1 STARTING from there, he came into the land of Judaea and beyond the Jordan. Again the people crowded to him, and again as usual he was teaching them.
2 Some Pharisees came up and asked him, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife?" They meant to catch him.
3 He answered, "What did Moses command you?"
4 They said, "Moses permitted a husband to give a certificate of divorce and send his wife away."
5 Jesus said to them, "Because of your hard-heartedness he wrote this law for you.
6 But from the beginning of the creation, 'male and female made he them.'
7 'Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother
8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
10 When they were in the house, his disciples asked him again about this.
11 He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12 And if a wife divorces her husband and marries another she commits adultery."
13 They were bringing little children to him to have him touch them, but his disciples rebuked them.
14 When Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 I tell you truly whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will not enter it."
16 Then he took them into his arms and blessed them, putting his hands on them.
17 While he was going out into the road, a man came running and knelt before him and asked, "Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit life eternal?"
18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and thy mother.'
20 He answered, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my boyhood."
21 Jesus looking at him loved him and said to him, "One thing you lack. Go sell all that you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me."
22 But his face darkened at that reply, and he went away grieved, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus, looking around on his disciples, said, "With what difficulty will those who have wealth enter the kingdom of God!"
24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Jesus spoke again and said, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
26 They were amazed beyond measure and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?"
27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."
28 Peter began, "Well, we have left everything and have followed you."
29 Jesus said, "I tell you truly there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the good news,
30 who will not receive a hundred fold more now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come life eternal.
31 But many who are first will be last and the last first."
32 They were on the road going up to Jerusalem and Jesus was walking in advance. Astonishment fell on them, and those who were following were fearful. Then again he took aside the twelve and began and told them what was going to happen to him.
33 He said, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the high priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
34 and they will make sport of him and spit on him and scourge him and kill him. But after three days he will rise."
35 James and John the sons of Zebedee came to him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you."
36 He said, "What do you want me to do for you?"
37 They said, "Grant that one of us may sit on your right hand and the other on your left hand in your glory."
38 Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
39 They said to him, "We can." Jesus said, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;
40 but to sit on my right or my left is not mine to give, but it will be for those for whom it has been prepared."
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant at James and John.
42 Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that those who are thought to rule the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43 It is not so among you. But whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
44 and whoever of you wishes to be first shall be the slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many."
46 They came to Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.
47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Son of David, Jesus, pity me!"
48 TEXT OMITTED
49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." They called the blind man, saying, "Courage; rise up; he is calling you."
50 He, throwing aside his cloak, sprang up and came to Jesus.
51 Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight."
52 Jesus said, "Go. Your faith has healed you." At once he could see and followed Jesus along the road.