100. Teaching on Marriage and Divorce
1Now when Jesus entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordana 2large crowds followed him.3And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?”
4He answered, “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female?” 5And he said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become as one.”
7They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”
8“Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but in the beginning it was not so.”
(Mt. 19:1–5, 7–8)
a “the region of Judea beyond the Jordan”—The province of Perea. (See map on page 16.)
Mt. 19:1 Jesus entered / Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered (RSV)
Mt. 19:2 large / and large (RSV) • him. / him, and he healed them there. (RSV)
Mt. 19:5 And he said / and said (RSV) • become as one.” / become one flesh.” (RSV)
Mt. 19:8 Moses / For your hardness of heart, Moses (RSV) • but in the / but from the (RSV) (167:5/1838–9)
101. Jesus Blesses the Little Children
16And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
(Mk. 10:13–16)
a “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”—Here Jesus teaches us to seek entrance into the kingdom of heaven with the faith and trusting dependence of a little child. And although this faith is childlike, resembling the trust of a child in his earthly father, it is in no sense childish.
Mk. 10:14 (KJV) • was indignant, and (RSV) / was much displeased, and (KJV) • of heaven. / of God. (KJV) (167:6/1839–40)
