SCRIPTURE READING:
Matthew 19; Mark 10
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 19
¹ And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
² And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
³ The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
⁴ And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
⁵ And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
⁶ Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
⁷ They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
⁸ He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
⁹ And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
¹⁰ His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
¹¹ But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
¹² For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
¹³ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
¹⁴ But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
¹⁶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
¹⁷ And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
¹⁸ He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
¹⁹ Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
²³ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
²⁴ And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
²⁵ When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
²⁶ But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
²⁷ Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
²⁸ And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
²⁹ And every one that hath forsaken houses, 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 inherit everlasting life.
³⁰ But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Mark 10
¹ And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
² And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
³ And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
⁴ And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
⁵ And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
⁶ But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
⁷ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
⁸ And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
⁹ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
¹⁰ And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
¹¹ And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
¹² And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
¹³ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
¹⁵ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
¹⁶ And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
¹⁷ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
¹⁸ And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
¹⁹ Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
²⁰ And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
²¹ Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
²² And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
²³ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
²⁴ And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into 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 into the kingdom of God.
²⁶ And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
²⁷ And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
²⁸ Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
²⁹ And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
³¹ But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
³² And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
³³ Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
³⁴ And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
³⁵ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
³⁶ And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
³⁷ They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
³⁸ But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
³⁹ And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
⁴⁰ But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
⁴² But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
⁴³ But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
⁴⁴ And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
⁴⁵ For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
⁴⁶ And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
⁴⁸ And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
⁴⁹ And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
⁵⁰ And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
⁵¹ And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
⁵² And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
DEVOTIONAL:
Matthew 19 and Mark 10 bring several demanding questions under the authority of Jesus: marriage and divorce, children and the kingdom, possessions and eternal life, greatness and service. The discussions are not disconnected. Each asks what happens when human hardness, status, or self-interest meets God's original purpose. Jesus repeatedly moves beneath convenient arrangements toward the Creator's intention and the kingdom's values. Discipleship means allowing God's design to judge the assumptions we have learned to consider normal.
Asked about divorce, Jesus returns to Genesis: the Creator made male and female, and the two become one flesh. Moses' divorce provision is explained in relation to hardness of heart, not as the creation ideal. Jesus therefore treats marriage as a covenantal union joined by God and deserving serious protection. The passage should never be used casually against people carrying the pain of marital betrayal or breakdown. Its first force is against the ease with which hard hearts seek permission to discard covenant responsibility. Christian teaching must preserve both the holiness of marriage and the gospel's mercy for sinners and sufferers.
Children are then brought to Jesus, and the disciples attempt to block them. Jesus is displeased and welcomes them, saying the kingdom must be received as a little child. Mark adds that He takes them in His arms and blesses them. The kingdom does not belong to people who can prove their importance. It is received. That truth prepares the conversation with the rich man, whose moral seriousness is real yet whose possessions expose a deeper allegiance. Jesus looks at him and loves him before issuing the costly command. Love does not keep Jesus from naming the idol.
When the rich man leaves sorrowful, the disciples ask who can be saved. Jesus' answer centers grace: with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. The demand of discipleship is radical precisely because salvation cannot be reduced to manageable human achievement. Wealth, morality, heritage, and sacrifice cannot place God in our debt. Jesus calls people to follow because God alone can save. Mark soon records a third prediction of the cross, making clear how this salvation will be accomplished by the Son of man.
James and John then seek places of glory. Jesus contrasts Gentile patterns of lordship with the culture of His kingdom: greatness means becoming a minister and servant of all. The foundation is Christ Himself, who came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many. Bartimaeus closes the reading by crying to the Son of David for mercy, receiving sight, and following Jesus in the way. The month therefore ends with the right posture for everything these chapters address: receive grace, surrender rival loyalties, let Christ define greatness, and follow the Servant King.
In daily life, In daily life, protect covenant commitments before crisis makes them harder to protect. In marriage, cultivate truthfulness, sexual faithfulness, tenderness, repentance, and wise help rather than waiting for hardness to mature. If your story includes divorce or deep marital pain, bring it to Christ without either minimizing sin or believing grace has no future for you. Welcome children into the serious life of faith rather than treating them as background. Review possessions for hidden mastery. At work and church, redefine ambition through service: ask whom your success enables you to help. Like Bartimaeus, keep crying for mercy and then use the sight you receive to follow Jesus on His way.
In U.S. civic life, In U.S. civic life, the virtue arising from these chapters is service that strengthens covenant responsibility and protects human dignity. Pray for marriages and families, for children to be welcomed and protected, and for leaders to reject domination in favor of accountable service. Christians should show up in public life supporting strong families, caring for people wounded by family breakdown, and using influence to serve rather than to secure privileged places.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Why does Jesus answer the divorce question by returning to creation before discussing Moses' concession to hardness of heart?
What does Jesus' welcome of children teach about the way the kingdom is received?
How does Jesus' love for the rich man help you understand the relationship between love and hard truth?
Why is the Son of man's ransom the foundation for Christian leadership as service?
What would it mean for you to follow Jesus 'in the way' after receiving mercy, as Bartimaeus did?
PRAYER:
ADORATION:
Servant King and Son of David, we worship You as the One who upholds the Creator's good design, welcomes children, speaks truth in love, and gives His life a ransom for many.
CONFESSION:
Forgive our hardness of heart, possessiveness, status-seeking, neglect of children, and desire to be served. We confess that salvation is impossible by our own strength.
THANKSGIVING:
Thank You that what is impossible with man is possible with God. Thank You for mercy after failure, for the dignity of covenant faithfulness, and for the ransom accomplished by Jesus.
SUPPLICATION – GENERAL:
Strengthen marriages, heal wounded families, protect children, loosen the grip of possessions, and form servant leaders in our churches and workplaces. Keep us following Jesus in the way.
SUPPLICATION – U.S. / CIVIC:
Strengthen families and communities with truth, mercy, and faithful responsibility. Protect children, support those harmed by family breakdown, and give leaders the humility to serve rather than dominate.
SCRIPTURE:
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. — Mark 10:45