Matthew 19

Matthew 19 covers various teachings of Jesus on marriage, divorce, the kingdom of heaven, and eternal life. The chapter begins with Jesus’ response to questions from the Pharisees about divorce, providing insight into God’s original design for marriage. It also includes Jesus’ blessing of the children brought to Him and His conversation with the rich young ruler, who seeks guidance on attaining eternal life. These teachings emphasize values of commitment, humility, and prioritizing God’s kingdom over worldly possessions.

Matthew 19:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2 And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

Jesus transitions from Galilee to Judea, followed by large crowds who seek His healing touch. This movement shows Jesus’ expanding ministry as He continues to reach people across regions. His healing of the multitudes demonstrates His compassion and power, drawing people eager for both physical healing and spiritual guidance.

Matthew 19:3 (NKJV)
3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

The Pharisees question Jesus to test His adherence to Mosaic Law. Divorce was a contentious topic, and their question aimed to challenge Jesus’ teachings on marriage. This encounter highlights the Pharisees’ focus on legalities rather than the heart of God’s intentions for marriage.

Matthew 19:4-6 (NKJV)
4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’
5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Jesus reminds His audience of God’s original design for marriage, where a man and woman, created male and female, are joined together in a sacred, lifelong union. The phrase "one flesh" signifies a deep and inseparable bond in which the husband and wife are no longer two individuals but united as one, working together as a single unit. This unity encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, enabling them to support, complement, and strengthen each other in every aspect of life. As partners, they share common goals, make decisions together, and function harmoniously, reflecting God’s purpose for marriage as a covenant of love, trust, and cooperation. Jesus emphasizes that this divine union is not to be broken by human intervention, highlighting its sacred and enduring nature.

Matthew 19:7 (NKJV)
7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”

The Pharisees question why Moses allowed divorce if marriage is meant to be permanent. Their inquiry reflects their focus on the law’s concessions rather than God’s original intent for marriage, showing a contrast between human legal practices and divine principles.

Matthew 19:8-9 (NKJV)
8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

Jesus explains that Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of people's hearts, but this was not part of God’s original design for marriage. From the beginning, God intended marriage to be a permanent and sacred union. Jesus then emphasizes that divorcing a spouse and marrying another results in adultery, except in cases of sexual immorality, which breaks the marital covenant. He also states that anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery if her divorce was not due to sexual immorality. This teaching highlights the enduring nature of the marital bond in God's eyes and calls for faithfulness and commitment.

Matthew 19:10-12 (NKJV)
10 His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”
11 But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:
12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

The disciples, reacting to Jesus’ strict teaching on marriage, suggest that it might be better not to marry at all. Jesus responds by acknowledging that not everyone can accept this perspective, as it requires a special calling or gift. He explains that some people remain unmarried because they are physically unable to marry ("eunuchs from birth"), others because of circumstances beyond their control ("made eunuchs by men"), and some choose celibacy for the sake of dedicating themselves to God and His kingdom ("made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake"). Jesus concludes by saying this teaching is for those who can accept it, emphasizing that singleness and celibacy can be a deliberate, God-honoring choice for those equipped to live it.

Matthew 19:13-15 (NKJV)
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

People bring children to Jesus for His blessing, but the disciples try to prevent it, perhaps seeing it as a disruption. Jesus, however, welcomes the children, affirming that they represent the humility and openness needed to enter God’s kingdom. This moment highlights Jesus’ love for children and the value He places on childlike faith.

Matthew 19:16-17 (NKJV)
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

A man approaches Jesus, calling Him "Good Master" and asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds by saying, "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God." Here, Jesus emphasizes that all goodness originates from God, who is the ultimate and perfect source of righteousness. Jesus does not deny His own goodness but redirects the man’s focus to God, highlighting that true goodness is not self-derived but comes from the divine. As the begotten Son of God, Jesus inherits His goodness and divinity from the Father, fully reflecting the Father’s perfect nature. This sets Him apart from created beings, who can also exhibit goodness, but only if they allow God to dwell in them and work through them. Any goodness in creation is a reflection of God’s character and not inherent to the created being. Jesus then tests the man’s understanding and commitment by instructing him to keep the commandments. While the man claims to have followed them, Jesus later reveals that his attachment to wealth prevents him from fully submitting to God (Matthew 19:21-22).

Matthew 19:18-19 (NKJV)
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’
19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

When the man asks Jesus which commandments he must follow to gain eternal life, Jesus responds by listing several key commandments, including those against murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, and the command to honor one’s parents, along with the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself. These commandments focus on moral and relational behavior, emphasizing how individuals should interact with others. Jesus highlights these because they reflect the heart of God’s law—love and respect for others. While the man claims to have kept these commandments since his youth, Jesus doesn’t immediately challenge this outward claim, suggesting that the man may have followed the letter of the law. However, Jesus is addressing more than just external compliance; He is testing the man’s heart. By mentioning these commandments, Jesus points to the need for a heart that not only obeys outwardly but also aligns deeply with God’s intent for love and righteousness. Ultimately, Jesus uses this moment to show that true obedience is not just about following rules but about total surrender to God’s will, which the man struggles with due to his attachment to wealth.

Matthew 19:20-22 (NKJV)
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

The man responds to Jesus, saying, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus then tells him that if he wants to be perfect, he must sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him. Upon hearing this, the man becomes sorrowful because he had great wealth. This passage reveals that while the man outwardly followed the commandments, his attachment to his wealth was a barrier to true discipleship. Jesus exposes that the man’s heart was not fully surrendered to God, as his material possessions took priority over following Christ. The command to sell everything was not a requirement for all believers but a specific challenge for this man to let go of what held him back from wholehearted devotion to God. His sorrow reflects the difficulty of choosing spiritual riches over earthly ones, revealing that true discipleship involves a radical commitment to God above all else.

Matthew 19:23-26 (NKJV)
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Jesus tells His disciples that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven and uses the vivid metaphor, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The "eye of the needle" here refers to a literal sewing needle, emphasizing the impossibility of such a feat. The disciples, astonished, ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus responds, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible," teaching that salvation is not achieved through human effort, wealth, or status but is made possible only by God’s grace and transformative power.

Matthew 19:27-30 (NKJV)
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”
28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Peter asks Jesus what reward awaits those who have left everything to follow Him, and Jesus assures him that their sacrifices will not be in vain. He promises that in the "regeneration" (the future kingdom), when He sits on His glorious throne, the disciples will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Additionally, anyone who has forsaken houses, family, or possessions for His name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life. Jesus concludes with the profound statement, "But many who are first will be last, and the last first," emphasizing that God’s kingdom operates on principles that differ from worldly standards. Those who are considered "first" in this life—wealthy, powerful, or privileged—may find themselves last in God’s kingdom if they prioritize earthly things over God. Conversely, those who are "last" in the eyes of the world—humble, sacrificial, or marginalized—may be elevated by God if they faithfully follow Him. This statement serves as a reminder that true greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humility, selflessness, and complete dependence on Him, rather than through status or achievements by human standards.