010:010 Indoors the disciples began questioning Jesus again on
the same subject.
010:011 He replied, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman,
commits adultery against the first wife;
010:012 and if a woman puts away her husband and marries another man,
she commits adultery."
010:013 One day people were bringing young children to Jesus for Him
to touch them, but the disciples interfered.
010:014 Jesus, however, on seeing this, was moved to indignation,
and said to them, "Let the little children come to me:
do not hinder them; for to those who are childlike the Kingdom
of God belongs.
010:015 In solemn truth I tell you that no one who does not receive
the Kingdom of God like a little child will by any
possibility enter it."
010:016 Then He took them in His arms and blessed them lovingly,
one by one, laying His hands upon them.
010:017 As He went out to resume His journey, there came a man running
up to Him, who knelt at His feet and asked, "Good Rabbi,
what am I to do in order to inherit the Life of the Ages?"
010:018 "Why do you call me good?" asked Jesus in reply; "there is no
one truly good except One--that is, God.
010:019 You know the Commandments--'Do not murder;' 'Do not commit adultery;'
'Do not steal;' 'Do not lie in giving evidence;' 'Do not defraud;'
'Honour thy father and thy mother.'"
010:020 "Rabbi," he replied, "all these Commandments I have carefully
obeyed from my youth."
010:021 Then Jesus looked at him and loved him, and said, "One thing
is lacking in you: go, sell all you possess and give
the proceeds to the poor, and you shall have riches in Heaven;
and come and be a follower of mine."
010:022 At these words his brow darkened, and he went away sad;
for he was possessed of great wealth.
010:023 Then looking round on His disciples Jesus said, "With how hard
a struggle will the possessors of riches enter the Kingdom of God!"
010:024 The disciples were amazed at His words. Jesus, however,
said again, "Children, how hard a struggle is it for those
who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God!
010:025 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
010:026 They were astonished beyond measure, and said to one another,
"Who then *can* be saved?"
010:027 Jesus looking on them said, "With men it is impossible,
but not with God; for everything is possible with God."
010:028 "Remember," said Peter to Him, "that we forsook everything
and have become your followers."
010:029 "In solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that there
is no one who has forsaken house or brothers or sisters,
or mother or father, or children or lands, for my sake
and for the sake of the Good News,
010:030 but will receive a hundred times as much now in this present life--
houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, lands--
and persecution with them--and in the coming age the Life
of the Ages.