⁹ I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”^(A)

¹¹ He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.^{(A) 12} And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”^(B)

The Little Children and Jesus^(C)

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.^{(D) 15} Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”^{(E) 16} And he took the children in his arms,^(F) placed his hands on them and blessed them.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God^(G)

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees^(H) before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”^(I)

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[a]”^(J)

²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,^(K) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(L) Then come, follow me.”^(M)

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich^(N) to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[b] to enter the kingdom of God!^{(O) 25} It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”^(P)

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”^(Q)

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”^(R)

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much^(S) in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come^(T) eternal life.^{(U) 31} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”^(V)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time^(W)

³² They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve^(X) aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,”^(Y) he said, “and the Son of Man^(Z) will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.^(AA) They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him^(AB) and kill him.^(AC) Three days later^(AD) he will rise.”^(AE)

The Request of James and John^(AF)

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³⁷ They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”^(AG)

³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,”^(AH) Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup^(AI) I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”^(AJ)

³⁹ “We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,^{(AK) 40} but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,^{(AL) 44} and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,^(AM) and to give his life as a ransom for many.”^(AN)

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight^(AO)

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,^(AP) he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David,^(AQ) have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi,^(AR) I want to see.”

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”^(AS) Immediately he received his sight and followed^(AT) Jesus along the road.

¹⁸ “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.^(A)

¹¹ But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.^(A) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

¹² To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):^(B) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.^(C)

¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.^{(D) 16} How do you know, wife, whether you will save^(E) your husband?^(F) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.^(G) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^{(H) 18} Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.^{(I) 19} Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(J) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(K)

²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²² For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;^(L) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.^{(M) 23} You were bought at a price;^(N) do not become slaves of human beings. ²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(O)

Concerning the Unmarried

²⁵ Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,^(P) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy^(Q) is trustworthy. ²⁶ Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.^{(R) 27} Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.^{(S) 28} But if you do marry, you have not sinned;^(T) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

²⁹ What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.^(U) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; ³⁰ those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; ³¹ those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.^(V)

³² I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs^(W)—how he can please the Lord. ³³ But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.^(X) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided^(Y) devotion to the Lord.

³⁶ If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong^[a] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.^(Z) They should get married. ³⁷ But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. ³⁸ So then, he who marries the virgin does right,^(AA) but he who does not marry her does better.^[b]

³⁹ A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.^(AB) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.^{(AC) 40} In my judgment,^(AD) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.