19:1 Now when Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River.

After he had taught his disciples about forgiveness, Jesus again left Galilee and crossed the River Jordan into Judea.

19:2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

News of Jesus ministry, and particularly of his healing ministry, had spread rapidly until almost everywhere he went large crowds gathered to him. They had come for healing and he healed them all.

19:3 Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?"

Some of the religious rulers who belonged to the strict sect of Pharisees also came to Jesus, but they sought neither healing nor blessing. They wanted to catch him in his words that they might discredit his ministry among the people. Their question is about a point of Jewish law, given by Moses. Does the Law of Moses permit divorce, and if so under what circumstances?"

19:4-6 He answered, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and 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'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

Jesus replied with reference to the original Creation. Marriage was ordained of God from the beginning, for God saw that it was not good for man to be alone. So he made for man a helper comparable to him, and she was his wife. In this way marriage was ordained for mutual fellowship. Male and female he created them. It was ordained by the wisdom of God that when a man reached the age when he wished to leave father and mother, that he should marry a wife, and be united sexually with her. In this way marriage was ordained for the procreation of children, and as a pure way of fulfilling the natural sexual desires which come as the result of the Creator, “Making them male and female”. Having been joined together, they would no more be two but one flesh. Since it is God who has joined man and woman together as one, no man has the authority (for it would necessarily be greater than God’s) to separate them. Man cannot undo a union formed by His creator.

19:7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?"

Still wishing to test Jesus, the Pharisees demanded to know why, if God opposed divorce, Moses gave instructions relating to legal divorce and permit the issuing of divorce certificates.

19:8 Jesus said to them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way.

Jesus explains that Moses realised some marital situations as untenable, particularly since the hearts of men were hardened to any other solution, and so permitted separation as the lesser of two evils. Such a law might at least provide a measure of restraint against the tide of fornication and adultery.  But this action was permitted rather than desired and Jesus makes clear that it was certainly not God's will for man from the beginning, but rather was because of the results of sin that a law was introduced to minimise sin.

19:9 Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery."

Here is a greater authority than Moses. What Christ says applies to all throughout the Christian dispensation. Whoever divorces his wife and re marries commits adultery in the sight of God, no matter what neither the law of the land nor the policy of the church may be.Divorce is only permitted when one partner has been unfaithful (i.e. has committed adultery), and separation is only permitted when an unbelieving partner leaves because of the gospel. Jesus also makes clear in Matt. 5:32 that the divorced woman is not to remarry, since this is adultery. For a minister of the gospel to conduct the marriage service of a divorcee is for him to condone adultery, undermine the sacredness of marriage and of the family unit, and to be a partaker in other men's sins. Note: If the Lord of Glory (who knows every situation that can possibly arise) had meant there to be exceptions to this rule, he would have said so.

19:10 The disciples said to him, "If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!"

The disciples, many of whom were married men, thought that if the situation between a husband and a wife was so bad that they were actively seeking a divorce, then it would have been better for them never to have married in the first place! Divorce is as bad as it gets, God refers to it as an act of violence, tearing apart rather than healing and reconciling (Mal. 2:16).

19:11 He said to them, "Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given.

Jesus realized that men and women marry because of the real needs which they have as part of God’s creation. Specifically, most men and women need to find the satisfaction of their need for a sexual relationship, and that relationship has been provided for by God in the marriage state (Heb. 13:4). However, Jesus (who knows all) knew also that some people are able to live perfectly happily without a sexual partner.

19:12 For 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."

Some of these are born that way, (eunuchs from birth), they simply are happy to remain single all their lives. Jesus is saying that this is the right course, if it is the natural course for them. Something in their make-up makes it less necessary for them to have a sexual partner.Others, says Jesus, were made eunuchs by men, that is (understand that Jesus said this in the days of slaves) they have been castrated, and so no longer have any sexual desires at all.Likewise, some have heard the call of God in such a way that they are completely abandoned to him, and have made up their minds not to get married, for the sake of giving their time fully to the work of God. They are gifted with enough self-control to channel their energies into the work of God.Paul expands on this theme in 1 Cor. 7, where he makes plain that the man or woman who is able to refrain from marriage is gifted by God in this respect, and should use this gift well, for it is better to remain unmarried. But for those who feel a sexual desire, it is better to marry than to burn with lust, resulting in immorality.As a result of the fall, marriage will never be perfect, but it is still an estate ordained by God, and is regarded as a means of avoiding immorality.Little Children

19:13 Then 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 result of the marriage union will be children. Every caring parent wants the best for their child, and what could be better than to seek the Lord of glory that he might bless our children? Mothers and fathers brought their children to Jesus for this reason. But the over wrought disciples rebuked them, for they thought their master too busy for children, implying that children were not as important as adults.

