Teaching on Marriage and Divorce
Study note
The Pharisees test Jesus with a question about divorce, appealing to Moses' permission. Jesus elevates the conversation from Mosaic concession to creation intent, pointing back to Genesis where God made male and female and declared that the two become one flesh. What God has joined together, no one should separate. In private, Jesus tells the disciples that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery. By appealing to the original design of creation rather than the legal accommodations for human hardness of heart, Jesus restores the dignity of marriage as a permanent covenant.
1 Jesus left Capernaum and traveled to the area of Judaea and across the Jordan River. Once again, crowds found him, and as was his habit, he taught them. And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judæa by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
2 Some Pharisees came up with a trick question: "Does the law allow a husband to divorce his wife?" And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
3 Jesus answered with his own question: "What did Moses tell you to do?" And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write divorce papers and send his wife away." And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
5 Jesus said, "Moses only wrote that rule because your hearts are so stubborn." And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6 "But that was never God's design. When God created the world, he made people male and female." But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7 "Therefore a man leaves his father and mother behind and bonds himself to his wife," For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8 "and the two of them become one. They are no longer two separate people -- they are united as one." And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
9 "So no human being should tear apart what God has joined together." What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
10 Back inside the house, his disciples brought the topic up again. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
11 He told them, "Any man who divorces his wife and marries someone else is cheating on his wife." And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
12 "And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she is cheating on him too." And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Jesus Blesses the Children
Study note
When parents bring children to Jesus and the disciples try to turn them away, Jesus is deeply displeased. His declaration that the kingdom of God belongs to 'such as these' and must be received like a little child overturns the cultural assumption that children were unimportant. A child cannot earn or achieve their way into God's favor; they can only receive it with open-handed trust and dependence. Jesus' physical embrace and blessing of the children dramatize God's tender welcome of the powerless.
13 People started bringing their little children to Jesus, hoping he would bless them with a touch. But the disciples scolded the parents and tried to send them away. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 When Jesus noticed, he was upset. He told his disciples, "Let the children come right up to me! Do not push them away. God's kingdom is made up of people just like them." But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 "I am telling you the truth. Anyone who does not receive God's kingdom with the simple trust of a child will never get in." Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 Then he scooped the children up in his arms, placed his hands on them, and blessed each one. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
The Rich Young Man
Study note
A wealthy man runs to Jesus and kneels, asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. After affirming the commandments, Jesus looks at him with love and identifies the one thing he lacks: the willingness to surrender his wealth, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. The man's grieving departure illustrates the tragic reality that even genuine religious devotion can coexist with an idol that one is unwilling to release. Jesus' love for the man makes the scene all the more poignant.
17 As Jesus was heading down the road, a man came sprinting up and dropped to his knees. He asked, "Good Teacher, what do I need to do to receive eternal life?" And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 Jesus responded, "Why are you calling me good? Only God is truly good." And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 "But you already know the commandments: Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not lie about others. Do not cheat anyone. Respect your father and mother." Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 The man said, "Teacher, I have followed every one of those rules since I was a boy." And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Jesus looked at him with genuine love and said, "There is one thing you are still missing. Go sell everything you own and give the money to people in need. Then you will have treasure stored up in heaven. After that, come back, take up the cross, and follow me." Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 The man's face fell. He walked away heartbroken because he was extremely wealthy. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
The Danger of Riches
Study note
Jesus' statement that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom stuns the disciples, who assumed wealth was a sign of divine blessing. Their question, 'Who then can be saved?' reveals their shock. Jesus' answer, that with God all things are possible, shifts salvation from human achievement to divine grace. Peter's reminder that they have left everything leads to Jesus' promise of abundant reward both now and in eternity, along with the sobering reality of persecution.
