Holy Gospel

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 10:2-16

The Pharisees approached and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him.

He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" 

They replied, "Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." 

But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. 

But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. 

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. 

Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." 

In the house the disciples again questioned him about this. 

He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 

When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 

Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."

Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.