He answereth the tempting Pharisees, that the case of a man with his wife shall be ( as in the first institution it was) utterly indissoluble, though for one cause he may be divorced. 10. And thereupon to his Disciples he highly commendeth single life for Heaven. 13. He will have children come unto him. 16. He sheweth what is to be done to enter into life everlasting, 20. what also, for a rich man to be perfect: 27. As also what passing reward they that have which follow that his counsel of perfection: 25. yea though it be but in some one piece.He answereth the tempting Pharisees, that the case of a man with his wife shal be ( as in the first institution it was) vtterly indissoluble, though for one cause he may be diuorced. 10. And thervpon to his Disciples he highly commendeth single life for Heauen. 13. He wil haue children come vnto him. 16. He sheweth what is to be done to enter into life euerlasting, 20. what also, for a rich man to be perfect: 27. As also what passing reward they that haue which folow that his counsel of perfection: 25. yea though it be but in some one peece.
The fourth part of this Gospel: Christ's coming into Jewry toward his Passion.The fourth part of this Ghospel. Christs comming into Iurie toward his Passion.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the fines: borders, territory of Judææ: Judea beyond Jordan,AND it came to passe, when Iesvs had ended these wordes, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coastes of Iurie beyond Iordan,Et factum est, cum consummasset Jesus sermones istos, migravit a Galilæa, et venit in fines Judææ trans Jordanem,
2and great multitudes followed him: and he cured them there.and great multitudes folowed him: and he cured them there.et secutæ sunt eum turbæ multæ, et curavit eos ibi.
3And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to dimittere: to put away in divorce his wife for every cause?And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to dimisse his wife for euery cause?Et accesserunt ad eum pharisæi tentantes eum, et dicentes : Si licet homini dimittere uxorem suam, quacumque ex causa ?
4Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he which did make from the beginning, made them male and female? And he said:Who answering, said to them: Haue ye not read, that he which did * make from the beginning, made them male & femal? And he said:Qui respondens, ait eis : Non legistis, quia qui fecit hominem ab initio, masculum et feminam fecit eos ? Et dixit :
5For this cause, man shall leave father and mother, and shall adhærebit: split apart, the opposite sense to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.For this cause, man shal leaue father & mother, & shal cleaue to his wife, and they two shal be in one flesh.Propter hoc dimittet homo patrem, et matrem, et adhærebit uxori suæ, et erunt duo in carne una.
6Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. That therefore which God hath joined together, let not man separate.Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. That therfore which God hath ioyned together, let not man separate.Itaque jam non sunt duo, sed una caro. Quod ergo Deus conjunxit, homo non separet.
7They say to him: Why then did Moyses command to give a bill of divorce, and to dismiss her?They say to him: Why then * did Moyses command to giue a bil of diuorce, and to dimisse her?Dicunt illi : Quid ergo Moyses mandavit dare libellum repudii, et dimittere ?
8He saith to them: Because Moyses for the hardness of your heart permitted you to dismiss your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.He saith to them: Because Moyses for the hardnes of your hart permitted you to dimisse your wiues: but from the beginning it was not so.Ait illis : Quoniam Moyses ad duritiam cordis vestri permisit vobis dimittere uxores vestras : ab initio autem non fuit sic.
9And I say to you, that whosoever shall dismiss his wife, but for fornication, and shall marry another, doth commit mœchatur: adultery: and he that shall marry her that is dismissed, committeth advoutry.And I say to you, that * whosoeuer shal dimisse his wife, but for fornication, and shal mary an other, doth commit aduouterie: and he that shal mary her that is dimissed, committeth aduouterie.Dico autem vobis, quia quicumque dimiserit uxorem suam, nisi ob fornicationem, et aliam duxerit, mœchatur : et qui dimissam duxerit, mœchatur.
10His Disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry.His Disciples say vnto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to mary.Dicunt ei discipuli ejus : Si ita est causa hominis cum uxore, non expedit nubere.
11Who said to them: Not all capiunt: receive, hold this word, but they to whom it is given.Who said to them: Not al take this word, but they to whom it is giuen.Qui dixit illis : Non omnes capiunt verbum istud, sed quibus datum est.