23 Jesus looked around at his disciples. He said, "It is so hard for wealthy people to enter God's kingdom." And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 The disciples were stunned by this. Jesus repeated himself: "Children, getting into God's kingdom is so hard for people who put their trust in wealth!" And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 "A camel could pass through a needle's tiny hole more easily. It is that hard for a rich person to enter God's kingdom." It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 Now the disciples were alarmed. They asked each other, "If that is true, then who could possibly be saved?" And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Peter jumped in and said, "We walked away from everything we had to follow you." Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 Jesus said, "Let me promise you something. Everyone who has given up their home, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or land because of me and the good news" And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 "will get back a hundred times more in this life — homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, along with hard times. And in the life to come, they will get eternal life." But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 "But here is a surprise: many people who are at the front of the line now will end up at the back. And many at the back will move to the front." But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
The Third Passion Prediction
Study note
As they approach Jerusalem, Jesus walks ahead while the disciples follow in fear and amazement. His third prediction of his death is the most detailed yet, specifying condemnation by Jewish leaders, delivery to Gentiles, mockery, spitting, scourging, death, and resurrection. The increasing specificity underscores Jesus' deliberate, knowing advance toward the cross, walking willingly into a fate he has foreseen in precise detail.
32 They were traveling up the road toward Jerusalem. Jesus walked ahead of everyone, and the disciples behind him felt a mixture of awe and fear. He pulled the twelve aside again and told them exactly what was about to happen to him. And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
33 He said, "Listen closely. We are heading to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of man will be turned over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will sentence him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles." Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
34 "Those people will make fun of him, whip him, spit in his face, and kill him. But three days later, he will rise to life again." And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
The Request of James and John
Study note
Immediately after the passion prediction, James and John ask for the positions of highest honor in Jesus' glory, revealing a staggering failure to understand what Jesus has just said. Jesus asks whether they can share his cup of suffering and baptism of death. Their confident 'We can' shows courage but also ignorance of what they are promising. When the other ten disciples become angry, Jesus seizes the teaching moment to articulate the kingdom's foundational principle: greatness comes through service, and the Son of Man himself came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus and said, "Teacher, we have a favor to ask, and we want you to say yes." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 Jesus asked, "What is it you want?" And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They answered, "When you sit on your throne in glory, let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left." They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 Jesus said, "You have no idea what you are truly asking for. Are you able to go through the suffering I am about to go through? Are you able to be submerged in the same overwhelming experience I am about to face?" But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39 They said, "Yes, we are." Jesus told them, "You will indeed go through suffering like mine, and you will face overwhelming trials like mine." And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
40 "But choosing who sits at my right or my left is not up to me. Those places belong to the people God has already picked for them." But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
41 The other ten disciples found out what James and John had asked, and they were furious with those two. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42 Jesus gathered them all together and said, "You have seen how rulers in this world throw their weight around and boss people underneath them. Their so-called great leaders use their power to control everyone." But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 "That is not how it works among you. Whoever wants to be great among you must become the one who serves everyone else." But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 "And whoever wants the very top spot must become the servant of all." And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
Study note
As Jesus leaves Jericho on his final journey to Jerusalem, blind Bartimaeus cries out persistently, 'Son of David, have mercy on me,' despite the crowd's attempts to silence him. His use of the messianic title 'Son of David' shows spiritual insight that surpasses the sighted, and his throwing off his cloak to come to Jesus shows a reckless abandonment of his only possession. Jesus heals him and commends his faith. Bartimaeus then follows Jesus 'along the road' to Jerusalem, becoming a model disciple who sees clearly and follows Jesus toward the cross.
46 They arrived in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town with his disciples and a big crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus -- his father was Timaeus -- was sitting along the side of the road. And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 When he found out that Jesus of Nazareth was walking by, he started shouting, "Jesus, Son of David! Please, have mercy on me!" And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
48 People around him told him to be quiet. But he yelled even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
49 Jesus stopped in his tracks and said, "Tell him to come here." They called out to the blind man, "Great news! Get up -- he is asking for you!" And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 Bartimaeus threw off his coat, jumped to his feet, and hurried over to Jesus. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 Jesus asked him, "What would you like me to do for you?" The blind man replied, "Teacher, I want to see again!" And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 Jesus said, "Go on your way. Your faith has made you well." That very moment, his sight came back, and he followed Jesus down the road. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.