72.10 Jesus Discourses on Marriage and Divorce
MT 19:3-12
3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it
lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" 4 And
he answered them, "Have you not read that he who made them at the
beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a
man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and
the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one
flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." 7
They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate
of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Because of the
hardness of your hearts Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, but
from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces
his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits
adultery." 10 The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man
with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But he said to them, "Not
all men can accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been
given. 12 For 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 have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the
kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."
MK 10:2-12
2 The Pharisees came and in order to test him asked, "Is it
lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 He answered them, "What did
Moses command you?" 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a
certificate of divorce, and to put her away." 5 But Jesus said to them,
"Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But
from the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For
this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer
two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not
man separate." 10 In the house his disciples also asked him again about
this matter. 11 So he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and
marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces
her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
73.10 Jesus Blesses Little Children
MT 19:13-15
13 Then little children were brought to him that he might put his
hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus
said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for
to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 15 And he laid his hands on
them and went from there.
MK 10:13-16
13 And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch
them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was
indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; and do
not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I
say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little
child will not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms, put his
hands on them and blessed them.
LK 18:15-17
15 Now they were also bringing infants to him that he might touch
them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus
called them to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and
do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I
say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little
child will not enter it."
74.10 The Rich Young Ruler
MT 19:16-30
16 Now behold, one came up and said to him, "Teacher, what good
thing must I do to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do
you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you
want to enter life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which
ones?" And Jesus said, "'You shall not murder, you shall not commit
adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, 19
honor your father and mother, and, you shall love your neighbor as
yourself.'" 20 The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What
do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go,
sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 But when the young man heard this,
he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is
hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell
you, 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." 25 When the disciples
heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be
saved?" 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible." 27 Then Peter
answered him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What
then shall we have?" 28 Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, at the
renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,
you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one who has left houses or
brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my
name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
MK 10:17-31
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and
knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to
inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me
good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do
not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false
witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said
to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 Then
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing;
go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 But he fell sad at this
word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard
it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And
the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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." 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and
said to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said,
"With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are
possible with God." 28 Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left
everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you,
there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or
father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who
will not receive a hundredfold now in this time-house and brothers and
sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in
the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last,
and the last first."
LK 18:18-30
18 Now a certain ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do
to inherit eternal life?" 19 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me
good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do
not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false
witness, Honor your father and mother.'" 21 And he said, "All these I
have kept from my youth." 22 When Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One
thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 23
But when he heard this, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who
have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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." 26 Those who heard it said, "Then who can be
saved?" 27 But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with
God." 28 Then Peter said, "Behold, we have left all and followed you."
29 So he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has
left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of
the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this
time, and in the age to come eternal life."
74.20 The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard
MT 20:1-16
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out
early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he
had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into
his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others
standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into
the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went.
5 Again he went out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, and did
the same thing. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found
others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing
here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.'
He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right
you will receive.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard
said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages,
beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those came who
were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10
So when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each
of them also received a denarius. 11 And when they had received it,
they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last men have
worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the
burden and the heat of the day.' 13 But he answered one of them,
'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a
denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this
last man the same as I gave to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do
what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am
generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
75.10 Jesus a Third Time Foretells His Death and Resurrection
MT 20:17-19
17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve
disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 "Behold, we are
going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief
priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn him to death, 19 and
deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day."
MK 10:32-34
32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was
walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed
were afraid. And he took the twelve aside again and began to tell them
what was to happen to him. 33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem;
and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the
scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the
Gentiles; 34 and they will mock him, and spit on him, and scourge him,
and kill him. And after three days he will rise."
LK 18:31-34
31 Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we
are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of
Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered
to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They
will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise
again." 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was
hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
75.10 Jesus Answer to the Ambitious Request of James and John
MT 20:20-28
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons
and, kneeling down, asked something of him. 21 And he said to her,
"What do you want?" She said to him, "Grant that these two sons of mine
may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."
22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are
you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him,
"We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but
to sit at my right or my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those
for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24 And when the ten heard
it, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them
to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall
not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you must
be your servant. 27 And whoever wants to be first among you must be
your slave-28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
MK 10:35-45
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and
said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 And he
said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to
him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and the other at your
left, in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what
you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with
the baptism I am baptized with?" 39 They said to him, "We are able." So
Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and
with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit
at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for
those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it,
they began to be indignant with James and John. 42 But Jesus called
them to himself and said to them, "You know that those who are
considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you.
But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44
and whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many."