12For there are Eunuchs which were born so from their mother's womb: and there are Eunuchs which were made by men: and there are Eunuchs, which have castraverunt: made themselves eunuchs themselves for the Kingdom of Heaven. He that can take, let him take.For there are Eunuches which were borne so from their mothers wombe: and there are Eunuches which were made by men: and there are Eunuches, which haue gelded themselues for the Kingdom of Heauen. He that can take, let him take.Sunt enim eunuchi, qui de matris utero sic nati sunt : et sunt eunuchi, qui facti sunt ab hominibus : et sunt eunuchi, qui seipsos castraverunt propter regnum cælorum. Qui potest capere capiat.
13Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the Disciples rebuked them.Then * were litle children presented to him, that he should impose hands vpon them & pray. And the Disciples rebuked them.Tunc oblati sunt ei parvuli, ut manus eis imponeret, et oraret. Discipuli autem increpabant eos.
14But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and stay them not from coming unto me: for the Kingdom of Heaven is for such.But Iesvs said to them: Suffer the litle children, and stay them not from comming vnto me: for the Kingdom of Heauen is for such.Jesus vero ait eis : Sinite parvulos, et nolite eos prohibere ad me venire : talium est enim regnum cælorum.
15And when he had imposed hands upon them, he departed from thence.And when he had imposed hands vpon them, he departed from thence.Et cum imposuisset eis manus, abiit inde.
16And behold one came and said to him: Good Master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?And * behold one came and said to him: Good Maister, what good shal I doe that I may haue life euerlasting?Et ecce unus accedens, ait illi : Magister bone, quid boni faciam ut habeam vitam æternam ?
17Who said to him: what askest thou me of good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments.Who said to him: what askest thou me of good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life keep the commandements.Qui dixit ei : Quid me interrogas de bono ? Unus est bonus, Deus. Si autem vis ad vitam ingredi, serva mandata.
18He saith to him, which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not commit advoutry, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,He saith to him, which? And Iesvs said: * Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not commit aduouterie, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnes,Dicit illi : Quæ ? Jesus autem dixit : Non homicidium facies ; non adulterabis ; non facies furtum ; non falsum testimonium dices ;
19Honour thy father and thy mother, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.Honour thy father & thy mother, * Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thyself.honora patrem tuum, et matrem tuam, et diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum.
20The young man saith to him: All these have I kept from my youth: what is yet deest: lacking, not "desiring" unto me?The yong man saith to him: Al these haue I kept from my youth: what is yet wanting vnto me?Dicit illi adolescens : Omnia hæc custodivi a juventute mea : quid adhuc mihi deest ?
21Jesus said to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell the things that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, follow me.Iesvs said to him: If thou wilt be perfect, goe, sel the things that thou hast, & giue to the poore, and thou shalt haue treasure in Heauen: and come, folow me.Ait illi Jesus : Si vis perfectus esse, vade, vende quæ habes, et da pauperibus, et habebis thesaurum in cælo : et veni, sequere me.
22And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had many possessions.And when the yong man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had many possessions.Cum audisset autem adolescens verbum, abiit tristis : erat enim habens multas possessiones.
23And Jesus said to his Disciples: Amen I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.And Iesvs said to his Disciples: Amen I say to you, that a rich man shal hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heauen.Jesus autem dixit discipulis suis : Amen dico vobis, quia dives difficile intrabit in regnum cælorum.
24And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.And againe I say to you, it is easier for a camel to passe through the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heauen.Et iterum dico vobis : Facilius est camelum per foramen acus transire, quam divitem intrare in regnum cælorum.
25And when they had heard this, the Disciples marveled very much, saying: who then can be saved?And when they had heard this, the Disciples marueled very much, saying: who then can be saued?Auditis autem his, discipuli mirabantur valde, dicentes : Quis ergo poterit salvus esse ?
26And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.And Iesvs beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God al things are possible.Aspiciens autem Jesus, dixit illis : Apud homines hoc impossibile est : apud Deum autem omnia possibilia sunt.
27Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we haue left al things, & haue folowed thee: what therfore shal we haue?Tunc respondens Petrus, dixit ei : Ecce nos reliquimus omnia, et secuti sumus te : quid ergo erit nobis ?
