1Derefter satte Jesus og disciplene kursen mod Judæa og kom undervejs gennem området øst for Jordanfloden. Som sædvanlig samledes store folkeskarer omkring ham, og han underviste dem, som han plejede. (Matt 19,1; Luk 16,18)2Nogle farisæere prøvede at stille fælde for ham og spurgte: „Har en mand lov til at skille sig fra sin kone?”3Jesus begyndte med et modspørgsmål: „Hvad sagde Moses om skilsmisse?”4„Moses gav manden lov til at udstede et skilsmissebrev og sende konen bort,” svarede de.[1] (5.Mos 24,1)5„Moses gav den tilladelse på grund af menneskers uforsonlige holdning,” sagde Jesus.6„Men det var ikke Guds mening fra begyndelsen, for der står skrevet, at han ‚skabte dem som mand og kvinde’.[2] (1.Mos 1,27)7Der står også skrevet: ‚Derfor skal en mand forlade sin far og mor og knytte sig til sin kone,8og de to skal blive ét.’[3] Altså er de ikke længere to, men en enhed. (1.Mos 2,24)9Det, som Gud på den måde har sammenføjet, må intet menneske splitte ad.”10Da Jesus senere var alene med sine disciple inden døre, bragte de atter emnet på bane.11Han sagde da til dem: „Hvis en mand skiller sig fra sin kone og derefter gifter sig med en anden, er han skyldig i ægteskabsbrud mod sin første kone.12Og hvis en kone går fra sin mand og gifter sig med en anden, er det hende, som begår ægteskabsbrud mod sin første mand.”
Hvordan man får adgang til Guds rige
13På et tidspunkt bragte nogle forældre deres børn hen til Jesus, for at han skulle velsigne dem. Men disciplene ville jage dem bort. (Matt 19,13; Luk 18,15)14Da Jesus så det, blev han vred og sagde: „Lad børnene komme til mig. I må ikke hindre dem, for det er sådan nogle som dem, der får adgang til Guds rige.15Det siger jeg jer: Den, der ikke tager imod Guds rige på samme måde, som et barn tager imod, kommer slet ikke ind i det.”16Så tog han børnene ind til sig, lagde hænderne på dem og velsignede dem.
Hvordan man får det evige liv
17Da Jesus ville gå videre, kom en mand løbende og faldt på knæ foran ham. „Mester, du er et godt menneske,” sagde han. „Fortæl mig, hvad jeg skal gøre for at få del i det kommende liv?” (Matt 19,16; Luk 18,18)18„Hvorfor kalder du mig god?” spurgte Jesus. „Det ord kan jo kun bruges om Gud.19Og med hensyn til det, du spørger om, så kender du budene: Du må ikke begå drab, du må ikke bryde ægteskabet, du må ikke stjæle, du må ikke anklage nogen på falsk grundlag, du må ikke bedrage nogen, og du skal ære din far og din mor.”20„Jamen, Mester,” svarede manden, „alle de bud har jeg overholdt, fra jeg var ganske ung.”21Jesus så kærligt på ham. „Du mangler én ting,” sagde han. „Gå hjem, sælg alt, hvad du har, og giv pengene til de fattige. Så skal du få del i Himlens rigdom—og kom så og følg mig.”22Manden blev ilde til mode over det svar og gik nedslået bort. Han var nemlig meget rig.23Jesus kiggede rundt på disciplene. „Hvor er det dog svært for rige folk at komme ind i Guds rige,” sagde han.24De stirrede forfærdet på ham. Jesus gentog: „Det er ikke let at komme ind i Guds rige, når man er bundet af sin rigdom.[4]25Ja, faktisk er det lettere for en kamel at gå gennem et nåleøje, end det er for en rig at gå ind i Guds rige.”26Disciplene var rystede. De kunne ikke tro deres egne ører, men sagde til hinanden: „Hvem kan så få det evige liv?”27Jesus så på dem og sagde: „Hvad intet menneske kan gøre, det kan Gud, for Gud kan gøre alt.”
