The Journey to Jerusalem

19 At the conclusion of this teaching, Jesus withdrew from Galilee, and went into that district of Judea which is on the other side of the Jordan. 2 Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there. 3 Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said, ‘Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?’

4 ‘Haven’t you read,’ replied Jesus, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,” 5 and said – “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife, and the man and his wife will become one”? 6 So that they are no longer two, but one. What God himself, then, has yoked together people must not separate.’ 7 ‘Why, then,’ they said, ‘did Moses direct that a man should serve his wife with a notice of separation and divorce her?’

8 ‘Moses, owing to the hardness of your hearts,’ answered Jesus, ‘permitted you to divorce your wives, but that was not so at the beginning. 9 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of some serious sexual sin, and marries another woman, is guilty of adultery.’ 10 ‘If that,’ said the disciples, ‘is the position of a man with regard to his wife, it is better not to marry.’

11 ‘It is not everyone,’ replied Jesus, ‘who can accept this teaching, but only those who have been enabled to do so. 12 Some men are incapable of marriage because they were born that way, or have been made so by other people, while there are others who stay single for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. Accept this if you can.’

13 Then some little children were brought to Jesus, for him to place his hands on them, and pray; but the disciples found fault with those who had brought them. 14 Jesus, however, said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ 15 So he placed his hands on them, and then went on his way.

16 A man came up to Jesus, and said, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?’

17 ‘Why ask me about goodness?’ answered Jesus. ‘There is but One who is good. If you want to enter the life, keep the commandments.’ 18 ‘What commandments?’ asked the man. ‘These,’ answered Jesus, – ‘“You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not say what is false about others. 19 Honour your father and your mother.” And “You must love your neighbour as you love yourself.” ’ 20 ‘I have observed all these,’ said the young man. ‘What is still wanting in me?’

21 ‘If you wish to be perfect,’ answered Jesus, ‘go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.’ 22 On hearing these words, the young man went away distressed, for he had great possessions. 23 At this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you that a rich person will find it hard to enter the kingdom of heaven! 24 I say again, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!’ 25 On hearing this, the disciples exclaimed in great astonishment, ‘Who then can possibly be saved?’ 26 But Jesus looked at them, and said, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God everything is possible.’ Then Peter turned and said to Jesus, 27 ‘But we – we left everything, and followed you; what, then, will we have?’

28 ‘I tell you,’ answered Jesus, ‘that at the new creation, when the Son of Man takes his seat on his throne of glory, you who followed me will be seated on twelve thrones, as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or land, for my sake, will receive many times as much, and will gain eternal life. 30 But many who are first now will then be last, and those who are last will be first. 20 For the kingdom of heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire labourers for his vineyards. 2 He agreed with the labourers to pay them the standard daily rate of two silver coins, and sent them into his vineyard. 3 On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the marketplace, doing nothing. 4 “You also may go into my vineyard,” he said, “and I will pay you what is fair.” 5 So they went. Going out again about midday and about three o’clock, he did as before. 6 When he went out about five, he found some others standing there, and said to them “Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?” 7 “Because no one has hired us,” they answered. “You also may go into my vineyard,” he said. 8 In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward “Call the labourers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first.” 9 Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two silver coins each. 10 So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two silver coins each; 11 at which they began to grumble at their employer. 12 “These last,” they said, “have done only one hour’s work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day’s work, and the heat.” 13 “My friend,” was his reply to one of them, “I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me for two silver coins? 14 Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am generous?” 16 So those who are last will be first, and the first last.’

17 When Jesus was on the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples round him by themselves, and said to them as they were on their way, 18 ‘Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the Law, and they will condemn him to death, 19 and give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise.’

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favour. 21 ‘What is it that you want?’ he asked. ‘I want you to say,’ she replied, ‘that in your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left.’

22 ‘You do not know what you are asking,’ was Jesus’ answer. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?’ ‘Yes,’ they exclaimed, ‘we can.’

23 ‘You will indeed drink my cup,’ he said, ‘but as to a seat at my right and at my left – that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’ 24 On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers. 25 Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said, ‘The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their high officials oppress them. 26 Among you it is not so. 27 No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

29 As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men who were sitting by the roadside, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out, ‘Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!’ 31 The crowd told them to be quiet; but the men only called out the louder, ‘Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!’ 32 Then Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he said. 33 ‘Master,’ they replied, ‘we want our eyes to be opened.’ 34 So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.