New Living Translation

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River. Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them.

1He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching them once more.

2Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?”

2Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"

3Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?”

3He replied to them, "What did Moses command you?"

4“Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.”

4They said, "Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away."

5But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts.

5But Jesus told them, "He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.

6 But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation.

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

7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,

7For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,

8 and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one,

8and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

9Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate."

10Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again.

10Now in the house the disciples questioned Him again about this matter.

11He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her.

11And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.

12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.” Jesus Blesses the Children

12Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

13One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

13Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them.

14When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

14When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

15I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

16Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. The Rich Man

16After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them.

17As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

17As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.

18"Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One--God.

19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’ ”

19You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother."

20“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

20He said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."

21Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

21Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."

22At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

22But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”

23Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"

24This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.

24But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

26The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

26So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, "Then who can be saved?"

27Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

27Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God."

28Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.

28Peter began to tell Him, "Look, we have left everything and followed You."

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News,

29"I assure you," Jesus said, "there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or fields because of Me and the gospel,

30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.

30who will not receive 100 times more, now at this time--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions--and eternal life in the age to come.

31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. ” Jesus Again Predicts His Death

31But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

32They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him.

32They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.

33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans.

33"Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles,

34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.” Jesus Teaches about Serving Others

34and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him, and He will rise after three days."

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Him and said, "Teacher, we want You to do something for us if we ask You."

36 “What is your request?” he asked.

36"What do you want Me to do for you?" He asked them.

37They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

37They answered Him, "Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory."

38But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”

38But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?""

39“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering.

39We are able," they told Him. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.

40 But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

40But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for."

41When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.

41When the other 10 disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.

42So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.

42Jesus called them over and said to them, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them.

43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,

43But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.

44and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all.

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life--a ransom for many."

46Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.

46They came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.

47When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!"

48“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48Many people told him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, "Have mercy on me, Son of David!"

49When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”

49Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man and said to him, "Have courage! Get up; He's calling for you."

50Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

50He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi, ” the blind man said, “I want to see!”

51Then Jesus answered him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" "Rabbouni," the blind man told Him, "I want to see!"

52And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

52"Go your way," Jesus told him. "Your faith has healed you." Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.