FRAMEWORKS: Matthew, chapter 19

v.1-12 Marriage & Divorce

v.13-15 The Little Children and Jesus

v.16-24 The Rich and the Kingdom of God

v.25-30 The future of the disciples

 

v.1-12 Marriage & Divorce

 

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

v.2 (large crowds came and he continued to heal them) Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

v.3 (Pharisees came asking about divorce) 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?”

v.4,5 (Jesus refers them back to early Genesis) “Haven't you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,' [Gen 1:27] 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]?

v.6 (God's intent is that male and female become committed one) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

v.7 (Yet, they question, Moses permitted divorce) “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

v.8 (because with hard hearts it's better than the alternative) Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

v.9 (in the absence of immorality further sin can follow) I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

v.10 (wow, go the disciples, better not to marry then) The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

v.11 (singleness is only for those thus gifted) Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

v.12 (if you chose that, fine) 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.”

 

[Comment: Questions & answers with the Pharisees about marriage & divorce.]

  

    

v.13-15 The Little Children and Jesus

 

v.13 (the disciples try to stop parents bringing they children to be blessed) Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

v.14 (let them come, the kingdom is made up of the childlike) Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

v.15 (so he blessed them and then left) When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

   

[Comment: Jesus prays for little children.]

   

    

v.16-24 The Rich and the Kingdom of God

 

v.16 (a man came asking about doing good) Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

v.17 (only God is good, but keep the commandments) “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

v.18,19 (which ones – the ten commandments)  “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, honour your father and mother,' [Exo 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20] and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.' [Lev 19:18]”

v.20 (I've done that, what else?) “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

v.21 (if you want more than you have, sell what you have) 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.”

v.22 (the rich young man went away sad) When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

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

v.24 (easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye [perhaps a narrow gate in the town]) 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.”

   

[Comment: Jesus & a rich young man discuss keeping the Law.]

   

  

v.25-30 The future of the disciples

 

v.25 (this astounds the disciples – who then?) When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

v.26 (who God draws) Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

v.27 (Peter asks, what about us) Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

v.28 (at the end you will reign in heaven) 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.

v.29 (indeed anyone who leaves unbelieving family for me will be blessed in eternity) 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.

v.30 (values are reversed in the kingdom) But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

 

[Comment: Jesus, answering the disciples' question, explains the human impossibility of entering the kingdom of God (it has to be a work of God) but also the blessings that come with following him.]

    

   

Continue to Chapter 20