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The King Leaves Galilee For Judea. Large Crowds Follow Him And He Heals Them

19 And it came about that when Jesus finished[a] these words, He went-away from Galilee and came into the districts[b] of Judea, beyond the Jordan. And large crowds followed Him, and He cured them there.

The Pharisees Test Jesus With a Question About Divorce. Divorce Is Not God’s Will

And Pharisees came to Him— testing Him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man[c] to send-away[d] his wife for any reason[e]?” And the One, having responded, said, “Did you not read [in Gen 1:27] that the One having created from the beginning[f] ‘made them male and female’? And He said [in Gen 2:24], ‘For this reason[g] a man will leave-behind his father and his mother and will be joined[h] to his wife. And the two will be one flesh’. So then, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God paired-together[i], let a person[j] not separate”. They say to Him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate[k] of divorce and send her away?” He says to them that “Moses permitted[l] you to send-away your wives because of your hardness-of-heart. But from the beginning it has not been so[m]. And I say to you that whoever sends-away his wife not based on sexual-immorality, and marries another, is committing-adultery”.

The Disciples Conclude It Is Better Not To Marry. Jesus Says This Is Right For Some

10 His disciples say to Him, “If the case of the man with the wife is like this, it is not expedient[n] to marry!” 11 But the One said to them, “Not all give-way-to[o] this statement, but [only] ones to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs[p] who were born thus from a mother’s womb. And there are eunuchs who were made-eunuchs by people. And there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. Let the one being able to give way, give way”.

Don’t Forbid The Children To Come To Me. Of Such Is The Kingdom of God

13 Then children were brought to Him in order that He might lay His hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them[q]. 14 But Jesus said, “Permit[r] the children, and do not be forbidding them to come to Me. For the kingdom of the heavens is of [s] such ones”. 15 And having laid His hands on them, He proceeded from there.

A Rich Man Asks What To Do To Enter Heaven. Jesus Says, Sell Everything And Follow Me

16 And behold— one having come to Him said, “Teacher, what good thing should I do in order that I may have eternal life?” 17 And the One said to him, “Why do you ask Me about what is good? There is One Who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments”. 18 He says to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder. You shall not commit-adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give-false-testimony. 19 Be honoring your father and your mother”. And, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself ”. 20 The young man says to Him, “I kept all these things. What am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect[t], go, sell your possessions and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens. And come, be following Me”. 22 But having heard the statement, the young man went away grieving. For he was having many properties.

It Is Hard For The Rich To Enter. But All Who Leave Anything Will Inherit More

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you that a rich one will enter with-difficulty into the kingdom of the heavens. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier that a camel go through a hole of a needle[u] than[v] that a rich one enter into the kingdom of God”. 25 And having heard it, the disciples were extremely astounded, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 And having looked at them, Jesus said to them, “With humans, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible”. 27 Then Peter, having responded, said to Him, “Behold— we left everything and followed You. What then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that you, the ones having followed Me— at the regeneration[w] when the Son of Man sits on the throne[x] of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging[y] the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundred-fold[z], and will inherit eternal life.

