Gospel of the Holy Twelve

1AND it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan; and great multitudes followed him and he healed them there.

2The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away a wife for every cause?

3And he answered and said unto them, In some nations, one man hath many wives, and putteth away whom he will for a just cause; and in some, a woman hath many husbands, and putteth away whom she will for a just cause; and in others, one man is joined to one woman, in mutual love, and this is the first and the better way.

4For have ye not read that God who made them at the beginning, made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man or a woman leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife or her husband, and they twain shall be one flesh.

5Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God have joined together, let not man put asunder.

6They said unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives. even as he permitted you to eat flesh, for many causes, but from the beginning it was not so.

7And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away a wife, except it be for a just cause, and shall marry another in her place, committeth adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife it is not good to marry.

8But he said unto them All cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some, celibates who were so born from their mother’s womb, and there are some, which were made celibates of men, and there be some, who have made themselves celibates for the kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

9THEN there came unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and bless them, and the disciples rebuked them.

10But Jesus said, Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. And he laid his hands on them and blessed them.

11AND as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus Master, have mercy on us.

12And when he saw them, he said unto them Go, shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

13And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.