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Matthew 19 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. ²Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. ³Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” ⁴Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ ⁵and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? ⁶So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” ⁷“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” ⁸Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart; but it was not this way from the beginning. ⁹Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.” ¹⁰His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.” ¹¹“Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given. ¹²For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” ¹³Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. ¹⁴But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there. ¹⁶Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” ¹⁷“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸“Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, ¹⁹honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁰“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?” ²¹Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” ²²When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. ²³Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ²⁷“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?” ²⁸Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, 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. ²⁹And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

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Matthew

Matthew 19

The Covenant of Marriage, the Kingdom’s Children, and the Cost of Discipleship

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Objective

To reveal Jesus’ authoritative teaching on marriage’s sacred unity, the welcoming of children into God’s kingdom, and the demands of wholehearted discipleship in the kingdom of heaven.

Overview

Jesus moves beyond Galilee into Judea, where great crowds follow Him. The Pharisees test Him on the lawfulness of divorce, prompting Jesus to reaffirm God’s original design for marriage as an unbreakable union. He then blesses children, affirming their place in the kingdom of heaven. A rich young man’s question about eternal life leads Jesus to expose the challenge of wealth and call for radical surrender to follow Him. Jesus promises reward for those who forsake all for His name, and teaches about the reversal of worldly status in God’s kingdom.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

Jesus departs Galilee and is followed by great multitudes in Judea beyond Jordan, where He heals many. The Pharisees approach Him, seeking to trap Him with a question about the lawfulness of divorce for any cause. Jesus responds by citing the creation narrative, emphasizing that from the beginning God made male and female and instituted marriage as a union where two become one flesh. He declares that what God has joined together, no man should separate. When questioned about Moses’ allowance of divorce, Jesus explains it was permitted because of the hardness of human hearts but was not so from the beginning. He permits divorce only on the grounds of sexual immorality, warning that remarriage after divorce on other grounds is adultery.

Central Themes

Marriage as a divine, permanent covenant

God’s original design versus human concession

The sacredness of the one-flesh union

The hardness of human hearts necessitating concession

Moral boundaries within marriage and divorce

Cultural & Historical Context

In first-century Judaism, divorce was permitted for various reasons, often reflecting social and religious debates. Jesus’ appeal to Genesis 1–2 reclaims the original creation intent, challenging prevailing interpretations. His teaching confronts both Pharisaic legalism and lax attitudes toward marriage, underscoring the sanctity and permanence of the marital bond (cf. Mark 10:6–9; Genesis 2:24).

Key Verse

Matthew 19:6

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

Jesus’ Teaching on Divorce and the Original Design for Marriage

A radiant garden scene at creation’s dawn, where a man and woman stand united beneath a vast sky. Their hands are joined, and a golden thread weaves around them, binding them as one flesh. Shadows loom at the edges, representing human hardness and brokenness, but the light of God’s design shines unyielding at the center.

Eunuchs and the Gift of Celibacy for the Kingdom

Three figures stand apart yet connected by a luminous path leading upward. One is marked from birth, another shaped by others, and a third chooses the path willingly. Above them, a crown of stars glows, symbolizing the kingdom of heaven’s call transcending earthly norms.

Welcoming Children into the Kingdom of Heaven

Children of various ages and backgrounds gather around Jesus, who kneels with open arms. A gentle light envelops them, and behind them, a wide-open gate glimmers with golden hues, inviting all who are humble and trusting to enter.

The Rich Young Man and the Challenge of Eternal Life

A young man stands at a crossroads, clutching shining treasures that weigh heavily on his shoulders. Jesus stands nearby, extending a hand toward a narrow path bathed in soft light, inviting him to leave behind his burdens and follow.

The Difficulty of the Rich Entering the Kingdom and the Promise of Reward

A massive camel struggles to pass through a tiny, glowing needle’s eye, symbolizing impossibility. Above, a radiant hand reaches down, opening the way. Around this scene, twelve thrones shimmer with light, and a crowd of diverse followers stands ready to inherit eternal life, their faces alight with hope.

Song

Matthew 19 Song

Verse 1

From the garden’s dawn You spoke, a bond made one and whole, Two become flesh, a sacred soul, No man may part what God has sewn, In Your design, love’s cornerstone.

Verse 2

Some choose the path of quiet grace, Celibate for Your holy place, Called beyond the world’s embrace, To seek the kingdom face to face.

Verse 3

Children come with open hands, Welcome them to Your commands, Humble hearts receive Your reign, In their trust, Your love remains.

Verse 4

Riches weigh the soul with care, Call to follow, leave all there, Sorrow’s step, yet hope is near, With God, all things made clear.

Chorus

Bind us, Lord, in covenant true, Hearts united, made anew, Through trials, grace will hold us fast, One flesh, one love, until the last.

Bridge

Impossible for man alone, Yet with God, the way is shown, Forsaking all, we find our place, In everlasting grace.

Final Chorus

Bind us, Lord, in covenant true, Hearts united, made anew, Through trials, grace will hold us fast, One flesh, one love, until the last.

Practical Application

Personal Life

Embrace the sacredness of marriage as God’s design, committing to unity and faithfulness.

Consider the call to celibacy or singleness as a gift for kingdom service, if so led.

Receive the kingdom with childlike humility and trust, laying aside pride and self-sufficiency.

Evaluate attachments to wealth and possessions, allowing Jesus to reorder priorities.

Respond to Jesus’ call to follow Him fully, trusting God’s power to enable what seems impossible.

Community & Society

Support marriages as lifelong covenants, offering grace and counsel to uphold God’s design.

Welcome and value children within the church as vital members of God’s kingdom.

Encourage diverse callings, including celibacy, as part of the body’s witness.

Address economic disparities with generosity, reflecting Jesus’ call to care for the poor.

Foster a community that values surrender to Christ over worldly status or wealth.

Global Perspective

Promote the sanctity of marriage and family as foundational to societal health.

Advocate for children’s rights and inclusion worldwide, reflecting Jesus’ heart.

Recognize and honor varied vocational callings within the global church.

Challenge systems of wealth that hinder the gospel and perpetuate inequality.

Proclaim the gospel of radical discipleship, inviting all nations to follow Christ’s way.

Conclusion

Matthew 19 unveils the kingdom’s heart through Jesus’ teaching: marriage is a sacred, unbreakable union ordained by God; children embody the humility required to enter the kingdom; and discipleship demands surrender that transcends earthly attachments. The chapter calls believers to honor God’s original design, welcome the lowly, and follow Christ with all that they have, trusting in God’s power to make the impossible possible. In this, the kingdom reverses worldly values and invites all to a new life marked by covenant faithfulness, humility, and radical commitment.