76.10 Jesus Heals Bartimaeus, a Blind Man, as He Enters Jericho
MK 10:46-52
46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with
his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son
of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 And when he heard
that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son
of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be
quiet, but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 So Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind
man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And
throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus
said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man
said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to
him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he
received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
LK 18:35-43
35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the
roadside begging. 36 And hearing a multitude going by, he asked what
this meant. 37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 38 And
he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 And those who
led the way rebuked him, telling him to be quiet; but he cried out all
the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40 So Jesus stopped, and
commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked
him, 41 "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, I want to
receive my sight." 42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your
faith has made you well." 43 And immediately he received his sight and
followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it,
gave praise to God.
77.10 Jesus and Zacchaeus
LK 19:1-10
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 Now behold,
there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and he
was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because
of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and
climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that
way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him,
"Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house
today." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. 7
And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest
of a man who is a sinner." 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord,
"Look, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have
defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." 9 And Jesus said
to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a
son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was
lost."
77.20 The Parable of the Ten Pounds
LK 19:11-27
11 As they heard these things, he went on to tell a parable,
because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the
kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 Therefore he said: "A
certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a
kingdom and then return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, gave them
ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' 14 But his
citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not
want this man to reign over us.' 15 And so it was that when he
returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these
servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he
might know what they had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first,
saying, ' Master, your mina has earned ten minas more.' 17 And he said
to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a
very little, be in authority over ten cities.' 18 And the second came,
saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' 19 Likewise he said
to him, 'You also be over five cities.' 20 Then another came, saying,
'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept laid away in a
handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man.
You take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'
22 He said to him, 'I will judge you out of your own mouth, you wicked
servant! You knew that I was a hard man, taking up what I did not lay
down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my
money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with
interest?' 24 And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from
him, and give it to him who has ten minas.' 25 And they said to him,
'Master, he has ten minas already!' 26 'I tell you, that to every one
who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has
will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine, who did not want me
to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
78.10 Jesus Heals Two Blind Man as He Leaves Jericho
MT 20:29-34
29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.
30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard
that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of
David!" 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be quiet; but they
cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 32 And
Jesus stopped and called them, saying, "What do you want me to do for
you? " 33 They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." 34 And
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they
received their sight and followed him.
79.10 I and the Father are One
JN 10:22-42
22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,
23 and Jesus was in the temple, walking in Solomon's Porch. 24 So the
Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in
suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered
them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my
Father's name, they bear witness of me; 26 but you do not believe,
because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish; no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father,
who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to
snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."
31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered
them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of
these do you stone me?" 33 The Jews answered him, "For a good work we
do not stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a man, make
yourself God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law,
'I said, you are gods'? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of
God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of him
whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are
blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37 If I do not do
the works of my father, do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even
though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and
understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father." 39 Again
they tried to seize him, but he escaped from their hands.
40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John
was baptizing at first, and there he stayed. 41 And many came to him
and they said, "John performed no sign, but all that John said about
this man was true." 42 And many believed in him there.
80.10 Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
JN 11:1-57
1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of
Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was this Mary who anointed the Lord
with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother
Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom
you love is sick." 4 When Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is
not unto death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be
glorified through it." 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and
Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days
in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples,
"Let us go to Judea again." 8 The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the
Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there
again?" 9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If
anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light
of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because
the light is not in him." 11 These things he said, and after that he
said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to wake
him up." 12 His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will recover."
13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant
taking rest in sleep. 14 So then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is
dead; 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you
may believe. But let us go to him." 16 Then Thomas, who is called the
Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die
with him."
17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had already been in the
tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them
concerning their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went and met him, but Mary sat in the house. 21 Martha said to
Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you."
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to
him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last
day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live; 26 and whoever lives
and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said
to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
who is to come into the world."
28 And when she had said this, she went her way and called Mary
her sister, saying, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." 29
When she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had
not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha
had met him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting
her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed
her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Then
Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet,
saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have
died." 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her
also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 And he
said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and
see."
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37 But some of
them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept
this man from dying?"
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a
cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time
there is a bad odor, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to
her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the
glory of God?" 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his
eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew
that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people
standing by, that they may believe that you sent me." 43 When he had
said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead
man came out, his hands and feet bound with grave clothes, and his face
wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come to Mary and had seen
what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the
Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests
and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we to do? For
this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this,
everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away
both our place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was
high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all! 50 You
do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die
for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." 51 He did not
say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that
Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but
also that he would gather together into one the children of God who
were scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they plotted to put him
to death.
54 Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews,
but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town
called Ephraim; and there he stayed with his disciples.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went from
the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood
in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"
57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if
anyone knew where he was, he should report it, so that they might
arrest him.