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Jesus Teaches Marriage Welcome and Lasting Life

Matthew 19

The big picture

Leaving Galilee, a northern region, Jesus, the teacher and healer, reaches Judaea, farther south, across the river Jordan. Crowds follow, and he heals them. A question about divorce leads him to speak about marriage and life without it. His disciples, the people who follow him, then try to stop children from reaching him. He welcomes them. Next, a rich young man asks about life that never ends. His sad departure leads Jesus to explain why wealth cannot buy entry into God's kingdom, life under God's rule.

In this chapter

Central truth

God’s kingdom challenges human claims over marriage, rank, and wealth, while Jesus welcomes children and promises life to those who follow him.

Matthew 19: Jesus Teaches Marriage Welcome and Lasting Life
Chapter sceneMatthew 19

Scripture beside the summary

Matthew · King James Version · 30

Matthew 19:1-12

Marriage and Life Without Marriage

Pharisees, a Jewish group devoted to the law, test Jesus about divorce for any cause. He recalls God's joining of male and female as one flesh. People must not break that bond. Moses, the earlier lawgiver, allowed divorce because of stubborn hearts, not God's first design. Jesus calls divorce followed by remarriage adultery, breaking the marriage bond, except for sexual wrongdoing. He also warns about marrying a divorced woman. Christians differ over this exception and remarriage. His followers wonder if staying single is better. Jesus says that life is not for all. Some lack sexual capacity from birth; others have been castrated. Still others freely forgo marriage to serve God's kingdom.

In everyday life

The marriage registrar pauses when a client speaks of vows as a contract he intends to cancel whenever a better offer appears. She reads back the commitment he is asking to make. Its seriousness cannot be reduced to convenience. Jesus speaks from God's purpose for marriage; the registrar explains a civil pledge.

Notice

Matthew 19:8 The allowance through Moses is linked to hard hearts rather than to the beginning. Jesus distinguishes a concession to human failure from God's purpose for the bond.

Matthew 19:1-12

King James Version

1And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

2And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

3The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Matthew 19:13-15

Jesus Welcomes the Children Brought to Him

People bring small children so Jesus can lay hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuke those bringing them, treating the approach as something to stop. Jesus tells them to let the children come and not hinder them, because heaven's kingdom belongs to such as these. He places his hands on them before leaving. The children do not present status, learning, or wealth to earn the meeting. The brief scene gives them a place with Jesus despite the followers' attempt to control access. Those closest to him must learn that their gatekeeping can oppose his welcome.

In everyday life

A festival steward starts turning away a parent with small children from a quiet reception, but the host leaves his seat to welcome them. The steward's rule had mistaken limited social standing for lack of a place. The host gives them his attention. Jesus links children with God's kingdom, not admission to a reception.

Notice

Matthew 19:14 The prohibition falls on hindering the children, not on bringing them. Jesus corrects his own followers' control of access rather than asking the children to become more impressive.

Matthew 19:13-15

King James Version

13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Matthew 19:16-22

The Rich Young Man Leaves Sad

A young man asks Jesus what good act will gain eternal life. Jesus directs attention to God's goodness and the commands against murder, adultery, theft, and false witness, along with honour for parents and love of neighbour. The man says he has kept them and asks what is missing. Jesus tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him, with treasure in heaven. He leaves in grief because he owns much. He had claimed to keep the commands. Now the call reaches his wealth, and he turns away from the life he sought.

The rich young man goes away sorrowful
Chapter sceneMatthew 19
Galilee and Judea
Galilee and Judea

In everyday life

A wealthy volunteer stands in a relief warehouse and reads the full terms of a long assignment. Taking it means leaving his business in other hands and giving up the control he prizes. He folds the form and walks away, visibly torn. Jesus asks the young man to give his wealth away, not leave a business temporarily.

Notice

Matthew 19:22 The man's sorrow is connected with the size of his possessions. His wealth does not make the requested response feel smaller; it helps explain why he turns away.

Matthew 19:16-22

King James Version

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Matthew 19:23-30

God Makes Possible What Wealth Cannot Buy

Wealth makes entry into God's kingdom very hard, Jesus tells his followers. His picture of a camel passing through a needle's hole shocks them. They ask who can be saved. Human strength cannot do it, he says, but God can. Peter, one of his followers, asks what awaits those who left everything for him. Jesus promises his chosen followers twelve thrones when he reigns as the Son of man, his title for himself. They will judge Israel's twelve tribes, the divisions of God's people. Others who lose homes, land, or family for him will gain far more and lasting life. He warns that ranks will be reversed.

The camel, and Peter's question
Chapter sceneMatthew 19

In everyday life

An inheritance adviser sits with a client at her law office. The client offers a larger share of his estate to end a family rift. She explains that money cannot make his children trust him again. He lowers the pen and listens. Jesus speaks of salvation that God makes possible, not peace bought through a will.

Notice

Matthew 19:26 Jesus answers impossibility by naming God, not by reducing the size of the camel or widening the needle. The hope rests in divine action rather than hidden human capacity.

Matthew 19:23-30

King James Version

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29And every one that hath forsaken houses, 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 inherit everlasting life.

30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Details worth noticing

30verses in this reading
4major movements
12verses with speech
9questions in the KJV text

The opening image

Matthew 19:1 begins with “And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;”

Where the chapter turns

Matthew 19:14 forms a natural hinge: “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

The final note

Matthew 19:30 leaves the reader with “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”

A word trail through the chapter

The words Jesus, eunuchs, good, wife, disciples, kingdom help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.

KJV words made clear

eunuchs
Men born without sexual capacity, men who have been castrated, or those who freely remain unmarried here.
regeneration
The coming renewal when the Son of man reigns in glory.

Music and video connected to the passage

Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.

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Source: eBible.org · eng-kjv2006