On Jesus’ Side

38  John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.” 39  But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me. 40  For whoever is not against us is for us. 41  For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward.

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. 43  If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. 44 [fn] 45  If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 46 [fn] 47  If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48  where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched. 49  Everyone will be salted with fire. 50  Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

10  Then Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan River. Again crowds gathered to him, and again, as was his custom, he taught them. 2  Then some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3  He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4  They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 5  But Jesus said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your hard hearts. 6  But from the beginning of creation he made them male and female*. 7  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, 8  and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

10  In the house once again, the disciples asked him about this. 11  So he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12  And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”