Lønnen for at følge Jesus
28„Hvad så med os?” spurgte Peter. „Vi har jo forladt alt for at følge dig.” (Matt 19,27; Luk 18,28)29Jesus svarede: „Det siger jeg jer: Alle, som har forladt deres hjem, brødre, søstre, far, mor, børn eller deres job for at følge mig og forkynde mit budskab,30skal få det 100 gange igen nu her i det jordiske liv: nye hjem, nye brødre, søstre, mødre, børn og nyt arbejde—men også forfølgelser. Desuden får de det evige liv i den kommende verden.31Men mange, der her på jorden regnes blandt de store, vil i Guds rige være de mindste. Og mange af dem, der her er blandt de mindste, vil dér være de største.”
Tiden nærmer sig, hvor Messias skal lide og dø
32Jesus og disciplene fortsatte nu deres vandring ind mod Jerusalem. Jesus gik forrest, mens hans ledsagere sakkede bagud. Disciplene var stadig rystede, og de andre, som fulgte med, var bange. Jesus kaldte nu de Tolv til sig og fortalte dem igen om det, der skulle ske med ham. (Matt 20,17; Luk 18,31)33„Når vi kommer til Jerusalem,” sagde han, „vil Menneskesønnen blive forrådt og udleveret til ypperstepræsterne og de skriftlærde. De vil dømme mig til døden og udlevere mig til romerne,34som vil håne mig og spytte på mig. Jeg vil blive pisket og til sidst slået ihjel. Men på den tredje dag vil jeg genopstå fra de døde.”
Lederskab i Guds rige
35Lidt senere gik Zebedæussønnerne, Jakob og Johannes, hen til Jesus og sagde: „Mester, vi vil bede dig gøre noget for os.” (Matt 20,20; Luk 22,24)36„Hvad vil I have, jeg skal gøre for jer?” spurgte Jesus.37„Når du bliver konge i Guds rige, vil vi gerne sidde på de troner, der står nærmest ved din. Den ene af os på højre side og den anden på venstre side.”38„I ved ikke, hvad I beder om. Kan I tømme det lidelsens bæger, som jeg skal tømme? Kan I følge mig i den smertefulde dåb, som jeg skal igennem?”39„Ja, det kan vi.” „Godt, I skal få lov at tømme samme bæger og døbes med samme dåb som jeg,40men det er ikke mig, der afgør, hvem der skal sidde ved min højre og venstre side. Gud har allerede bestemt, hvem der skal sidde der.”41Da de andre ti disciple hørte, hvad Jakob og Johannes havde bedt om, blev de vrede.42Men Jesus kaldte dem sammen og sagde: „I ved, hvordan magthaverne i denne verden holder af at herse og hundse med folk, og hvordan de store nyder at vise deres magt over for de små.43-44Sådan må det ikke være hos jer. De, som gerne vil være store og betydningsfulde iblandt jer, skal være tjenere for alle de andre.45Menneskesønnen kom heller ikke for at lade sig betjene, men for selv at tjene og give sit liv som løsesum, for at mange kan blive sat fri.”
En blind bliver helbredt og slutter sig til Jesus
46Jesus og disciplene nåede så frem til Jeriko. Da de senere forlod byen, blev de fulgt af en skare af mennesker. Ved vejkanten sad der en blind tigger ved navn Bartimæus, Timæus’ søn. (Matt 20,29; Luk 18,35)47Da han hørte, at Jesus fra Nazaret nærmede sig, begyndte han at råbe: „Jesus, du Davids Søn,[5] forbarm dig over mig!”48Der var mange, der skældte ham ud og sagde, at han skulle tie stille. Men han var ikke til at standse. Højere og højere råbte han: „Du Davids Søn, forbarm dig over mig!”49Jesus standsede og sagde: „Bring ham herhen!” Så var der nogle, der gik hen og sagde til den blinde: „Vær ved godt mod! Rejs dig og kom. Jesus kalder på dig.”50Bartimæus kastede sin kappe til side, sprang op og gik hen mod Jesus.51„Hvad vil du, at jeg skal gøre for dig?” spurgte Jesus. „Mester! Jeg vil gerne kunne se,” svarede den blinde.52„Din bøn er hørt! Det var din tro, der reddede[6] dig!” Straks fik manden sit syn igen og fulgte derefter med Jesus.
