Matthew 19
Matthew 19 contains important episodes that occurred when Jesus left Galilee and went down to Judea. Various themes appear, but overall, the central axis is the 'path of discipleship' and the value of the kingdom of God. Verses 1-12 include a debate with the Pharisees about divorce; in verses 13-15, we see Jesus blessing little children; and verses 16-30 continue with a conversation about the rich young man and eternal life, along with promises of rewards for disciples. Each passage goes beyond simple moral lessons and reveals the difference between the order of the kingdom of God and worldly values.
1verseWhen Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2verseGreat multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3versePharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
4verseHe answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
5verseand 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’?
6verseSo that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
7verseThey asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”
8verseHe 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.
9verseI 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.”
10verseHis disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.”
11verseBut he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
12verseFor 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.”
13verseThen little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
14verseBut 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.”
15verseHe laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
16verseBehold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
17verseHe 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.”
18verseHe 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.’
19verse‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20verseThe young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21verseJesus 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.”
22verseBut when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23verseJesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24verseAgain 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.”
25verseWhen the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26verseLooking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27verseThen Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”
28verseJesus 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.
29verseEveryone 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.
30verseBut many will be last who are first, and first who are last.
Jesus' Teaching About Divorce (Verses 1-12)
The Pharisees seek to test Jesus by asking him questions about divorce. Jesus refers to the original intent of creation and emphasizes the fundamental meaning of a man and a woman becoming one flesh. Although there is a divorce provision that Moses allowed due to human weakness (Deuteronomy 24), Jesus reaffirms, as God's will, the oneness and faithfulness intended at the beginning of creation. In that process, he also mentions that marriage, singleness, and the various paths of a disciple's life are opened up in diverse ways.
Blessing the Children (Verses 13-15)
When people bring little children to Jesus, the disciples try to stop them. Instead, Jesus says that the kingdom of God belongs to people like the children, and he blesses them one by one. This is a scene that emphasizes that the kingdom of God is open to those who are simple and small, and who possess a humble heart.
The Rich Young Man and the Way to Eternal Life (Verses 16-26)
A young man approaches Jesus, asking whether he can obtain eternal life through doing good. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments; when the young man says that he has kept all those commandments, Jesus instructs him to sell what he has, share it with the poor, and follow Jesus. But the young man, having many possessions, grieves and leaves. Through this, it becomes clear that worldly ownership and the value of the kingdom of God can sometimes come into conflict. Jesus also emphasizes that salvation is possible only by God's grace, not by human ability, by saying, 'It is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.'
The Reward of Disciples and the Reversal in the Kingdom of God (Verses 27-30)
Peter asks what kind of reward there is for themselves and the disciples, who have left everything and followed. Jesus gives his disciples a promise that when a new world comes, they will be assigned meaningful roles. Along with that, he also speaks about an unexpected reversal—those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last. In this way, he shows that in the kingdom of God, the world's standards of judgment can be overturned.
Meditation Points
- We need to reflect again on human standards and God's original intent (creation, marriage, the kingdom of God).
- Remember that the attitude of faith that can lay down worldly possessions—and that welcomes even small and weak children—forms the basis for being invited into the kingdom of God.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- When making important life decisions (family, relationships, possessions), check whether their foundation is connected not to the world's standards, but to the values of the kingdom of God.
- Seek, before God, an open heart to come with humility like a child and to use everything entrusted to you according to God's will.
