, on the other side Jordan:

2 where multitudes of people followed him, and he healed their sick.

3 The Pharisees likewise came to him, and maliciously propos'd this question, may a man lawfully put away his wife at discretion?

4 and he answered them, have ye not read, that when the creator, at the beginning, made male and female,

5 he said, "for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and be attach'd to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?"

6 so that they are not now two, but one, what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 why then, said they, did Moses permit to give a writ of divorce to repudiate the wife?

8 he answer'd them, 'twas because of your perverse temper that Moses suffered you to repudiate your wives: but from the beginning this was not in practice.

9 and I tell you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except it be for adultery, and shall marry another, he committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her that is put away, causeth her to commit adultery.

10 thereupon his disciples said, if the case between man and wife be such, it is best not to marry.

11 but he reply'd, 'tis not everyman can live single, but only such as have the gift of continency.

12 as there are some eunuchs, who were such from their very birth: and others who were made such by men: so there are some who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of religion, he that can bear the state of celibacy, let him bear it.

13 Then they brought children to him in order to have his blessing: and the disciples rebuked them.

14 but Jesus said, let the children alone, and don't hinder them from coming to me: for of such does the gospel-kingdom consist.

15 and he laid his hands upon them, and departed thence.