Matthew 19

When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.

Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.

Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh’?

So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”

They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”

He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.

I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”

His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.”

But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.

For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

Then little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”

He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.

Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’

‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”

Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.

But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter records Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce, his blessing of children, and his encounter with the rich young ruler, which leads to a discourse on wealth, sacrifice, and eternal reward. As Jesus nears Jerusalem, he reasserts God’s original design for marriage, emphasizes childlike faith, and challenges the assumptions about wealth and salvation, underscoring that entrance into the kingdom depends on God’s grace, not human achievement.

Flow.

The chapter opens with Jesus crossing into Judea, healing the sick, and being confronted by Pharisees on the legality of divorce.
He responds by appealing to creation, distinguishing God’s original intent from Mosaic concession, and defining adultery in cases of unjustified divorce (vv. 1–9).
The disciples’ reaction prompts Jesus to speak of varying callings, including celibacy for the kingdom’s sake, and children are welcomed as exemplars of kingdom receptivity (vv. 10–15).
The rich young ruler’s encounter reveals the heart’s attachment to wealth, leading to Jesus’ teaching on the danger of riches and the promise of reward for sacrificial discipleship (vv. 16–30).

Connections.
Following chapter 18, which emphasized humility, forgiveness, and the value of the “little ones” in the kingdom, this chapter deepens the vision of kingdom life by addressing foundational relationships—marriage, family, and material possessions. Jesus’ call to childlike reception (v. 14) echoes the humility stressed earlier. His teaching on sacrifice and reward directly anticipates chapter 20’s parable of the workers in the vineyard, where the theme of reversal (“the last will be first”) is illustrated in the economy of grace. The difficulty of wealth, introduced here, is taken up again in the story of Zacchaeus (ch. 21) and the judgment on religious leaders (ch. 23).

What it teaches.
Marriage is a divine institution established at creation, uniting one man and one woman into a permanent bond (WCF 24.2; HC LD 41). Divorce, permitted under the Mosaic economy due to human hardness (), does not reflect God’s original will (; WCF 19.6). Jesus upholds the sanctity of marriage, allowing exception only for sexual immorality (porneia), and identifies remarriage after unjustified divorce as adultery (WCF 24.5). Spiritual receptivity is likened to a child’s dependence (HC LD 32), not earned by moral achievement but received by grace (WCF 11.2). Wealth, while not inherently evil, poses a grave danger to salvation when it displaces reliance on God (HC LD 51), but those who sacrifice for Christ’s sake will receive eternal inheritance (WCF 17.1–2).

Apply.
Trust in God’s design for marriage, welcome others with childlike humility, and rely on Christ alone rather than personal righteousness or possessions for eternal life.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.