28And Jesus said to them: Amen I say to you, that you which have followed me, in the regeneratione: the renewal of all things, the world to come, when the Son of man shall sit in the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit upon twelve seats, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel.And Iesvs said to them: Amen I say to you, that you which haue folowed me, in the regeneration, when the Sonne of man shal sit in the seat of his maiestie, you also shal sit vpon twelue seats, iudging the twelue Tribes of Israel.Jesus autem dixit illis : Amen dico vobis, quod vos, qui secuti estis me, in regeneratione cum sederit Filius hominis in sede majestatis suæ, sedebitis et vos super sedes duodecim, judicantes duodecim tribus Israël.
29And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake: shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.And euery one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or landes for my names sake: shal receaue an hundred-fold, & shal possesse life euerlasting.Et omnis qui reliquerit domum, vel fratres, aut sorores, aut patrem, aut matrem, aut uxorem, aut filios, aut agros propter nomen meum, centuplum accipiet, et vitam æternam possidebit.
30And many shall be first, that are last, and last, that are first.And * many shal be first, that are last, and last, that are first.Multi autem erunt primi novissimi, et novissimi primi.
Annotations
6Not man separate. This inseparability betwixt man and wife riseth of that, that wedlock is a Sacrament. St. Augustine li. 1. de pec. originali, c. 34. 39. de nupt. et concupisc. li. 1. c. 10.
9But for fornication. For advoutry one may dismiss another, Matt. 5. but neither party can marry again for any cause during life. St. Augustine li. 11. de adult. coniug. c. 11. 12. 14. For the which unlawful act of marrying again, Fabiola that noble matron of Rome (albeit she was the Innocent part) did public penance, as St. Jerome witnesseth in her high commendation therefore. And in St. Paul Rom. 7. it is plain that she which is with another man, her husband yet living, shall be called an advoutress: contrary to the doctrine of our Adversaries.
11Not at all take. Whosoever have not this gift given them, it is either for that they will not have it, or for that they fulfil not that which they will; and they that have this gift or attain to this word, have it of God and their own free will. St. Augustine li. de gra. et lib. arbi. c. 4. So that it is evident no man is excluded from this gift, but (as Origen here saith) it is given to all that ask for it; contrary to our Adversaries that say it is impossible, and that for excuse of breaking their vows, wickedly say, they have not the gift.
12Gelded themselves. They geld themselves for the Kingdom of Heaven which vow chastity. St. Augustine de virginitate c. 24. Which proveth those kind of vows to be both lawful, and also more meritorious, and more sure to obtain life everlasting, then the state of wedlock, contrary to our Adversaries in all respects.
14He that can. It is not said of the Precepts, keep them who can, for they be necessary under pain of damnation to be kept; but of Counsels only (as of virginity, abstaining from flesh and wine, and of giving all a man's goods away to the poor) it is said, He that can attain to it, let him do it: which is counsel and no commandment. Contrary to our Adversaries that say there are no Counsels, but only precepts.
13Impose. They knew the valour of Christ's blessing, and therefore brought their children to him, as good Christian people have at all times brought their children to Bishops to have their blessing. See Annotation before Chap. 10. 13. And of Religious men's blessing see Ruffinus li. 2. c. 1. hist. St. Jerome in Epitaph. Paulæ c. 7, and in vit. Hilarionis, Theodoret in historia Sanctorum Patrum num. 8.
21If thou wilt be perfect. Lo, he maketh a plain difference between keeping the commandments, which is necessary for every man: and being perfect, which he counselleth only to them that will. And this is the state of great perfection which Religious men do profess, according to Christ's counsel here, leaving all things and following him.
21Follow me. Thus to follow Christ is to be without wife and care of children, to lack property, and to live in common, and this hath great reward in Heaven above other states of life: which St. Augustine saith, the Apostles followed, and himself, and that he exhorted others to it as much as lay in him. St. Augustine ep. 89. in fine, et in ps. 103. Conc. 3. post med.
26All things possible. This of the camel through a needle's eye, being possible to God, although he neither hath done it, nor by like will do it: maketh against the blasphemous infidelity of our Adversaries that say, God can do no more then he hath done, or will do. We see also that God can bring a camel through a needle's eye, and therefore his body through a door, and out of the sepulchre shut, and out of his mother a virgin, and generally above nature do with his body as he list.
27Leave all. This perfection of leaving all things the Apostles vowed. St. Augustine li. 17. de Ciuit. Dei. c. 4.
27What shall we have. They leave all things in respect of reward, and Christ doth well allow it in them by his answer.