Matthew 19: Following Jesus and the Cost of Discipleship
Teaching About Divorce
Chapter with Audio
19 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”
Let the Children Come to Me
13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
The Rich Young Man
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Chapter Analysis
Matthew 19: Marriage, Children, Riches, And Eternal Life
Marriage And Divorce
📖 Matthew 19:1–12
¹ When Jesus finished these sayings, He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
² Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.
³ The Pharisees came to test Him, asking if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason.
⁴ Jesus answered by pointing them back to the beginning: God made them male and female.
⁵ For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What God has joined together, man must not separate.
⁷ They asked why Moses commanded giving a certificate of divorce and putting her away.
⁸ Jesus answered that Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of their hearts, but from the beginning it was not so.
⁹ He said whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.
¹⁰ His disciples said that if this is the case, it is better not to marry.
¹¹ Jesus said not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it has been given.
¹² Some are eunuchs from birth, some are made eunuchs by men, and some have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. The one able to receive it should receive it.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus rooted marriage in God’s creation design.
Marriage is one man and one woman joined by God as one flesh.
Divorce was permitted because of hardness of heart, but it was not God’s design from the beginning.
🔹 The Promise
God’s design for marriage is covenant faithfulness.
✅ Conclusion
Jesus does not treat marriage lightly. What God joins together, man must not separate.
Jesus Blesses The Children
📖 Matthew 19:13–15
¹³ Little children were brought to Jesus so He would put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
¹⁴ Jesus said to let the little children come to Him and not forbid them, because of such is the kingdom of heaven.
¹⁵ He laid His hands on them and then departed from there.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus welcomed little children.
The disciples saw them as an interruption, but Jesus saw them as precious.
The kingdom belongs to those who come humbly and dependently.
🔹 The Promise
Jesus receives those who come to Him with childlike humility.
✅ Conclusion
Jesus’ welcome of children reveals His tenderness and the humility required for the kingdom.
The Rich Young Ruler
📖 Matthew 19:16–22
¹⁶ One came to Jesus and asked what good thing he should do to have eternal life.
¹⁷ Jesus asked why he called Him good, saying no one is good but One, that is, God. If he wanted to enter life, he should keep the commandments.
¹⁸ The man asked which ones. Jesus mentioned commandments against murder, adultery, stealing, false witness,
¹⁹ honoring father and mother, and loving the neighbor as oneself.
²⁰ The young man said he had kept all these from his youth and asked what he still lacked.
²¹ Jesus told him that if he wanted to be complete, he should sell what he had, give to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven; then come and follow Him.
²² When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.
🔹 The Truth
The rich young ruler wanted eternal life but was still trusting in his own goodness.
Jesus exposed the idol of his heart: his possessions.
He went away sorrowful because he loved his riches more than following Christ.
🔹 The Promise
Treasure in heaven belongs to those who follow Christ above earthly possessions.
✅ Conclusion
The issue was not that wealth itself saves or condemns. The issue was that his riches ruled his heart.
With God All Things Are Possible
📖 Matthew 19:23–30
²³ Jesus told His disciples that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
²⁴ 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 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked who then could be saved.
²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said that with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
²⁷ Peter said they had left all and followed Him, asking what they would have.
²⁸ Jesus said that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, the twelve who followed Him would sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
²⁹ Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for His name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.
³⁰ Many who are first will be last, and the last first.
🔹 The Truth
Salvation is impossible with man, but possible with God.
Riches can become a great spiritual obstacle.
Those who leave everything for Christ do not lose in the end.
🔹 The Promise
Those who follow Christ will inherit eternal life.
✅ Conclusion
Matthew 19 ends by showing that salvation is God’s work. Eternal life cannot be earned by man, but with God all things are possible.
Summary Conclusion
Matthew 19 teaches God’s design for marriage, Jesus’ welcome of children, the danger of riches, and the impossibility of salvation apart from God. The rich young ruler shows that outward morality cannot save when the heart refuses Christ. Jesus calls people to value Him above possessions, relationships, and earthly status, promising eternal life to those who follow Him.
Final Questions For You
- Why did Jesus take the Pharisees back to creation when teaching about marriage?
- What did the rich young ruler’s sorrow reveal about his heart?
- Why is salvation impossible with man but possible with God?