Matthew 19:7

Matthew 19:7

Welcome to the study of the Bible, the greatest book in the world. The Bible says in Matthew 19:7-10, "They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts allowed you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery: and whoso marries her which is put away does commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry."

Jesus made it very clear that marriage is to be considered an inviolate and life-long relationship between a man and a woman. No one should go into marriage thinking that it might be temporary. Marriage was established by God. Marriage is meant to be the closest of all human relationships. The relationship of a man and a woman in marriage was meant to be symbolic of God’s relationship with His believers. Ephesians 5:25 says, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it."

One of the many reasons that sex outside of marriage is to be avoided is because of how destructive such a thing can be to the marriage relationship. As important as marriage is, even Jesus declared that a marriage relationship could justifiably be broken when a spouse commits the sin of fornication. Marriage is meant to be a unity of both the spirit and body of the man and woman. That’s why Jesus said in verse 6, "They are no more two but one flesh," and that’s why the sin of fornication is so destructive to the marriage bond. Fornication is a severe violation of the trust and unity that must be present in a marriage. Sex outside of marriage is destructive.

Do not forget that Hollywood is presenting lies with the innumerable images of illicit sexual relationships. Don’t be fooled by these lies. Sex outside of marriage destroys marriages, negatively affects the lives of others, and has many other negative consequences in the real world. There are many different sexually transmitted diseases, and the result can be sorrows, pain, sterility, and death. Many violent acts have been committed because of unfaithfulness by individuals that are involved in a love triangle. Abortion would be almost non-existent if there were no pregnancies outside of marriage, and there would be no pregnancies outside of marriage if there were no sex outside of marriage. The best resolution to the abortion problem is not to win the argument pro or con on the abortion issue; but to reduce unwanted pregnancies, and abstinence and marriage is the best way to accomplish that. Sex outside of marriage is a moral cancer that will eat away at the fabric of society. Those who commit such acts will not only see the destruction of their own moral character, but they also will assist in a greater sin: the corruption of others. If you really care about someone, you would abstain from doing anything that would be destructive to their soul or that would help to guarantee their ultimate unhappiness.

People need to listen to Jesus and honor the institution of marriage. There would be less crime, less violence, fewer diseases, fewer abortions, and less psychological and spiritual problems in the world. Jesus emphasized the importance of marriage. There are too many divorces for all the wrong reasons. People should pray more before they get married and make a greater effort in trying to find the right spouse. And once they are married, they should work diligently on making their marriages better, instead of trying to end them.

We are all sinners, and we live in a corrupt world and a difficult time. We need the Lord’s guidance and help to make the right decisions. In today’s world the average person is likely to have some kind of spiritual, emotional, or social problem. Because of the sinful nature of mankind, and the wickedness in the world it has never been easy, and it is not going to get any easier for a couple to live together as husband and wife for the rest of their lives. Because there are very few valid reasons for divorce just as Jesus said, people should be very careful before entering into the marriage bond. Become the best Christian that you can be so that you will make a good spouse. Pray and ask for wisdom and guidance so that God will guide you to His choice for you. Never marry unless you are absolutely certain that this person is God’s choice for you. And never marry unless you are absolutely certain that it is God’s time for you to marry.

After what Jesus said about marriage and divorce, the disciples not only thought that marriage should be very carefully considered, but they also thought that perhaps marriage should not be considered at all. They said to Jesus in verse 10, "If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry." From the response that Jesus made to the disciples, we can tell that their conclusion, "it is not good to marry", had gone too far; although they were partly right. Marriage is good because it was established by God, but for some people it is better not to marry. It says in Matthew 19:11, "But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given."

Paul made a similar emphasis about marriage when he wrote to the believers in the city of Corinth. He said in First Corinthians 7:1-2, "...it is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." And then in First Corinthians 7:9 Paul said, "...Let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn." But Paul went on to recommend that the believers in Corinth consider remaining unmarried. He said in First Corinthians 7:26, "I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say that it is good for a man so to be." The believers in Corinth were going through some persecution or other trouble that would have made it less practical to marry. In their circumstances marriage could have actually increased their sorrows and difficulties. In the last days in which we live some believers may find themselves in similar circumstances. This is true also because there are fewer and fewer people who will make a good husband or a good wife. The Bible says in Second Timothy 3:1-5, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

The same is true about the bearing of children. It is both normal and good to have children. But there are circumstances in life where it may be more practical to not have them. Certain negative things can happen to your children that could potentially cause you more suffering than anything else in life. In speaking of a time of sorrow and tribulation and distress that would one day come upon the world, Jesus said in Matthew 24:19, "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" When things get bad enough, you will suffer much more by seeing your children suffer. In such times it may be better not to have children.

In regards to marriage Jesus addressed the idea of not being married from a different angle than Paul did in First Corinthians Chapter 7. Both upheld the sanctity and the goodness of marriage for any who choose to marry. But Paul said that some people may want to avoid marriage because of the difficult or troublous times in which they live. Jesus said that some people may not get married because of who and what they are as individuals. Jesus said in Matthew 19:12, "For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men; and there are eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."

The word "eunuch" is a direct transliteration of the Greek word "eunouxos". An eunuch was the bed-keeper, the bed-guard, and the chamberlain of some oriental monarchs who had multiple wives. In order to assure that the eunuchs would have the proper behavior in the vicinity of the bedrooms of the wives, they were castrated. Of course, such individuals would never be married. They were eunuchs made by men.

