Mark 10:1-16

1Jesus left there and went into the territory of Judea along the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered around him again, and he taught them as he usually did.

2Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, “Can a husband divorce his wife?”

3Jesus answered them, “What command did Moses give you?”

4They said, “Moses allowed a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her.”

5Jesus said to them, “He wrote this command for you because you’re heartless.

6But God made them male and female in the beginning, at creation.

7That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife,

8and the two will be one. So they are no longer two but one.

9Therefore, don’t let anyone separate what God has joined together.”

10When they were in a house, the disciples asked him about this.

11He answered them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery.

12If a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.”

13Some people brought little children to Jesus to have him hold them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.

14When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.

15I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive God’s kingdom as a little child receives it will never enter it.”

16Jesus put his arms around the children and blessed them by placing his hands on them.