1 On leaving that place Jesus came into the borders of Judea, on the other side of the Jordan, Once more the people flocked about him, and again, as usual, he began teaching them.
2 Presently some Pharisees came up and tested him, by asking if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.
3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied,
4 "Moses," said they, "permitted a man to draw up a bill of separation and divorce her."
5 But Jesus said to them. "Moses gave you that command because of the hardness of your hearts;
6 but from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7 "For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh;
8 so that they are no more two, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
10 When indoors the disciples began to question Jesus again about this, and he said.
11 "Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
13 Now people were bringing little children to Jesus for him to touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
14 Jesus was indignant when he saw it, and said. "Let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such.
15 I tell you true that unless a man receives the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not even enter it."
16 Then he took them in his arms, and laid his hand upon them in blessing.
17 As he started to go forth into the road, a man came running up to him, and knelt down before him. "Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18 Jesus said to him. "Why do you call me good?No one is good save one, God himself.
19 You know the commandments. Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother."
20 "Teacher," he answered, "I have observed all these from my youth."
21 Jesus loved him as he looked at him, and said. "One thing you lack. Go, sell all you have and give to the poor; and you shall have wealth in heaven; and come, follow me."
22 But his face fell at these words, and he went away saddened, for he was one who had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus looked round on his disciples and said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!"
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. Jesus looked around and said again to them.
25 "My sons, how hard it is for those who trust in money to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."
26 "Then who can be saved?" they said to themselves astonished beyond measure.
27 When he had looked at them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God."
28 "But we," Peter began to say, "we have left our all and have followed you."
29 "I tell you solemnly," said Jesus, "that there is no man who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospels,
30 but shall receive a hundred times as much, now in this present world, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, lands-and persecutions with them - and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many who are first shall be last, and the last, first."
32 They were still on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus led the way; and they were amazed, and some, although they followed, were afraid. Then once more he took the Twelve, and began to tell them what was about to befall him.
33 "See," said he, "we are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of man will be betrayed to the high priests and the Scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
34 who will mock him, spit upon him, flog him, and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again."
35 Presently there came up to him Jamesand John, the sons of Zebedee, and said, "Teacher, we wish you would do for us whatever we ask you."
36 "What is it you want me to do for you?" said he.
37 They answered, "Allow us to sit, one at your right hand, and the other at your left hand, in your glory."
38 "You know not what you are asking," said Jesus. "Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
39 They answered him, "We can." "You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism that I am baptized with shall you be baptized,
40 but a seat upon my right hand or my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been reserved."
41 When they heard this the ten began to be indignant at Jamesand John, so Jesus called them to him and said.
42 "You know that those who are regarded as rulers among the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make them feel their authority.
43 Not so shall it be among you. On the contrary whoever would become great among you shall be your servant;
44 and whoever among you would be first, shall be slave of all,
45 and justly, for even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life, a ransom for many."
46 Then they reached Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting beside the road.
47 Hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began shouting and saying, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!"
48 and many kept rebuking him and telling him to be quiet, but he only shouted much louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 Then Jesus stood still, saying, "Call him." So they called the blind man,and said, "Courage, rise, he is calling you."
50 The man threw off his cloak, sprang to his feet, and came to Jesus.
51 "What do you want me to do?" said Jesus, addressing him. And the blind man answered, "O Rabboni, that I might receive my sight!"
52 "Go," said Jesus, "your own faith has saved you," and immediately he received his sight, and began to follow Jesus along the road.