THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 19
Divorce, Children, The Rich Young Ruler, The Disciple’s Reward.
There seems to be no end to the Pharisee’s futile attempts to find fault in Jesus and with His teachings. I say futile because He is making it clear that, (#1), He is the Christ, the long awaited Jewish Messiah, and that He and the Father are one, (#2), He has been sent by God, the Father, and He has come to do His Father’s business; He is doing what He hears from the Father and what He sees the Father doing, and (#3), He has come to testify to the Truth.
Nonetheless, the Pharisees persist in their blind, stubborn, arrogant folly, and Jesus continues to teach and demonstrate The Truth!
Concerning Divorce
Matthew 19:1, When Jesus had finished these words, He left Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; Verse 2, and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.
Verse 3. Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” Verse 4. And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, Verse 5, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? Verse 6. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate.” Verse 7. They said to Him, “Why, then, did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND HER AWAY?” Verse 8. He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. Verse 9. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Verse 10. The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” Verse 11. But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. Verse 12. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by people; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”
(Commentary Break): It is interesting that the Pharisees continue to question Jesus in order to find fault or to trap Him in a lie in order to persecute Him, or worse. The point here is for you and for me to examine ourselves and ask if we are doing the same as the Pharisees, which is finding all the ‘escape clauses’ to abrogate or negate the Law we say we follow, and in our case, it is NOT the Law but the teachings of Jesus. His teachings and commandments are not meant to tie us or to burden us down as the Law, but are a means to live to live free, to live an abundant life full of His love, joy, grace and hope. His words are a means to guide us, protect us, warn us of dangers and how to avoid them. He love us with a love so deep and complete that we can hardly comprehend it.
Jesus, in this case, is answering the Pharisees’ questions about what their Law says about divorce. Actually, this is an issue that begins as soon as a couple decides to get married. All marriages have their ups and downs, and someone, such as the pastor who marries a couple, should tell them in advance, of the seriousness nature of the wedding vows and the covenant of marriage. These are to be contracts that endure for a lifetime. This is not only a contract between two people, but is a covenant between each of the two people with God!
The Bible says, “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate.”
The REASON Jesus teaches this is for your ongoing wellbeing and protection, and for the safety and wellbeing of your family and friends.
God made us as emotional beings capable of thought with the power of choice (making decisions). In fact, the Bible tells us that we are made in His image, but with the flaw of a sin nature.
It is helpful to remember that the Bible consistently speaks to the triune God and of our triune nature: (#1), our physical body (from the Greek word, soma), (#2), our soul (from the Greek word pseuche), which includes our mind, will and emotions, and (#3), our spirit (from the Greek word pneuma), which is sometimes referred to as our ‘subconscious mind’ or our core, where we set our life views or core values. It is within this pneuma, or spirit, we hold and store our guiding principles for living. This is how God made us. It is how we are constructed.
Even though most of us are taught how we should think and act by our parents or by others, unfortunately, we initially make many of our decisions based on our own initial experiences and feelings. These initial decisions come from within our soul – our mind, will and emotions.
We will then solidify and galvanize those decisions as they seep down into our core (our heart or spirit). They become what is known as our ‘core-values’ or guiding principles.
Our heart, or spirit dictates, then dictates these decisions back to our soul (our mind, will and emotions), and we act them in our everyday life.
Once these attitudes and behaviors are set, it is very difficult to change them, regardless of the outcome, without suffering great consequences.
Please know that I would not spend all this time on this matter, if it were not so important. But we usually make decisions based on incomplete information, not knowing what the outcome of our decisions will be, and all of this is driven by emotions and preconceived notions. It is the perfect storm for a looming disaster.
Divorce is one of those storms. It is one of the most damaging and damning experiences a person can experience. It has lasting effects on the human psyche, which will affect the body in devastating ways. These are things that will drag you down and haunt you for life unless you deal with them according to the teachings of Jesus. Believe me, His is the only way back to sanity, peace, prosperity and life!
Nonetheless, I know many Christians who seek a divorce because their marriage becomes difficult or inconvenient. So people divorce and the mind, will and emotions justify this course of action. But Scriptures tell us that our spirit knows that we will be committing adultery and will be causing our ex-spouse to commit adultery. But, we go on anyway, living with a hidden remorse, calling ourselves Christians, pretending to follow Jesus, even though we know we have not done what He has told us to do.
(Additionally, when there are children involved, there a numerous studies that show the damage is multiplied in their lives. See “Focus on the Family, “How could divorce affect my children” and “Did God really say that?”)
What the Bible says can sound harsh, but in reality it is a dire warning: “Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: they are like a person building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when there was a flood, the river burst against that house and yet it could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly is like the one who built a house on the ground without a foundation; and the river burst against it and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49).
And, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23).
In reality, God is pleading with us to stop the insanity and self-destruction. He loves us. He wants the best for us, which is found in Jesus Christ!
So, what is the solution if you have already committed this sin? This may be hard to hear and even more difficult to do, but it is the way to peace:
Confess your sin, your wrongdoing. Confess to God that you have sinned against Him, against your ex-spouse and against your family. Repent. That is, turn away from ever being disobedient again. Jesus will hear your prayer and forgive you and cleanse you of your unrighteousness. He loves you, unconditionally. He will not condemn you. It is your unbelief that condemns you (see John 3:17).
NOW, if you initialed or even agreed to a divorce, go and tell your ex-spouse of your transgression, and even though you may not be able to rectify or restore what is in the past, you can apologize for your sin against them and seek their forgiveness. (Please be very careful not to compound this issue if your ex-spouse is remarried or if they are violent. Use discretion).
