Frameworks:
Matthew's Gospel, chapter 19
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)
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.”
v.13-15
The Little Children and Jesus
v.13
(the disciples
tries 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.
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,' [Exodus
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.”
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.