1 When Joshua had finished these words, He departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. 3 Pharisees came to Him, testing Him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female? 5 And He said, ‘This is why a man will leave his father and mother and cling to his wife; and the two become one flesh.’ 6 Therefore they aren’t two anymore, but one flesh. So then, people must not separate what God has joined together.”
7 They asked Him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”
8 He said to them, “Moses, allowed you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but that’s not how it was from the beginning. 9 I tell you that whoever divorces his wife except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
10 His apprentices said to Him, “If this is how things are for a man with a wife, it’s not advantageous to marry.”
11 But He said to them, “Not everyone grasps this saying—only those to whom it is given: 12 You see, there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to grasp this, grasp it.”
13 Then little children were brought to Him, so He would lay His hands on them and pray; and the apprentices forbid them. 14 But Joshua said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to Me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.” 15 He laid His hands on them, and departed from there.
16 Look, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
17 He said to him,“Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to him, “Which ones?”
Joshua said,“‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother.’[Exodus 20:12-16];[Deuteronomy 5:16-20]And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”[Leviticus 19:18]
20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Joshua said to him,“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions. 23 Joshua said to his disciples,“Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Looking at them, Joshua said,“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?”
28 Joshua said to them,“Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.