Matthew 19 · WEB
Marriage, Children, and the Rich Young Ruler
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When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
4He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
5and 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'?
6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart."
7They asked him, "Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce, and divorce her?"
8He 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.
9I 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."
10His disciples said to him, "If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry."
11But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
12For 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."
13Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
14But 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."
15He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
16Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
17He 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."
18He 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.'
19'Honor your father and mother.' And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20The young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?"
21Jesus 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."
22But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23Jesus said to his disciples, "Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
25When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
26Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
27Then Peter answered, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?"
28Jesus 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.
29Everyone 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.
30But many will be last who are first, and first who are last."
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Summary
Jesus leaves Galilee for Judea and is questioned by the Pharisees about divorce, to which he responds by appealing to God's original design for marriage. He welcomes children and rebukes the disciples for hindering them, then encounters a rich young ruler whose love of possessions keeps him from following Jesus. The chapter closes with a promise that everything left behind for Jesus' sake will be repaid a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.
Themes
- God's design for marriage
- Receiving the Kingdom as a child
- The danger of riches
- The cost of discipleship
- Reversal of human values in the Kingdom
Key verses
- Matt 19:14 — “Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”
- Matt 19:26 — “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
- Matt 19:30 — “Many will be last who are first, and first who are last.”
- Matt 19:6 — “What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart.”
Context & background
Jesus is now traveling south from Galilee toward Jerusalem through "the region of Judea beyond the Jordan" — Perea, in modern Jordan, east of the Jordan River. This route was preferred by Jews to avoid Samaria. The Pharisees' question about divorce reflects a contemporary debate between the schools of Hillel (who allowed divorce for almost any reason) and Shammai (who allowed it only for sexual immorality). The "needle's eye" image likely refers to a literal sewing needle, emphasizing absolute impossibility apart from God. Wealth in the ancient world was widely viewed as a sign of God's favor, which makes Jesus' statement deeply shocking to the disciples.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 24:1-4 — The Mosaic certificate of divorce that the Pharisees cite
- Exodus 20:12-16 — The commandments Jesus quotes to the rich young ruler
- Genesis 1:27; 2:24 — Jesus quotes both creation passages to ground marriage
- Luke 14:33 — "Whoever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple"
- Mark 10:1-31 / Luke 18:15-30 — Parallel accounts of these events