The First In This World Will Be Last And The Last Will Be First

30 “But many first[aa] ones will be last, and last ones, first.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 19:1 This marks the end of the ministry of Jesus in Galilee.
  2. Matthew 19:1 Or, boundaries.
  3. Matthew 19:3 This question is asked from the Jewish husband’s perspective. Jesus refutes the Jewish man’s commonly held view of divorce.
  4. Matthew 19:3 That is, divorce.
  5. Matthew 19:3 Or, for all grounds, for every cause. That is, for any fault the husband might find with her.
  6. Matthew 19:4 That is, created, made them from the beginning. Or, created them at the beginning, made them.
  7. Matthew 19:5 That is, because God made them to be a complementary pair. This is God’s intent.
  8. Matthew 19:5 Or, join-himself.
  9. Matthew 19:6 Or, yoked together, joined as a pair.
  10. Matthew 19:6 Or, man (generically speaking), a human. The broader sense is clear in Mk 10:9-12. Do not divorce your wives.
  11. Matthew 19:7 This document was to protect the wife and make it possible for her to remarry.
  12. Matthew 19:8 Jesus corrects the Pharisees. Deut 24:1 does not command divorce.
  13. Matthew 19:8 That is, it has not been God’s plan and intent that you divorce your wives.
  14. Matthew 19:10 Or, advantageous, profitable. This direct attack of Jesus upon male authority is shocking even to the disciples.
  15. Matthew 19:11 Or, make room for, accept. Not all have the ability to live in an unmarried state. This is an understatement, since God made them to be a pair, v 4-5. But Jesus validates singleness as also a gift from God, in contradiction to the views of that day.
  16. Matthew 19:12 That is, celibate or castrated males. Some are born with this disposition, some are forced into it, some choose to remain unmarried.
  17. Matthew 19:13 That is, those who brought the children.
  18. Matthew 19:14 Or, Leave the children alone.
  19. Matthew 19:14 That is, made up of; or, belonging to.
  20. Matthew 19:21 That is, complete, so as not to ‘lack’ anything.
  21. Matthew 19:24 Lit, bored-hole of a sewing-needle.
  22. Matthew 19:24 In other words, it is impossible, as Jesus says next. This is another shocking statement. Wealth was considered a clear sign of God’s blessing.
  23. Matthew 19:28 Or, rebirth [of the world].
  24. Matthew 19:28 Or, His throne of glory; His glorious throne.
  25. Matthew 19:28 That is, administering justice to.
  26. Matthew 19:29 That is, a hundred times as much. Or this may be a hyperbole meaning ‘many times as much’, as in Lk 18:30.
  27. Matthew 19:30 Or, foremost, chief. That is, first in time; or first in status. The parable that follows illustrates this point. In answer to Peter’s question in v 27, Jesus says God will reward based on His own will, not what we think we deserve; and based on completion of the work assigned to us, not based on comparison to the work done by others or in proportion to our part of the total work performed. Compare the parable at 25:14. Thus from the human viewpoint, some seeming to have done the least will seem to be rewarded the most; some who appear to deserve more will receive the same as others who appear to deserve less.

19 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Teaching About Divorce

19 [a](A)Now it happened that when Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and (B)came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; and [b]large crowds followed Him, and (C)He healed them there.

And some Pharisees came to [c]Jesus, testing Him and saying, “(D)Is it lawful for a man to [d]divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read (E)that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘(F)For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and (G)the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They *said to Him, “(H)Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” He *said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to [e]divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, (I)whoever [f]divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman [g]commits adultery[h].”

10 The disciples *said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” 11 But He said to them, (J)Not all men can accept this statement, but (K)only those to whom it has been given. 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 also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”

Jesus Blesses Children

13 (L)Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, [i](M)Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for (N)the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

The Rich Young Ruler

16 (O)And behold, someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have (P)eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but (Q)if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, (R)You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 (S)Honor your father and mother; and (T)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be [j]complete, go and (U)sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have (V)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, (W)it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, (X)it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, (Y)With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Many Who Are First Will Be Last

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when (Z)the Son of Man will sit on [k]His glorious throne, (AA)you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And (AB)everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother [l]or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive [m]one hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 (AC)But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 19:1 Lit And
  2. Matthew 19:2 Lit many
  3. Matthew 19:3 Lit Him
  4. Matthew 19:3 Or send away
  5. Matthew 19:8 Or send away
  6. Matthew 19:9 Or sends away
  7. Matthew 19:9 Some early mss makes her commit adultery
  8. Matthew 19:9 Some early mss add and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery
  9. Matthew 19:14 Or Permit the children
  10. Matthew 19:21 Or perfect
  11. Matthew 19:28 Lit the throne of His glory
  12. Matthew 19:29 One early ms adds or wife
  13. Matthew 19:29 Some mss many times as much