1 Jesus crossed the Jordan River when he went to the province of Judea. Crowds gathered all around him just as they always did.

2 Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him. »Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife?« They asked.

3 »What did Moses command you?« Jesus asked.

4 They said: »Moses allowed us to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.«

5 »He wrote this commandment because of your hard hearts,« Jesus replied.

6 »God made male and female from the beginning of creation.

7 »For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife.

8 »The two shall become one flesh. They are no longer two, but one flesh.

9 »That which God has joined together let not man take apart separate.«

10 In the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.

11 He said: »He who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.

12 »If she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.

13 People were bringing little children to him so he could touch them. His disciples turned them away.

14 But when Jesus saw it he was moved with indignation. He said: »Allow the little children to come to me! Do not turn them away for they belong to the kingdom of God.

15 »Truly I tell you, he who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter it.«

16 He took them in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them.

17 As he traveled someone ran to him, kneeled and asked him: »Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit everlasting life?«

18 Jesus asked him: »Why do you call me good? None is good except God.

19 »You know the commandments, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.«

20 »Teacher,« he said: »I have observed all of these from my youth.«

21 Jesus lovingly looked at him and said: »You lack one thing. Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.«

22 He was very sad when he heard this for he had many possessions. Then he went away.

23 Looking around Jesus said to his disciples: »It is hard for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!«

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. Jesus repeated it again: »Children, it is hard to enter into the kingdom of God!

25 »It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.«

26 They were greatly astonished! So they asked him: »Who can be saved?«

27 Jesus looked at them: »With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.«

28 Peter said to him: »We have left all and followed you.«

29 Jesus said: »Truly I tell you, a man that 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 will receive a hundred times as much now in this time, and in the age to come everlasting life.

31 »Many that are first will be last and the last first.«

32 Jesus went to Jerusalem. The disciples followed him. They were amazed at what Jesus did. Others followed and were afraid. He met with the twelve to tell them the things that were to happen to him.

33 »When we go to Jerusalem the Son of man will be turned over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the people of the nations.

34 »They will mock him, spit on him, and scourge him. Then they will kill him. After three days he will rise again.«

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him saying: »Teacher, we want you to do for us what we ask of you.«

36 He asked: »What do you want me to do for you?

37 They said to him: »Allow us to sit next to you in your glory. One could sit on your right hand, and one on your left hand.«

38 »You do not know what you ask,« Jesus replied. »Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?«

39 They said: »We are able.« Jesus replied: »The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized you will be baptized.

40 »But to sit on my right hand or on my left hand is not mine to give. It is for them for whom it has been prepared.«

41 When the ten heard it they were indignant with James and John.

42 Jesus called them together and said: »You know that those who rule over the nations lord it over them. Their great ones exercise authority over them.

43 »It is not so among you. Whoever would become great among you, shall be your minister servantattendant.

44 »Whoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all.

45 »For the Son of man also came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.«

46 They arrived at Jericho. He left there with his disciples and a large crowd. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the side of the road.

47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he cried: »Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!«

48 Many rebuked him that he should keep quiet. However he cried out even more: »You son of David have mercy on me.«

49 Jesus stood still and said: »You call him.« They called the blind man saying to him, »Be of good cheer: rise, he calls you.«

50 Setting aside his garment, he sprang up, and came to Jesus.

51 Jesus responded to him: »What do you want me to do for you?« The blind man said to him: »Teacher I want to receive my sight!«

52 Jesus told him: »Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him in the way.«