1And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. (Matt 4,25; Matt 19,1; Luk 9,51; Luk 17,11; Joh 10,40)2And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (Matt 5,31; Joh 8,6)3He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” (5.Mos 24,1)5And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. (Mark 3,5; Mark 6,52; Mark 16,14; Heb 3,8)6But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ (1.Mos 1,27; 1.Mos 5,2; Mark 13,19; Rom 1,20; 2.Pet 3,4)7‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,[1] (1.Mos 2,24; Ef 5,31)8and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. (Mal 2,15; 1.Kor 6,16)9What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (1.Kor 7,10)10And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.11And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, (Matt 5,32)12and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” (1.Kor 7,11; 1.Kor 7,13)
Let the Children Come to Me
13And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. (Matt 19,13; Mark 10,48; Luk 18,15)14But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. (Matt 18,3; Mark 9,39)15Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luk 8,13; Joh 3,3; Joh 3,5; Jak 1,21)16And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 9,36; Åb 1,17)
The Rich Young Man
17And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Matt 19,16; Matt 25,34; Mark 1,40; Luk 10,25; Luk 18,18)18And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” (2.Mos 20,12; 5.Mos 5,16; Matt 5,21; Matt 5,27; Rom 13,9)20And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” (Filip 3,6)21And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matt 6,19; Mark 3,5; Mark 10,27; Luk 12,33; Luk 16,9; Luk 19,8; Luk 22,61; Joh 1,42; Joh 11,5; Joh 13,23; Ap G 2,45; Ap G 4,34; 1.Tim 6,18)22Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Ez 33,31)23And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Matt 12,28; Matt 13,22; Mark 3,5; 1.Kor 1,26)24And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is[2] to enter the kingdom of God! (Job 31,24; Salm 49,6; Salm 52,7; Ord 11,28; Mark 2,5; Mark 10,23; Mark 10,32; Joh 13,33; Joh 21,5; 1.Tim 6,17)25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10,23)26And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,[3] “Then who can be saved?”27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (1.Mos 18,14; Job 42,2; Jer 32,17; Jer 32,27; Mark 10,23; Mark 14,36; Luk 1,37)28Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” (Matt 4,20; Matt 4,22; Mark 1,18; Mark 1,20)29Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, (Mark 8,35; Luk 14,26)30who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Matt 6,33; Matt 12,32; Luk 20,35; Joh 15,20; Ap G 14,22; 2.Kor 12,10; Ef 1,21; 2.Thess 1,4; 2.Tim 3,11)31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matt 19,30)
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time
32And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, (Matt 20,17; Mark 10,24; Luk 9,51; Luk 18,31; Luk 19,28)33saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. (Matt 16,21; Matt 26,66; Matt 27,2; Joh 18,30; Joh 19,7; Ap G 2,23; Ap G 3,13; Ap G 4,27; Ap G 21,11)34And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” (Matt 26,67; Matt 27,26; Mark 8,31; Mark 14,65; Mark 15,19)
The Request of James and John
35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” (Matt 18,19; Matt 20,20; Mark 1,19)36And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10,51)37And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” (Matt 19,28; Luk 9,26)38Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Es 51,22; Matt 26,29; Matt 26,42; Mark 14,36; Luk 9,33; Luk 12,50; Luk 22,42; Luk 23,34; Joh 18,11)39And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, (Ap G 12,2; Rom 6,3; Rom 8,17; Filip 3,10; Åb 1,9)40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” (Matt 19,11; Matt 25,34)41And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.42And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. (Mark 9,33; Luk 22,25; 1.Pet 5,3)43But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,[4] (Matt 23,11; Luk 9,48)44and whoever would be first among you must be slave[5] of all. (2.Kor 4,5)45For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Es 53,10; Es 53,11; Dan 9,26; Mark 14,24; Joh 10,15; Joh 11,51; Joh 13,4; Joh 13,13; Rom 4,25; Rom 5,15; 2.Kor 8,9; Gal 1,4; Gal 2,20; Filip 2,7; 1.Tim 2,6; Titus 2,14; Heb 2,10; Heb 9,28; 1.Pet 1,18; Åb 5,9)
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
46And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. (Matt 20,29; Luk 18,35; Luk 19,1; Joh 9,1; Joh 9,8)47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 1,24)48And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Matt 19,13)49And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” (Joh 16,33)50And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. (Mark 13,16)51And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” (Mark 10,36; Joh 20,16)52And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Matt 9,22; Mark 5,23; Mark 5,28; Mark 5,34; Mark 6,56; Luk 7,50; Luk 8,48; Luk 17,19)