Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan. There, multitudes gathered around him again, and he taught them as was his custom.

The Pharisees came to him, testing him with a question about divorce. "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" they asked. Jesus answered, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written and given her." Jesus said, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female."

For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother to join with his wife, and they two shall be one flesh: so then they are no longer two but one flesh. What God has joined together, let no one separate. In the house, his disciples asked him again about divorce. Jesus answered them, "Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another commits adultery against her. If a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

As they were teaching, people brought their children to Jesus so he could touch them. But his disciples rebuked those who brought the children, saying, "Don't bother him." When Jesus saw this, he was deeply disturbed and said, "Do not prevent these little children from coming to me. Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God with the humility and openness of a child, he shall not enter it."

He took the children in his arms, laid hands on them, and blessed them. As they continued on their journey, someone ran up to Jesus, fell at his feet, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus said, "Why do you call me good? There is only one who is truly good, and that is God."

The man replied, "Master, I have kept all these commandments since my youth: don't commit adultery, don't kill, don't steal, don't bear false witness, defraud not, honour thy father and mother." Jesus looked at him with affection and said, "One thing is missing from your life: sell everything you have, give to those in need, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me, taking up your cross."

The man was deeply troubled by Jesus' words and walked away, grieved because he had immense wealth. Jesus looked around at his disciples and said, "It is extremely difficult for those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of God." The disciples were astonished at his words.

Jesus replied, "Children, it is extremely difficult for those who trust in wealth to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into God's kingdom." They were utterly amazed, saying to one another, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Then Peter began to say to him, "We have left everything and followed you." Jesus answered and said, "There is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's sake, but will receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands – with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life."

But many who are first will be last, and those who are last will be first. As they continued on their way going up to Jerusalem, Jesus led the way, and they were amazed; as they followed, they became afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was about to happen to him.

"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, who will condemn him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles. They will mock him, scourge him, spit on him, and kill him, but he will rise again on the third day." James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him saying, "Master, we would have you do for us whatever we ask."

"What would you have me do for you?" Jesus asked. They said, "Grant us permission to sit one on your right hand and the other on your left in your glory." Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you're asking: can you drink from the cup I'm drinking from and be baptized with the baptism I am undergoing?"

They said, "We can." Jesus replied, "You will indeed drink from the cup I drink from, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. But to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to give; but it will be given to those for whom it has been prepared."

When the ten heard this, they became deeply displeased with James and John. Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their great ones have authority over them. But among you it shall not be so: whoever desires to become great among you will be your servant."

Whoever among you desires to be the greatest will be your servant to all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served by others, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many. As they approached Jericho, Jesus and his disciples were surrounded by a large crowd.

Among them was blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, who sat by the side of the road begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Many charged him to be silent, but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me."

Jesus stood still, commanding him to be called. They summoned the blind man, saying to him, "Rise; he is calling you." The blind man cast away his garment and rose to follow Jesus. Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied, "Lord, I want to regain my sight."

Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you whole." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way.