Matthew 19
Questions About Divorce
1Now when Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River.
Jesus left the Galilee region and traveled to Judea.
2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
The Jewish leaders had rejected Jesus and called Him demon possessed, but large crowds were following Him everywhere He traveled.
3Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?”
The Pharisees had been debating this divorce issue for years. Followers of the Hillel group taught that a man could divorce his wife for almost any reason, including if she burnt the bread. The Shammai group taught that man could only divorce his wife for sexual immorality.
4He answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female,
Jesus did not get involved in this Pharisee divorce controversy. Instead, He reminded the Pharisees of God’s original purpose in establishing the marriage bond.
Evolutionists falsely teach that women evolved separately from men. Jesus taught that they were both specially created.
5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?
Whenever a marriage occurs, the man and woman become one flesh.
6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
If God has made the husband and wife one flesh, then the laws of man cannot separate this divine marriage union.
7They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?”
The Mosaic Law allowed for divorce on reasons of immorality or adultery.
8Jesus said to them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way.
Moses allowed divorce, because man has an evil heart. Divorce was not part of God’s divine decree, but He allowed it because of His permissive will.
9Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”
Jesus was claiming that He had the same authority as that of the God-given Mosaic Law. Anyone who divorces his wife is guilty of committing adultery, unless the divorce is for immorality. Divorce, fornication, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, and lesbianism were major sins of the Roman Empire. Jesus condemned the Greco-Roman lifestyle.
10The disciples said to him, “If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!”
The disciples mentioned that it was better not to marry.
11He said to them, “Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given.
Jesus was about to give a tough doctrinal teaching which many people will have a hard time accepting.
12For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, and some who were made eunuchs by others, and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”
Jesus mentioned that there were three types of eunuchs in the world who would never marry. Some were born as a eunuch from birth. Others were forced to be eunuchs by kings, who usually castrated them to run their harems. God made some people eunuchs so that they can serve the Kingdom of God in that capacity. Only a person with strong divine viewpoint can accept this teaching.
Jesus and Little Children
13Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them.
The disciples scolded the parents for bringing their children to Jesus.
14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Little children were welcome in the arms of Jesus. There are many little children in the kingdom of heaven, because the satanic world system kills them through wars and abortion. Many nations draft 18 year olds to spill their blood for profit. It is interesting to note that the Mosaic Law only allowed 20 year olds and over to be drafted.
15And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.
Jesus loved teaching little children. Satan has taken over children instruction in most nations. Most public schools are preparing children to live in the satanic world system.
The Rich Young Man
16Now someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?”
The young man had a lot of money. He wanted to know what one good deed he could do to gain eternal life.
17He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Man is totally depraved and evil. Only God is good. The young man should not call Jesus “good” unless he was willing to call Jesus God. Jesus told the young man that if he wanted to earn eternal life, he had to keep the commandments. There were 613 commandments in the Mosaic Law. No one can keep all of them.
18“Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus listed six of the ten commandments.
20The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?”
The young man claimed that he had kept all of these commandments, but if he had one bad thought, or if one time he did not do the will of God, then he violated all of them.
21Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Jesus told the young man to give away all of his wealth and follow Jesus. God asks everyone to follow this example.
22But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.
The young man had so much money, that he could not make this sacrifice for God.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!
It is impossible for a rich man to enter heaven unless God opens his eyes and changes his heart.
24Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Liberals like to claim that Jesus was talking about the needle’s gate in the Jerusalem city wall. At this wall, camels had to bend on their knees to pass through the gate. This is the liberal attempt to avoid salvation by election and predestination. Dr. Luke uses the Greek word for a surgeon’s sewing needle. Just as it is impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a sewing needle, so it is impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Notice that the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are used simultaneously. They are not two different kingdom programs as many cults and isms falsely teach.
25The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?”
The Pharisees taught that Abraham stood at heaven’s gate and saved all Jews. Jesus taught the disciples that man cannot save himself.
26Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.”
Humans are totally depraved and evil. According to Romans 3:10-11: “there is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who seeks God. There is no one who understands God.” Therefore, it is impossible for man to save himself. The Holy Spirit must open the eyes, ears, and mind of man, or no man would ever be saved.
27Then Peter said to him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Peter again was the leader. His comment to Jesus was that the disciples had left everything for Jesus. This was true. Peter had left a large fishing business to follow Jesus.
28Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, 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.
When the Son of Man comes and ends the last Gentile kingdom of the Antichrist, then Jesus will renew the heavens and the earth. He will return the earth back to its Garden of Eden conditions. When Jesus sits on His throne in Jerusalem, the twelve apostles will sit with Him as well. The twelve apostles will rule over the twelve tribes of Israel during the Millennial Kingdom.
29And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Leaving Judaism was a difficult decision for Jewish believers. They were giving up their inheritance and security to do so. However, they would receive eternal life and a hundred times more inheritance in eternal rewards.
30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
There will be many Christians who people have never heard of who will receive large rewards from Christ Jesus.