Open English Translation MAT Chapter 19

19 When Yeshua had finished these messages, he left Galilee and went to the Yudean regions on the other side of the Yordan River 2 and large crowds followed him, and he healed them.

3 Some from the Pharisees’ party approached him to test him by asking, “Is there any cause for which a man can dismiss his wife?”

4 [ref]“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that God made them male and female from the beginning? 5 [ref]And then how he said, ‘A man will leave his parents and be joined together with his wife, and then the two of them will be a single body’? 6 So then, they’re no longer two but are now one body, therefore don’t let any person separate what God has joined together.”

7 [ref]“So why did Moses allow us to give her a letter of divorce and then to send her away?” they asked him.

8 “It was because of your hard hearts that Moses allowed you to send away your wife,” Yeshua answered, “but it wasn’t like that at the beginning. 9 [ref]Now I’m telling you that anyone who sends away his wife because of sexual immorality and then remarries, is also causing adultery. Also the woman who was sent away if she remarries, she causes adultery.

10 His followers made the point, “If that’s the case for husband and wife, it’s better not to get married.”

11 “Not everyone can accept this,” Yeshua responded, “but only those with a special gift. 12 Because there are some men who are born from their mother’s womb without testicles, there are some who’ve been castrated by others, and there are some who castrate themselves because of the kingdom of the heavens. Anyone who is able to accept this can accept it.”

13 Then some small children were brought to Yeshua hoping that he would place his hands on them and pray for them, but the apprentices scolded them. 14 But Yeshua intervened, “Be patient with the children and don’t stop them from coming to me, because it’s ones like these that make up the kingdom of the heavens.”

15 Then after placing his hands on them, he left that place.

16 And look, a man approached Yeshua and asked him, “Teacher, what good thing do I need to do in order to have eternal life?”

17 “Why are you asking me about what’s good?” Yeshua responded. “Only one is good. But if you’re wanting to enter into life, you should obey the commandments.”

18 [ref]“Which ones?” he asked.

“Don’t murder,” Yeshua answered, “don’t mess with another person’s spouse, don’t steal, don’t lie in court, 19 [ref]honour your parents, and love your neighbour like yourself.”

20 “I’ve kept all of those,” the young man said, “so what else do I need to do?”

21 “If you want to be perfect,” answered Yeshua, “go and sell what you own and give to the poor, and then you’ll have treasure in the heavens. Then come and follow me.”

22 But when the young man heard that, he went away despondent because he owned many properties.

23 So Yeshua said to his apprentices, “I can assure you that it’s more difficult for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of the heavens. 24 In fact, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter God’s kingdom.”

25 When his apprentices heard that, they were very surprised and asked, “Well, who can be saved then?”

26 Yeshua looked them in the eyes and answered, “It’s impossible for humans, but with God, everything is possible.”

27 “Hey,” Peter reacted, “we left everything to follow you, so what will happen to us?”

28 [ref]“I can assure you all,” Yeshua responded. “that after the world is remade and I sit down on his splendid throne, all of you who followed me will also sit on twelve thrones ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who left their houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children, or farms on account of my name and commission, will be repaid a hundred times over and will inherit eternal life.

30 [ref]“But many who are first will end up last, and the last will be first