Matthew 19 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

When Jesus finished saying all this, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan.

Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"

He answered, "Haven't you read that from the very beginning, the Creator made them male and female?"

And he said, "That's why a man leaves his father and mother and holds tight to his wife, and the two become one flesh."

So they're no longer two, but one flesh. What God has joined together, no one should tear apart."

They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"

Jesus said to them, "Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it wasn't that way from the beginning."

I'm telling you: whoever divorces his wife — unless she's been sexually unfaithful — and marries another woman commits adultery."

His followers said to him, "If that's how it is between a husband and wife, it's better not to marry at all!"

He said to them, "Not everyone can accept this, only those to whom it's been given."

Some people are born unable to marry. Others were made that way by people. And others have chosen not to marry for the sake of God's kingdom. Whoever can accept this should accept it."

Then people brought little children to Jesus so he could place his hands on them and pray for them. But the followers scolded them.

But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and don't stop them, because God's kingdom belongs to people like these."

After he placed his hands on them, he moved on from there.

Then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing do I need to do to get limitless life?"

Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask me about what's good? There's only one who is truly good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commands."

"Which ones?" the man asked. Jesus said, "Don't murder. Don't commit adultery. Don't steal. Don't give false testimony."

Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself."

The young man said to him, "I've kept all of these. What am I still missing?"

Jesus said to him, "If you want to be complete, go sell everything you own and give the money to the poor — you'll have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me."

When the young man heard this, he walked away devastated, because he had a lot of wealth.

Then Jesus said to his followers, "I'm telling you the truth — it's very hard for a rich person to enter God's kingdom."

I'll say it again — it's easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom."

When the followers heard this, they were completely stunned. "Then who can possibly be rescued?" they asked.

Jesus looked at them and said, "For people this is impossible, but for God everything is possible."

Then Peter spoke up and said, "Look, we've left everything behind to follow you. So what are we going to get?"

Jesus said to them, "I'm telling you the truth — when everything is made new, when the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

And everyone who has left behind houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit limitless life.

But many who are first will end up last, and many who are last will end up first.