Jesus said that there are also eunuchs who are born that way. Maybe because of physical or emotional reasons, they are not attracted to the opposite sex, or for some other reason they chose to remain unmarried. Whatever their reason for not wanting or needing to marry, that decision is the right choice for them. It is perfectly normal for some people to not be attracted to the opposite sex, or to not desire marriage, and to not get married. The lack of being attracted to the opposite sex, is probably one reason that some people mistakenly believe they are homosexuals. What they ought to do is to remain celibate, and therefore avoid the sin of homosexuality.

The third group of people who do not get married are those who Jesus said have "made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake." Paul also referred to this same idea in First Corinthians 7:32-33 when he wrote, "...He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife."

There are some people who will abstain from marriage for very practical reasons. These individuals will look at the time and the effort required to be spent with their spouses, and will conclude that they can be more effective and more productive in serving God by not getting married. Every day has 24 hours and we can do only a limited number of things in those 24 hours. Jesus of course was not married, and He said of Himself, "I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day. The night comes that no man can work."

Marriage is good because God created marriage. Jesus said that celibacy is good because some people are more suited to a celibate life, and because some people can accomplish more being celibate. Let each person find their own way according to the will of God for them. Both Peter and Paul were apostles. Peter was married, and Paul was not. One circumstance was not better than the other. It was two different ways for two different people.

Jesus taught about marriage, and He also taught about children. Matthew 19:13-15 says, "Then were brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and his disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Permit the little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed from there."

In these few verses there are several important ideas presented about the raising of children. The people who brought the children to Jesus and asked him to pray for them did a very wise thing. The most important thing that can happen to any person is to come to know Jesus, and the earlier the better. Most parents want to see the best possible behavior from their children, and the best chance for that to happen is if they come to know Jesus. Without knowing and serving God, any child’s behavior and actions are capable of worsening as they grow older.

Jesus was asked to pray for the children. It is very important in the raising of your children that you pray for them, because only God can provide the most critical things that need to take place in the spirit and in the mind of your child. Pray for your children, and learn to wait upon God for how He will work in their lives. Your children will be subject to the same spiritual principles that all children are subject to. Hopefully, when the Lord reaches out to your children, they will choose Him instead of the world.

The initial reaction of the disciples was to keep the children from coming to Jesus. After all, children are immature and are not able to act like adults. One of the mistakes that some parents make is that of expecting their children to act like adults. Don’t worry about what people think. Jesus received the children. He accepted them for what they were: immature children. And He appreciated them for what they were: souls who were in need of Him.

Your children are not your possessions. They are individuals with all the rights and privileges of any individual. According to who they are and how God made them, your children will have interests and abilities that will draw them towards a certain direction in life. You will be making a big mistake and will be creating unnecessary agony for yourself if you try to push your children in your own direction instead of in the direction that they were meant to go, according to who they are and how God made them. This is also a part of the wisdom that is contained in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Jesus said that the reason that He liked receiving the little children was because "of such is the kingdom of heaven." There are several qualities in little children that Jesus must have liked. He must have liked the innocence, and the genuineness, and the ability to trust completely in a higher power. Jesus said of children, “of such is the kingdom of heaven.” There must be a tremendous number of children in heaven. All children who die go to heaven, but only some adults will be there. In the next incident in the life of Jesus we are shown very clearly how an adult can get to heaven.

Matthew 19:16-22 says, "And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

You can take all the commandments of the Bible and break them down into two categories. One category of commandments would go under the heading of love for mankind, and the other category of commandments would go under the category of love for God. Love for God is the most important of the two. In Mark 12:30 Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." And then Jesus said that the second greatest commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself.

Jesus listed five of the Ten Commandments when He said to the rich young man, "Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, and thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother." Then Jesus summed up these commandments by quoting a scripture that was not in the Ten Commandments, but was in the book of Leviticus, when He said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

If we truly loved our neighbor, we would not break any of the 5 commandments listed by Jesus. We would not murder because we would honor and respect the lives of others. We would not commit adultery because we would honor and respect the bodies of others. We would not steal because we would respect the property of others, and we would not lie because we would honor and respect the reputation of others.

The most critical issue of all is to enter into the kingdom of heaven. We will all live on the earth for a short time, but then we will live somewhere else forever. The rich young man definitely asked Jesus the correct question, when he asked what must he do to have eternal life. But none of us keep all of the commandments. We are all sinners, and therefore, we all need a Savior. The entrance to heaven comes by repenting of sin and turning to Jesus for forgiveness. But in order to turn to Jesus for forgiveness, we must surrender to Him.

Many people who do not find eternal life will be kept from doing so by some hang-up or personal goal that conflicts with what God would have for them. Jesus presented this young man with the opportunity to go after the greatest of all commandments, "To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart," and therein to find eternal life. This greatest of commandments is the key to salvation. For a person to become saved from their sins and inherit eternal life from Jesus, they must surrender their life to God. They must be willing to do whatever God wants them to do. When a person turns to Christ, they begin learning about the love of God.

This young man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He came to the right place to ask the question because he came to the Giver of eternal life. Jesus said about Himself in the Gospel of John, "I am the resurrection and the life", and He said, "Whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die." Believe in Jesus and you will be given eternal life.

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