Mateo 19

¹And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the coasts of Judea, beyond Jordan.

²And great multitudes followed him: and he healed them there.

³And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

⁴Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female? And he said:

⁵For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.

⁶Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

⁷They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorce, and to put away?

⁸He saith to them: Because Moses by reason of the hardness of your heart permitted you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

⁹And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery. Except it be, etc. . .In the case of fornication, that is, of adultery, the wife may be put away: but even then the husband cannot marry another as long as the wife is living.

¹⁰His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry.

¹¹Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. All men take not this word. . .That is, all receive not the gift of living singly and chastely, unless they pray for the grace of God to enable them to live so, and for some it may be necessary o that end to fast as well as pray: and to those it is given from above.

¹²For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mothers womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it. There are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs, for the kingdom of heaven. . .This text is not to be taken in the literal sense; but means, that there are such, who have taken a firm and commendable resolution of leading a single and chaste life, in order to serve God in a more perfect state than those who marry: as St. Paul clearly shews. 1 Cor. 7. 37, 38.

¹³Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them.

¹⁴But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.

¹⁵And when he had imposed hands upon them, he departed from thence.

¹⁶And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?

¹⁷Who said to him: Why askest thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

¹⁸He said to him: Which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.

¹⁹Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

²⁰The young man saith to him: All these have I kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me?

²¹Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

²²And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions.

²³Then Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

²⁴And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

²⁵And when they had heard this, the disciples wondered much, saying: Who then can be saved?

²⁶And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.

²⁷Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?

²⁸And Jesus said to them: Amen I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

²⁹And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life verlasting.

³⁰And many that are first, shall be last: and the last shall be first.