¶ And he rose from thence, and went into the coasts of Jewry through the region that is beyond Iordan. And the people resorted unto him afresh: And as he was wont he taught them again. And the pharyses came and asked him a question: whether it were lawful for a man to put away his wife: To prove him. He answered and said unto them: what did Moses bid you do? And they said: Moses suffered to write a testimonial of her divorcement, and to put her away. And Iesus answered, and said unto them: For because of your hard hearts he wrote this precept unto you. But at the first creation, God made them man and woman, saying: For this thing's sake shall man leave father and mother, and bide by his wife, and, ij. shall be made one flesh. So then are they now not twain, but one flesh, therefore that which God hath coupled, let not man separate.
¶ And in the house his disciples asked him again of that matter. And he said unto them: Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, breaketh wedlock to herward. And if a woman forsake her husband, and be married to another, she committeth advoutry.
¶ And they brought children to him that he should touch them. And his disciples chid those that brought them. When Iesus saw that, he was displeased, and said to them: Suffer the children to come unto me and forbid them not. For unto such belongeth the kingdom of God. Verily I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child, he shall not enter therin. And he took them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
¶ And when he was come out 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? Iesus said to him: why callest thou me good? there is no man good but one, which is God. Thou knowest the commandments: break not matrimony, kill not, steal not, bear no false witness, defraud no man, honour thy father and thy mother. He answered and said to him: master, all these I have observed from my youth. Iesus beheld him, and had a favour to him, and said unto him: One thing is lacking unto thee Go, and sell all that thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me, and take thy cross on thee. But he was discomforted with that saying, and went away mourning, for he had great possessions.
¶ And Iesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples: with what difficulty shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. His disciples were astonied at his words. Iesus answered again, and said unto them: children, how hard is it for them, that trust in their riches, to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel to go thorow the eye of an needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonied out of measure, saying between themselves: who then can be saved? Iesus looked upon them, and said: with men it is unpossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
¶ And Peter began to say unto him: Lo, we have forsaken all, and have followed thee. Iesus answered and said: Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath forsaketh house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, other children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, which shall not receive an hundred fold now in this life, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers and children, and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life. Many that are first, shall be last. And the last first. They were in the way going up to Ierusalem. And Iesus went before them, and they were amazed, and as they followed, were afraid.
¶ And Iesus took the xij. again, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him. Behold we go up to Ierusalem, and the son of man shall be delivered unto the high priests and unto the scribes: and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the gentiles, and they shall mock him, and scourge him and spit upon him, and kill him, and the third day he shall rise again.
¶ And Iames and Ihon the sons of Zebedee, came unto him, saying: Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we desire. He said unto them: what would ye I should do unto you? They said to him: grant unto us that we may sit one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Iesus said unto them: Ye wot not what ye ask. Can ye drink of the cup, that I shall drink of? And be baptised in the baptism that I shall be baptised in? And they said unto him: that we can. Iesus said unto them: ye shall drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptised with the baptism that I shall be baptised in: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand, is not mine to give, but to them for whom it is prepared.
¶ And when the x. heard that, they began to disdain at Iames and Ihon. But Iesus called them unto him, and said to them: Ye know well that they which seem to bear rule among the gentiles, reign as lords over them. And they that be great among them exercise authority over them. So shall it not be among you but whosoever of you will be great among you shall be your minister. And whosoever will be chief, shall be servant unto all. For even the son of man came, not that other should minister unto him: but to minister, and to give his life for the redemption of many.
¶ And they came to Hiericho, and as he went out of Hiericho, with his disciples and a great number of people: Barthimeus the son of Thimeus which was blind, sat by the highways side begging. And when he heard that it was Iesus of Nazareth, he began to cry and to say: Iesus the son of David, have mercy on me. And many rebuked him, because he should hold his peace. But he cried the more a great deal, thou son of David have mercy on me. And Iesus stood still, and commanded him to be called, and they called the blind, saying unto him: Be of good comfort, rise, he called thee. He threw away his cloak, and rose and came to Iesus: And Iesus answered, and said unto him: what wilt thou that I do unto thee? The blind said unto him: Master, that I might see. Iesus said unto him: go thy way, thy faith hath saved thee: And by and by he received his sight, and followed Iesus in the way.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526