Mark

1He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them.

2Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

3He answered,“What did Moses command you?”

4They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.”

5But Jesus said to them,“For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.

6But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.

7For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife,

8and the two will become one flesh,so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

10In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter.

11He said to them,“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.

12If a woman herself divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

13They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.

14But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation and said to them,“Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

15Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

16He took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

17As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

18Jesus said to him,“Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.

19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’”

20He said to him, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth.”

21Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him,“One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.”

22But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,“How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!”

24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again,“Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

25It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

26They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”

27Jesus, looking at them, said,“With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.”

28Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all and have followed you.”

29Jesus said,“Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News,

30but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life.

31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

32They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him.

33“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles.

34They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”

36He said to them,“What do you want me to do for you?”

37They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your glory.”

38But Jesus said to them,“You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

39They said to him, “We are able.” Jesus said to them,“You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;

40but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”

41When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant toward James and John.

42Jesus summoned them and said to them,“You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

43But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.

44Whoever of you wants to become first among you shall be bondservant of all.

45For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

46They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.

47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”

48Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stood still and said,“Call him.”They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”

50He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

51Jesus asked him,“What do you want me to do for you?”The blind man said to him, “Rabboni,that I may see again.”

52Jesus said to him,“Go your way. Your faith has made you well.”Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

Teachings about Divorce

1Then Jesus left that place and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. Again the crowds came to Him and He taught them, as was His custom.

2Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.

3“What did Moses command you?” He replied.

4They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

5But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart.

6However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’

7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,

8and the two will become one flesh.’So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

10When they were back inside the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter.

11So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.

12And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Jesus Blesses the Children

13Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

15Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

16And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.

The Rich Young Man

17As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”

20“Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.”

21Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

22But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enterthe kingdom of God!

25It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?”

27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

28Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel

30will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

The Third Prediction of the Passion

32As they were going up the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him:

33“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles,

34who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.”

The Request of James and John

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

36“What do you want Me to do for you?” He inquired.

37They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”

38“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”

39“We can,” the brothers answered. “You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo.

40But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whomthey have been prepared.”

41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.

42So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.

43But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

44and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.

45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Bartimaeus

46Next, they came to Jericho. And as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road.

47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”

50Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.

51“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”

52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.