← All Chapters The Book of Matthew · Chapter 19

Matthew 19: Marriage, Children, and Riches

Jesus upholds marriage, welcomes little children, and shows that salvation is impossible without God.

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Matthew 19 (WEB)

1 When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.

2 Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.

3 Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

5 and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’

6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”

7 They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?”

8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.

9 I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”

10 His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.”

11 But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is 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 eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

13 Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

14 But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”

15 He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.

16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

17 He said to him, “Why do you call me good?No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’

19 ‘Honor your father and mother.’And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.

23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.

Summary

Leaving Galilee, Jesus is tested by Pharisees about divorce. He points back to creation, where God made them male and female and joined the two as one flesh, so what God has joined, man must not separate; Moses' permission was a concession to hard hearts. When the disciples find this hard, Jesus speaks of those given grace to live single for the kingdom. He welcomes little children brought to him, saying the kingdom belongs to ones like these. A rich young man asks how to gain eternal life; he has kept the commandments, yet when Jesus tells him to sell all and follow, he goes away sad. Jesus warns how hard riches make entering the kingdom, but with God all things are possible, and those who leave all for him receive far more.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — Upholds God's design for marriage, blesses the children, and calls the rich young man to follow him.
  • The Pharisees — Test Jesus with a question about divorce, trying to trap him over the law of Moses.
  • The little children — Brought to Jesus for blessing; he welcomes them as those to whom the kingdom belongs.
  • The rich young man — Eager for eternal life and morally upright, yet he turns away sorrowful rather than leave his possessions.
  • Peter — Notes that the disciples have left everything to follow Jesus and asks what they will receive.

Key Verse

Matthew 19:26 (WEB)

Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Lessons Learned

  • God's design for marriage as a lasting one-flesh union goes back to creation itself.
  • Jesus welcomes children and holds them up as models of those who receive the kingdom.
  • Possessions can quietly become the one thing we will not surrender to follow Christ.
  • Salvation is impossible for us to achieve, but with God all things are possible.
  • Marriage is God's joining, not merely a human arrangement. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart (Matthew 19:6, WEB).
  • The kingdom belongs to the childlike. Jesus said, 'Allow the little children... for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these' (Matthew 19:14, WEB).
  • Following Jesus may cost us what we hold most tightly. He went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions (Matthew 19:22, WEB).
  • Salvation is the work of God, not human achievement. With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26, WEB).
  • No sacrifice for Christ goes unrewarded. Everyone who has left all for my name's sake will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29, WEB).
  • God's kingdom overturns our rankings. Many will be last who are first; and first who are last (Matthew 19:30, WEB).
  1. How does Jesus ground his teaching on marriage in God's original design rather than mere rules?
  2. Why does Jesus rebuke the disciples for keeping children away, and what does he say about the kingdom?
  3. What was the one thing the rich young man could not give up, and why did it keep him from following?
  4. What did the disciples mean by 'Who then can be saved?' and how does Jesus' answer comfort us?
  5. What 'possession' or attachment might Jesus be asking you to hold loosely so you can follow him more fully?
  1. Rather than debate divorce technicalities, Jesus returns to Genesis (vv.4-6): God made them male and female and joined the two as one flesh, so marriage is rooted in creation and meant to last.
  2. The disciples rebuke those bringing children, but Jesus says, 'Allow the little children... for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these' (vv.13-14); childlike dependence, not achievement, receives the kingdom.
  3. He could not give up his great possessions (v.22); though morally upright, his wealth held first place, and Jesus' call to sell all exposed where his true treasure lay.
  4. Hearing how hard it is for the rich, the disciples ask 'Who then can be saved?' (v.25); Jesus answers that what is impossible for people is possible with God (v.26), so salvation rests on God's power, not ours.
  5. This is a personal application question. Invite quiet honesty rather than confession on demand; help people name one specific attachment and a step toward holding it loosely in light of v.29.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.