1 Jesus left that place and went beyond the Jordan and into the region of Judea. Crowds gathered around him again and, as usual, he taught them.
2 Some Pharisees came and, trying to test him, they asked, "Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?"
3 Jesus answered, "What did Moses command you?"
4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a divorce certificate and to divorce his wife."
5 Jesus said to them, "He wrote this commandment for you because of your unyielding hearts.
6 At the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
7 Because of this, a man should leave his father and mother and be joined together with his wife,
8 and the two will be one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.
9 Therefore, humans must not pull apart what God has put together."
10 Inside the house, the disciples asked him again about this.
11 He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her;
12 and if a wife divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
13 People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would bless them. But the disciples scolded them.
14 When Jesus saw this, he grew angry and said to them, "Allow the children to come to me. Don’t forbid them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children.
15 I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it."
16 Then he hugged the children and blessed them.
17 As Jesus continued down the road, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?"
18 Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God.
19 You know the commandments: Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t cheat. Honor your father and mother."
20 "Teacher," he responded, "I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy."
21 Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, "You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me."
22 But the man was dismayed at this statement and went away saddened, because he had many possessions.
23 Looking around, Jesus said to his disciples, "It will be very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom!"
24 His words startled the disciples, so Jesus told them again, "Children, it’s difficult to enter God’s kingdom!
25 It’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom."
26 They were shocked even more and said to each other, "Then who can be saved?"
27 Jesus looked at them carefully and said, "It’s impossible with human beings, but not with God. All things are possible for God."
28 Peter said to him, "Look, we’ve left everything and followed you."
29 Jesus said, "I assure you that anyone who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms because of me and because of the good news
30 will receive one hundred times as much now in this life—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms (with harassment)—and in the coming age, eternal life.
31 But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first."
32 Jesus and his disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus in the lead. The disciples were amazed while the others following behind were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he told them what was about to happen to him.
33 "Look!" he said. "We’re going up to Jerusalem. The Human One will be handed over to the chief priests and the legal experts. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles.
34 They will ridicule him, spit on him, torture him, and kill him. After three days, he will rise up."
35 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
37 They said, "Allow one of us to sit on your right and the other on your left when you enter your glory."
38 Jesus replied, "You don’t know what you’re asking! Can you drink the cup I drink or receive the baptism I receive?"
39 "We can," they answered. Jesus said, "You will drink the cup I drink and receive the baptism I receive,
40 but to sit at my right or left hand isn’t mine to give. It belongs to those for whom it has been prepared."
41 Now when the other ten disciples heard about this, they became angry with James and John.
42 Jesus called them over and said, "You know that the ones who are considered the rulers by the Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials order them around.
43 But that’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant.
44 Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all,
45 for the Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people."
46 Jesus and his followers came into Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, together with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, Timaeus’ son, was sitting beside the road.
47 When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!"
48 Many scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, "Son of David, show me mercy!"
49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him forward." They called the blind man, "Be encouraged! Get up! He’s calling you."
50 Throwing his coat to the side, he jumped up and came to Jesus.
51 Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Teacher, I want to see."
52 Jesus said, "Go, your faith has healed you." At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus on the way.