1 When Jesus finished speaking he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed those who were sick there. 3 Some Pharisees came to test him. “Is a man allowed to divorce his wife for any reason?” they asked. 4 Jesus replied, “Haven't you read that God who created people in the beginning made them male and female? 5 He said, ‘This is the reason a man will leave his father and mother, and join with his wife, and the two shall become one.’ 6 Now they're no longer two, but one. What God has joined together no one should separate.” 7 “Then why did Moses give the command that a man could divorce his wife by giving her a written certificate of divorce, and sending her away?” they asked. 8 “Because of your hard-hearted attitude Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, but it wasn't like that in the beginning,” Jesus replied. 9 “I tell you, anyone who divorces his wife except on the grounds of sexual immorality and then marries another woman, commits adultery.” 10 “If that's the situation between husband and wife, it's better not to marry!” his disciples told him. 11 “Not everyone can accept this instruction, only those it's given to,” Jesus told them. 12 “Some are born as eunuchs, some are made eunuchs by men, and some choose to be eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept this should accept it.” 13 The people brought little children to him so he could bless them and pray for them. But the disciples told them not to. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like them!” 15 He placed his hands on them to bless them, and then he left. 16 A man came to Jesus and asked him, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me what is good?” Jesus replied. “There's only one who is good. But if you want to have eternal life, then keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked him. “Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself,” replied Jesus. 20 “I've kept all these commandments,” the young man said. “What else do I need to do?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions, give the money to the poor, and you'll have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” 22 When the young man heard Jesus' answer he went away very sad, because he had many possessions. 23 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to his disciples, “rich people find it hard to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 I also tell you this: It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very surprised, and asked, “So who can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “From a human point of view it's impossible, but all things are possible with God.” 27 Peter answered him, “Look, we've left everything and followed you. What reward will we have?” 28 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth: when everything is remade and the Son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 All those who because of me have left their homes, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, and fields, will receive back a hundred times more, and will receive eternal life. 30 For many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 19 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (30)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 John 10:40; Matthew 19:1–9; Mark 10:1–12; Matthew 7:28
- 2 Matthew 12:15; Matthew 15:30–31; Matthew 9:35–36; Matthew 4:23–25; Mark 6:55–56
- 3 Mark 10:2; Hebrews 3:9; Luke 11:53–54; Mark 12:15; Matthew 5:31–32
- 4 Genesis 2:23; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:2; Luke 10:26; Malachi 2:15
- 5 Genesis 2:21–24; 1 Corinthians 7:4; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Ephesians 5:31; Mark 10:5–9
- 6 Mark 10:9; Hebrews 13:4; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10–14; Ephesians 5:28
- 7 Deuteronomy 24:1–4; Matthew 5:31; Mark 10:4; Malachi 2:16; Matthew 1:19
- 8 Malachi 2:13–14; Genesis 2:24; Zechariah 7:12; Jeremiah 6:16; Mark 10:5
- 9 Matthew 5:32; Luke 16:18; 1 Corinthians 7:39; 1 Corinthians 7:10–13; Mark 10:11–12
- 10 1 Corinthians 7:32–35; 1 Corinthians 7:8; Proverbs 19:13–14; 1 Corinthians 7:1–2; Proverbs 21:9
- 11 1 Corinthians 7:17; Matthew 13:11; 1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:35; 1 Corinthians 7:7–9
- 12 1 Corinthians 7:32–38; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Isaiah 56:3–4; Isaiah 39:7; 1 Corinthians 9:15
- 13 Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17; Matthew 18:2–5; Acts 2:39; 1 Corinthians 7:14
- 14 Matthew 18:3; Luke 18:16–17; 1 Corinthians 14:20; Mark 10:14; Matthew 11:25
- 15 Mark 10:16; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Isaiah 40:11; 2 Timothy 3:15
- 16 Mark 10:17–30; John 3:15; Luke 18:18–30; Jude 21; Matthew 25:46
- 17 Leviticus 18:5; Galatians 3:11–13; Luke 10:26–28; Romans 10:5; 1 Samuel 2:2
- 18 Deuteronomy 5:16–21; Exodus 20:12–17; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; James 2:10–11
- 19 Leviticus 19:18; Exodus 20:12; Matthew 22:39; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:1–2
- 20 Galatians 3:24; Mark 10:20–21; Philippians 3:6; Luke 18:11–12; Luke 18:21–22
- 21 Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22; Luke 12:33; Acts 2:45; Luke 14:33
- 22 Ezekiel 33:31; Matthew 6:24; Matthew 13:22; Ephesians 5:5; Mark 10:22
- 23 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Matthew 13:22; Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24; James 5:1–4
- 24 John 5:44; Luke 18:25; Mark 10:24–25; Jeremiah 13:23; Matthew 19:26
- 25 Romans 10:13; Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:20; Luke 13:23–24; Romans 11:5–7
- 26 Jeremiah 32:27; Luke 1:37; Job 42:2; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27
- 27 Philippians 3:8; Luke 18:28; Luke 5:11; Mark 1:17–20; Luke 15:29
- 28 Luke 22:28–30; 1 Corinthians 6:2–3; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 20:4; Isaiah 65:17
- 29 Luke 18:29–30; Mark 10:29–30; Philippians 3:8; Luke 14:26; Matthew 16:25
- 30 Matthew 20:16; Luke 13:30; Mark 10:31; Matthew 21:31–32; Luke 18:13–14
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
We heard in the Gospel that the Lord, rejoicing greatly in Spirit, said unto God the Father, "I confess to Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
Having constantly left Judæa on account of the envy of those men, now He frequents it from this time forth, because the passion was to be nigh at hand; He goeth not up, however, unto Jerusalem for a while, but "into the coasts of Judæa." "And," when He was come, "great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… her that is divorced from another husband, committeth adultery." And, "There are some who have been made eunuchs of men, and some who were born eunuchs, and some who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake; but all cannot receive this saying." So that all who, by human law, are twice married, are in the eye of …
For this reason did the Lord declare that the first should in truth be last, and the last first. And the prophet, too, indicates the same, saying, "instead of fathers, children have been born unto thee." For the Lord, having been born "the First-begotten of the dead," and receiving into His bosom the ancient fathers, has regenerated them into the …
… how he may please the Lord; but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife." I should, therefore, have listened more attentively to these words, and, being severed "for the kingdom of heaven's sake," I would with greater happiness have expected Thy embraces.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)