World English Bible · Under Rome
Matthew 19
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When had finished these words, he departed from and came into the borders of beyond . followed him, and he healed them there. came to him, him and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to his wife for any reason?" He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one '? So that they are no more two, but one . What therefore has joined together, don't let man tear apart." They asked him, "Why then did command us to give her a and her?" He said to them, ", because of the hardness of your , allowed you to your wives, but it has not been so. I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits ; and he who marries her when she is commits ." His said to him, "If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry." But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. For there are who were born that way from their mother's , and there are who were made by men; and there are who made themselves for of sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it." Then little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and ; and rebuked them. But said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for of belongs to ones like these." He on them, and departed from there. Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have ?" He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, . But if you want to enter into life, keep ." He said to him, "Which ones?" said, "'You shall not .' 'You shall not .' 'You shall not steal.' 'You shall not offer false .' ' your and your mother.' And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?" said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to , and you will have ; and come, follow me." But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions. said to his , "Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into of with difficulty. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into Kingdom." When heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be ?" Looking at them, said, "With men this is impossible, but with all things are possible." Then answered, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when will sit on of his , you also will sit on twelve , judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or , or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will . But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.