Matthew 19:1-15 ▼

1 And it came to pass that, when Jesus finished these words, He departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judaea, beyond the Jordan.

2 And large multitudes followed Him; and He healed them there.

3 And the Pharisees came to Him, tempting Him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause"

4 And He, answering, said, "Did you not read that He Who made them from the beginning made them 'male and female,'

5 and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh?"

6 so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. What, therefore, God joined together, let not man put asunder."

7 They say to Him, "Why, then, did Moses command to give her a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?"

8 He saith to them, "Moses, in view of the hardness of your heart, permitted you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it has not been so.

9 And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery."

10 The disciples say to Him, "If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry."

11 But He said to them, "Not all can receive this saying, but those to whom it has been given;

12 for there are eunuchs who were so born from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it."

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

14 But Jesus said, "Permit the little children—and do not forbid them—to come to Me; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

15 And, having laid His hands on them, He departed thence.