Matthew Chapter 19

From The Open Bible Project

19:1 It happened when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.

• (a) Passed over the water out of Galilee into the borders of Judea.

19:2 Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.

19:3 Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"

• (1) The band of marriage ought not to be broken, unless it is because of fornication.
• (b) To send her a bill of divorce; see (Matthew 1:19).

19:4 He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,[85]

19:5 and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?'[86]

• (c) The Greek word conveys "to be glued unto", by which it signifies the union by marriage, which is between man and wife, as though they were glued together.
• (d) They who were two become one as it were: and this word "flesh" is figuratively taken for the whole man, or the body, after the manner of the Hebrews.

19:6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart."

• (e) Has made them yokefellows, as the marriage itself is called a yoke, by a borrowed kind of speech.

19:7 They asked him, "Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?"

19:8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.

• (f) Being brought about because of the hardness of your hearts.
• (g) By a political law, not by the moral law: for the moral law is a perpetual law of God’s justice; the other bows and bends as the carpenter’s bevel.

19:9 I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."

• (h) Therefore in these days the laws that were made against adulterers were not regarded: for they would have no need of divorce, if the marriage had been severed by punishment of death.

19:10 His disciples said to him, "If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry."

• (i) If the matter stands in this way between man and wife, or in marriage.

19:11 But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.

• (3) The gift of celibacy is peculiar, and therefore no man can set a law to himself of perpetual celibacy.
• (k) Receive and admit, as by translation we say, that a straight and narrow place is not able to receive many things.

19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it."

• (l) A man can become a eunuch in one of two ways: the first is by castration or emasculation, and the other by natural causes, such as a rupture.
• (m) Who abstain from marriage, and live as celibates through the gift of God.

19:13 Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

• (4) The elect infants and little children are contained in the free covenant of God. (Ed.)

19:14 But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these."

19:15 He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.

19:16 Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

• (5) Those who seek to be saved by the law do not even know the law themselves.

19:17 He said to him, "[87>]Why do you call me good?[<87] No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

19:18 He said to him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder.' 'You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not steal.' 'You shall not offer false testimony.'

19:19 'Honor your father and mother.'[88] And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"[89]

19:20 The young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?"

19:21 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."

• (n) The young man did not answer truly in saying that he had kept all the commandments: and therefore Christ sets forth an example of true charity before him, to show the disease that lay lurking in his mind.

19:22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.

19:23 Jesus said to his disciples, "Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.

• (6) Rich men have need of a singular gift of God to escape out of the snares of Satan.

19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."

• (o) Literally, "it is of less labour".
• (p) Theophylact notes, that by this word is meant a cable rope, but Caninius alleges out of the Talmuds that it is a proverb, and the word "Camel" signifies the beast itself.

19:25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"

19:26 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

19:27 Then Peter answered, "Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?"

19:28 Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

• (7) It is not lost, that is neglected for God’s sake.
• (q) The regeneration is understood to mean that day when the elect will begin to live a new life, that is to say, when they will enjoy the heavenly inheritance, both in body and soul.

19:29 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.

19:30 But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.

• (8) To have begun well, and not to continue unto the end, is not only unprofitable, but also hurts very much.