The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 19

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The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 19

The Bible Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.19.NIV

Kingdom Values: Divorce, Minor, and Wealth

Divorce

1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.

2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” (Yes, but no without reasonable indecency according to Deut. 24:1-4. This law, however, can be abused by a bad willed husband.)

4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ (Gen. 1:27) 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? (Gen. 2:24)

6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (This is the model of the marriage established by God; between a man and a woman, and not to be broken.)

7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” (They were challenging Jesus with the legitimacy of the law.)

8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard (It is so because of reality of sinful human being- to prohibit worse scenarios.). But it was not this way from the beginning. (But the principle is what it is. We must understand what is the principle and what is the allowable application in each case.)

9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (Sexual immorality ruins relationship.)

10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” (The disciples were overly concerned about marriage. Actually, marriage is a complicated relationship but also a very natural.)

11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. (Celibacy; living alone without marriage.)

12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others- and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” (Voluntary or involuntary Celibacy has its own benefits for the sake of the Kingdom but it's not designed for everybody. The prime God's design is getting married. Gen. 1:26-28)

The Little Children and Jesus

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. (Minor was not recognized highly in many cultures including Jews)

14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (But not in the Kingdom. All souls have equal value because of God's design.)

15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. (Jesus blessed children. They are worthy enough to be blessed and nurtured.)

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Eternal life is the goal for all people. So the man wanted to achieve it with his good deeds.)

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. (Being good for eternal life is impossible since nobody is perfectly good.) If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” (But living humbly under the law is the choice with our limitation.)

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, (This is the summary of the latter 4 commandments; sixth to ninth.) 19 honor your father and mother,’ (fifth commandment) and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Lev. 19:18, This is the sum of latter part of the Ten Commandments; fifth to tenth)

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” (The young man was confident keeping the law as many Jews thought of themselves at the time.)

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Now Jesus gives him the final challenge- giving up all wealth for the eternal life- to see if he truly value the eternal life as the utmost goal. Mt. 13:44.)

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (He found that he is not ready to give up the current wealth for the eternal life.)

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (The wealth is the blessing if they used it for better life of all, but otherwise, it will be the shackles holding their footstep to the Kingdom life. The desire for worldly things- Hedonism (pursuing physical pleasure), Materialism (pursuing mental satisfaction with worldly matters), and Humanism (pursuing position and pride) is the greatest obstacle to the Kingdom.)

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” (The disciples were concerned about the great challenge ahead of them getting into the Kingdom of God.)

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Salvation belongs to God, but not to us.)

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Giving up mine, and following Jesus are good enough for now. But it shows what should be our priority. We live momentarily but for eternity.)

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (This world and Coming world are related under the common Ruler, the Father in the Heaven and the Lord Jesus.)

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (There will be rewards in the Kingdom according to how we lived here.)

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (But there are some differences- such as grading, lining up, and kinds of rewards- between the ways of the earth and the Kingdom. Nobody will be boasting or proud of own reward to others. We are merely humble unworthy servants who did what we have to do. Lk. 17:10)

Teachings of the Chapter 19 (AI)

Matthew Chapter 19 is a foundational section of the New Testament where Jesus addresses the sanctity of marriage, the value of childlike faith, and the spiritual dangers of wealth. It follows Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem and establishes vital principles for Christian living.

The chapter is traditionally broken down into four core teachings:

1. The Permanence of Marriage (vv. 1–12)

When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus regarding the legal grounds for divorce, He points them back to the original design of creation in Genesis.

The Union: Jesus teaches that God designed marriage as a lifelong, sacred bond where a man and woman "become one flesh".

The Command: He declares, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

The Exception: While Jesus emphasizes the permanence of the union, He notes that the only explicit allowance for divorce is marital unfaithfulness (sexual immorality).

Celibacy: In response to the disciples noting how strict this is, Jesus acknowledges that for some, remaining single is a purposeful, God-given choice to better serve His Kingdom.

2. Welcoming the Children (vv. 13–15)

The disciples try to prevent parents from bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing, likely viewing the children as an insignificant interruption to Jesus' public ministry.

The Lesson: Jesus sharply rebukes His disciples and welcomes the children, stating, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

The Meaning: This reinforces a recurring theme in the Gospel: to enter the Kingdom of God, one must approach God with the humility, dependence, and trusting nature of a child.

3. The Rich Young Ruler (vv. 16–22)

A wealthy young man approaches Jesus asking what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life.

The Test: Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. When the young man claims to have done this, Jesus points to his true idol: his wealth.

The Demand: Jesus challenges the man to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.

The Tragedy: The young man walks away sad because he is extremely wealthy, illustrating that one cannot prioritize possessions or self above God and still follow Him.

4. The Danger of Riches and the Reward of Faith (vv. 23–30)

Using the encounter with the rich young ruler, Jesus teaches on the spiritual pitfalls of wealth.

The Camel and the Eye of a Needle: Jesus uses hyperbole, stating it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

With God, All Things are Possible: Shocked, the disciples ask who can be saved. Jesus replies that human effort alone is insufficient, but "with God all things are possible."

The Eternal Reward: When Peter asks what the disciples will receive for leaving everything to follow Jesus, He assures them that their sacrifices will be rewarded abundantly, both in this life and in eternity.