19:14-15 But 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. And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.

Here is one of the few places in the New Testament where Jesus is angered. To him, each child was a precious human being with a living soul, loved by God every bit as much as his father or mother. What is more, every child is capable of receiving spiritual blessing, and many were already old enough to receive spiritual instruction, in particular, the kind of instruction which comes by participation. If they could not learn much from Jesus’ preaching, yet they could learn much from his love and his welcome.By refusing to welcome them, the disciples were in danger of misrepresenting God to the children. The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these – each one could be saved and receive God's eternal blessings.

Modern surveys suggest that most people who become Christians do so before their 16th birthday. Children's ministry is not a second rate ministry, it is on the cutting edge. A church without an active children’s ministry is a lopsided church, and is out of touch with the heart of God for children.Jesus heart always reached out to children. May we do the same.

19:16 Now someone came up to him and said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?"

The scripture offers two ways in which we might obtain eternal life. The first was by the keeping of the law and commandments of God, and the other is by faith in Jesus Christ who fulfilled the law for us.Because of sin, every single man and woman has already failed to be right with God through keeping the law. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That is why “By the deeds of the law, no flesh shall be justified” (Rom 3:20).  Jesus wanted to help the young man realise that he was a sinner. Notice how Jesus says that there is only one good, which is God, implying that “there is no man good, no not one” (Rom. 3:12).The commandments which the young man had kept in letter he had broken in spirit, even as to be angry with one's brother without cause is to commit murder. If he had kept many of the commandments, yet to break one law is to be a rebel against the law-giver (James 2:10).

19:17-20 He 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. Which ones?" he asked. Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbour as yourself. The young man said to him, "I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?" 

Jesus firstly mentions only those commands which relate to the young man's relationship with other people, and the man insists that with regard to his duty to man he has been upright and wholehearted in his law keeping. Yet there was something lacking, he had “fallen short” of the glory of God.

19:21-22 Jesus 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." But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. 

Jesus now turns his attention to the man’s relationship with God. And in this test, he fails utterly.  The law demands that a man love God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength (Deut. 6:5). Jesus himself had said that it is impossible to serve God and money (Luke 16:13). Yet when the young man is challenged to put his relationship with God first, before his money, he fails to do so, revealing that he does not love the Lord his God with all his heart at all.

19:23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! Again 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."

With sorrow in his heart, Jesus tells his disciples that a rich man is not easily parted from his love of money. It is not that it is wrong to have money or worldly possessions, but when holding on to those possessions is what keeps a man from the kingdom of heaven, then they are deadly possessions indeed, for they will damn a man’s soul. No wonder James writes: “Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure!” (James 5:3)The only way for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God is for him to forego, or denounce his riches. Jesus asks us to part with all for his name sake, and sometimes this will literally mean the loss of all worldly possessions. It may not literally come to that in each case, but in each case a man must be prepared and wiling for it to come to that. A man must realise that we have more enduring treasures in heaven (Heb. 10:34).

19:25-26 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and replied, "This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.”

Of course, it is impossible for a camel to enter the eye of a needle. It is also impossible for a man to enter the kingdom of God, without a miracle. But it is God who provides the miracle, and in the hearts of those who are willing to hear and obey the gospel, whether they are rich or poor, he will perform this miracle of salvation. For all things are possible with God.

19:27 Then Peter said to him, "Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Peter realised that his commitment to follow the Lord Jesus Christ had meant him forsaking all. If the rich who failed to follow Christ were not blessed, what of the poor who did follow Christ? “What’s in it for me?” is a paraphrase of Peter’s question.

19:28-29 Jesus 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. And 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.

Christ promises eternal blessings to all who forsake all to follow him. We are never the losers with God. We possess greater things than this world could ever provide. In this case, Jesus tells Peter that he and the other apostles will obtain a position of rank and authority, the honour of being seen as his esteemed servants. This will be when “the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne”, which is after the resurrection of the saints. Then shall honour be given to all those who truly follow Christ.Yet even in this life, by entering in and partaking of the kingdom of God, we receive great riches through our relationships with others who are also in the kingdom. They will be to us brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers in Israel, and their homes and hospitality shall be at our disposal. Peter later found that the needs of the missionary were met by the people whom he laboured among, or those who financially supported his work (1 Cor. 9:4-7).

19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

In speaking of honours, it is not those who are out in the lead, or who are grasping for honour and recognition among men that will be rewarded by God, but rather those who are faithful to their calling in doing the will of God. Many who will be honoured in that day will never have been heard of by men. In the church today, as in first century Corinth, as among the twelve, men argue over which of the great men shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Yet Jesus will in that day, as he did in days gone by, take the weakest and youngest, set him in the midst, and honour him for his love and service.