NOTE: If you cannot safely approach, talk to or write your ex-spouse, then take this to God alone, with all sincerity and be cleansed.
Either way, you need to take this as your responsibility even if it was your ex-spouse’s behavior that drove you away (see Matthew 5:22-48). Whether they accept your apology or not, you need not entangle yourself any further. You have cleared the way to go forward with your life.
If you have not yet committed this sin, then stop, and do not do it. You made a covenant with God in your marriage vows. If you divorce you not only break a vow with your spouse, you break you covenant with God and the psychological and physical harm to you will follow.
But please don’t be like the Pharisee and try to find a way around this. Jesus called the Pharisees liars, white washed tombs (looking good but full of dead men’s bones), cheats, and murderers. Please, don’t be those things! Those things will just follow you and drag you down.
NOTE: I realize that this can be a very complicated matter. And sometimes it can be dangerous to approach your ex-spouse. If that is the case, then again I say, take this to God, confess it all to Him. He will cleanse your heart and your mind and set you free.
This is an urgent teaching that even the Church and pastors have ignored and excused for lack of understanding. They are running the risk of being just like the Pharisees!
I also know, this is a very hard teaching. But, which teachings of Jesus are not hard if we persist in living in our fleshly passions? (End Commentary Break).
Jesus Blesses Little Children
Verse 13. Then some children were brought to Him so that He would lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. Verse 14. But Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Verse 15. After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.
(Commentary Break): It seems curious that after His rebuttal to the Pharisees and His teaching on marriage and divorce, that He speaks of the children, is it not? (End Commentary Break).
The Rich Young Ruler
Verse 16. And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” Verse 17. And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Verse 18. Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY; Verse 19. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Verse 20. The young man said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Verse 21. Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Verse 22. But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
Verse 23. And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Verse 24. And again I say to 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.” Verse 25. When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” Verse 26. And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
(Commentary Break): The young man, (also referred to as the ‘rich young ruler’), was not so much asking how he many obtain eternal life, as he is asking how he may earn his way to heaven without paying the cost. Our churches are full of people demanding an answer to this same question, regardless of their financial status. They want the benefits of salvation but resist the cost. Please, don’t be like that.
Jesus, in his answer, uses both hyperbole and a metaphor of a camel trying to squeeze through the eye of a needle, which is something that is ridiculously impossible.
However, Jesus was actually referring to a camel and an actual needle, and that the camel is a simile for ‘every man and women, boy and girl’ and the ‘eye of the needle’ is a simile for the gate to the Kingdom of Heaven.
So, everyone who is laden with ‘the baggage and possessions of pride, high self-esteem, education, personal achievements, wealth, pedigree, education and the like cannot enter the Kingdom. All of these things must first be put aside, discarded, before entering through the ‘narrow gate’.
AN ASIDE and a NOTE: There has been a story circulating, albeit false, which purports that there is actually a gate somewhere in Jerusalem called the “eye of the needle”, through which a camel could not pass unless it stooped down and had all its baggage first removed. After dark, when the main gates were closed, travelers and merchants would have to use this smaller gate. Great sermon material, with illustrations about how we must humble ourselves and remove our baggage before entering the kingdom.
It would be quite convenient if this myth were true because it would legitimize people’s affinity for money and probably the prosperity gospel as well. If the passage is about baggage and humility and not actually about wealth, then the prosperity preachers can breathe a big sigh of relief. However, this myth has been propagated since the 11th century, and it is completely made up. There is zero evidence to show that this gate ever existed other than stories brought back from Jerusalem tours.
But what about this image, showing the eye of the needle? This wall passage did not exist when Jesus walked the earth, or anytime close to his generation. This wall was built hundreds of years after Jesus’ time. The gates of Jerusalem were destroyed in 70 A.D. and later rebuilt. Josephus, the 1st century Jewish historian, wrote about the wall in Jerusalem (excepting the western wall): “All the rest of the wall surrounding Jerusalem, was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it Jerusalem had ever been inhabited.” So, the image would not exist in Jesus’ time.
Furthermore, the passage states that is it easier for a camel to go through the eye of “a” needle, not “the” needle. “A needle” refers to any needle. “The needle” would refer to a specific needle. This is not a mistake. Greek is an incredibly precise language, and definite articles (the) are hard to confuse with an indefinite article ‘a’.
Finally, I would point out that this type of hyperbole is common in Jewish literature and as well as other literature. Jesus, again, uses the term of a ‘narrow gate’ in Matthew 7:13-14)
Thus, it is not necessary to try to bend Jesus’ words to mean something other than what they actually meant. This is why the disciples replied with this phrase in astonishment: When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25)
And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (End Commentary Break).
The Disciples’ Reward
Verse 27. Then Peter responded and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” Verse 28. And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Verse 29. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Verse 30. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
(Commentary Break): There are scarcely words that can better describe what Jesus has just said to Peter. This is both literal and symbolic. It is literal for Peter and the 12 apostles. It is symbolic in that we, too, will be with them, ruling with Jesus.
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” But first, we must go through the eye of that needle! The benefit begins now and lasts for an eternity! (End Commentary Break).
This is all based on faith. You can believe it or not. It is that cut and dried, and it is that extreme.
Even though, after Jesus had risen from the dead and just before He ascended to the Father, on Jesus’ instructions, “the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them, and when they saw Him, they worshiped Him, although some doubted”, they still had enough faith to follow His instructions to come and meet Him at the mountain. All this from faith the size of a mustard seed!
Jesus accepted and used them in His cause, ministry and calling. He is still doing just that. He is still calling you and me to follow Him despite our doubts.
And we will remain with Him, and He will be with us, both now and eternally!
Just believe!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young.
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