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BOOK 40 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Matthew 19

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Matthew 19 Overview

Jesus teaches on marriage and divorce, blesses little children, and confronts a rich young man who asks about eternal life. The man’s attachment to possessions exposes his inability to meet the standard he assumes he can fulfill. Jesus then explains the danger of riches, the impossibility of salvation by human ability, and the future reward of sacrificial discipleship.

MatthewBook
19Chapter
30Verses
GospelsDivision

Before you read Matthew 19

Coming from

Matthew 18 established the immediate context: Jesus teaches disciples about humility, receiving little ones, the seriousness of causing others to stumble, seeking the wandering sheep, confronting a sinning brother, church discipline, forgiveness, and the parable of the unforgiving servant.

In this chapter

Matthew 19 joins covenant faithfulness in marriage, childlike reception, the impossibility of earning eternal life, and the cost/reward of discipleship.

Leads into

Matthew 20 continues the account: Jesus tells the parable of laborers in the vineyard, emphasizing the landowner’s right to be generous and challenging comparisons based on merit.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Jesus answers the divorce dispute by returning behind Deuteronomy’s concession to Genesis creation: one man and one woman joined by God in a one-flesh union.

The rich young man approaches Jesus in a works framework. Jesus uses the commandments and then the man’s wealth to expose the inadequacy of self-righteous confidence. The disciples’ shocked question about who can be saved is answered: with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Marriage is rooted in creation rather than convenience

Jesus grounds marriage in God’s making and joining.

Children are welcomed by Jesus

The disciples’ gatekeeping is corrected.

Human goodness cannot purchase eternal life

The rich man’s self-assessment collapses when his ruling attachment is exposed.

Riches can become a major spiritual obstacle

Possessions can possess the heart.

Discipleship sacrifice and reward are real without becoming the basis of salvation

Jesus distinguishes leaving things for His sake from the impossible task of saving oneself.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Genesis 1:27; 2:24

Jesus explicitly bases marriage on the creation account.

Deuteronomy 24:1–4

The Pharisees’ question draws on Mosaic divorce regulation, which Jesus places within a hard-heart context.

Mark 10:17–31

Mark’s parallel adds that Jesus loved the rich man before giving the exposing command.

Ephesians 2:8–9

Paul clearly states salvation is God’s gift, not works, matching Jesus’ conclusion that human salvation is impossible apart from God.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make selling all possessions a universal condition for receiving eternal life

Jesus targets this man’s self-righteous framework and idolatrous attachment; salvation is not purchased by divestment.

Do not flatten every difficult marriage situation into one sentence without the rest of Scripture

Jesus strongly defends creation marriage while the wider Bible addresses further pastoral cases.

Do not confuse reward for sacrificial discipleship with the gift of eternal life

The chapter places both topics nearby but does not make them identical.

Read Matthew 19 watching for…

Jesus’ appeal to creation in the marriage discussion.

Why Moses’ divorce provision is described as a concession.

Jesus’ treatment of children.

The rich man’s initial assumption about goodness.

The command that exposes his heart.

Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question about salvation.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline4 sections
1-12Jesus teaches about marriage, divorce, and those who remain unmarried13-15Jesus receives and blesses little children16-26A rich young man asks about eternal life, and Jesus exposes the hold of riches on his heart27-30Jesus promises reward to those who have left things to follow him
1

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

2

And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

3

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10

His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11

But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

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 be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

13

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15

And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18

He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19

Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

30

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

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Matthew 19:15

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