Matthew 19:1-10:
These verses deal with the sanctity of marriage. The LORD and His disciples had just left the region of Galilee and were now heading to Judea. On the way, He healed those who were sick and in need of His help. The crowds are waiting for Him in Judea, but so are His enemies, the Pharisees, ready to test Him with yet another series of questions in their continuing attempt to expose Him as a fraud and blasphemer. This time they want to test Him on the lawfulness of a man to divorce his wife for any reason. The issue was not based upon Scripture, but upon the legitimacy of teachings, specifically those from the rabbis Hillel and Shammai. Both these men have passed on but their respective influence had made an impression upon the people of Judea.
Hillel had taken a more “liberal “ approach to the interpretation of Scripture, teaching that a divorce could be granted for any reason, such as failing to prepare a proper kosher meal, or a perceived failure on the wife’s part to take care of the household, or anything that the husband saw as neglect of duty. Shammai was more strict in his Jew of Scripture and tradition. The man had to list specific reasons to end the marriage, not just on a selfish whim. Either way, the woman was left with no options and a ruined reputation. Both schools had “twisted” the Scriptures ( Deuteronomy 24:1-4) by adding man made references and traditional ideas to what had been written down by Moses.
Jesus directed them back to Eden (Genesis 1:27; 2:24, 5:7). God created marriage to be between a MAN and a WOMAN where they become “as one flesh” under His image for life. The Pharisees, never satisfied with Jesus’ answers, then asked Him why Moses wrote about certificates of divorce and putting away one’s wife. Jesus replied that Moses permitted it due to the hardness of men’s hearts. It is not God’s will for any marriage to end in divorce. The one legitimate reason that Jesus gave for the ending of a marriage was because of infidelity. The Greek word defining infidelity is PORNIA, that is, sexual, and outside of marriage. Dr. James Boice (1938-2000), late pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, said, “ to find out that the wife had been sexually unfaithful before marriage violated the marriage contract, and therefore was a legitimate reason for divorce.” Marriage is a sacred bond to be protected and cherished by both husband and wife, and is to be grounded upon the Word of God and His Holy Name.
vv. 11-12:
Not everyone is to undergo matrimony. Some people are called to a life of celibacy and singleness. There are some people who cannot procreate due to a birth defect, mutilation of sexual organs by despotic people or accidents, and there are some people who commit to abstention from sexual activity for life which takes a great deal of self-discipline. If God has put it within someone to persue this type of life, then do so gladly and accept what comes.
vv.13-15:
Modern society, as have other periods in history, have viewed children either as a blessing or a burden. Many are loved and protected while others face abuse and left to their own devices. The murder of the unborn and the sodomizing of young boys in the ancient world are stains upon the fabric of Greek and Roman culture. The abuse of children by the sex trade industry in recent times have been met with action on the part of governments and individuals who are determined to protect and stop this evil act. Fathers in Ancient Rome had the literal power of life and death over their families and could get rid of them any time if they wanted. Children were sacrificed to the false deities Moloch and Ba’al in the most gruesome of ways. The Bible confronts our own godless attitudes towards children and life in general.
Scripture teaches us that godly parents are to teach children about God (Deuteronomy 6:4-7), to train them in the things of God (Proverbs 22:6; Isaiah 38:19), to provide for them (2 Corinthians 12:14), nurture them ((Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21), control them (1Timothy 3:4,12), and love them (Titus 2:4). To Jesus, children are precious to Him. He warned that anyone who harms a child should be killed by drowning. This is a harsh rebuke to anyone who would even consider harming them. Children are viewed as a gift from God. It is His pleasure to bless a family with many of them (Psalm 127:5). Children are highly esteemed and are of infinite value to the LORD (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 127:4, 128:3; Proverbs 17:6). They are to be given instruction in the things of God in order to carry it forward to the next generation (Psalm 34:11; Proverbs 10:1, 20:11, 23:22, 27:11; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20; 1 Timothy 5:4).
vv.16-30
Here we have the encounter between the Lord Jesus and a “rich young ruler”. This is also recorded in Mark 10:17-22 and Luke 18:18-23. This young man has been blessed with both riches and responsibility. He approached Jesus with a question that on the surface seemed to be a sincere inquiry into spiritual affairs. His question is based on the reality that material things do not satisfy the spirit and that there is more to life than possessions and profits. The Bible says that the ability to obtain wealth is a gift from God, including blessings of wisdom, honesty, self-discipline, and maturity (Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 Samuel 2:7; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Jeremiah 27:5). Riches, like anything, have the ability to replace God as the object of worship and our Source of supply. Riches incline one to forget God (Deuteronomy 8:13-14). Riches produce greed (Psalm 62:10). The worship of our riches can deter us away from entering God’s presence (Matthew 19:23; Mark 4:19).
On the surface, the young ruler’s question stems from the realization that earthly wealth is not the sum total of life. However, as Jesus continues to question him, we see that the young ruler’s departure was based on his violation of the first and second commandments. The man did not want to give up his money or material. The piety he claimed to have was based on a self- centered belief that his works were sufficient for salvation and he wanted Jesus’ seal of approval for his merit (Ephesians 2:8-9). This ruler was a false convert and Jesus saw no reason to go after him until he let go of his self-righteousness and love of money. If he had any sincerity in his question, it had been grounded in his interpretation of what he saw as his attempt to get affirmation for his actions. If we are serious about following Jesus, then we are to do so on HIS terms (Luke 14:2-33). Not everyone is willing to accept that demand. This rich man found out the hard way. We do not know if he ever had a change of heart. The tragedy is that he walked away from the One who gives true wealth and peace of mind. What excuse do you have for not believing in Jesus? (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13). You have been warned.
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