Matthew 19

King James Version

Full text for Matthew Chapter 19

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;

2And 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?

4And 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.›

7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8He 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.›

10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry.

11But 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.

14But Jesus said, ‹Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.›

15And 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?

17And 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.›

18He 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.›

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21Jesus 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.›

22But 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.›

25When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, ‹With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.›

27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28And 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.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus travels to Judea, where he first addresses the Pharisees' question on divorce, affirming marriage as a divine union and limiting divorce to cases of fornication. He then welcomes little children, declaring the kingdom of heaven belongs to such. Later, a rich young man seeks eternal life, but departs sorrowful when Jesus instructs him to sell his possessions and follow Him. Jesus concludes by discussing the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom and promises great rewards to those who sacrifice for His sake.

Medium Summary

Departing Galilee, Jesus enters Judea, where he is confronted by Pharisees regarding the lawfulness of divorce. He teaches that God's original design was for a man and woman to become one flesh, and what God has joined, man should not separate, allowing divorce only for fornication. Following this, Jesus blesses little children, emphasizing that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those like them. A rich young man approaches Jesus, inquiring about how to inherit eternal life. Jesus initially directs him to keep the commandments, but upon the young man's claim of adherence, challenges him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The young man, unwilling to part with his wealth, departs sorrowful. Jesus then warns his disciples about the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom, assuring them that with God, all things are possible, and promising significant rewards for those who forsake everything to follow Him.

Long Summary

Jesus departs Galilee and enters the regions of Judaea beyond Jordan, where large multitudes follow Him, and He heals them. The Pharisees approach Him, attempting to tempt Him with a question about the lawfulness of divorce for any cause. Jesus responds by referencing creation, stating that God made them male and female, and intended for a man and his wife to become one flesh, a union not to be separated by man. When questioned about Moses' allowance for a writing of divorcement, Jesus explains it was permitted due to the "hardness of your hearts," but clarifies that from the beginning, it was not God's original design. He then declares that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery, and likewise, marrying a divorced woman is adultery. The disciples express concern about marriage under such strictures, to which Jesus replies that not all can receive this saying, referencing different types of eunuchs, including those who choose celibacy for the kingdom of heaven's sake. Subsequently, little children are brought to Jesus for Him to lay hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuke those who brought them. Jesus intervenes, instructing them to "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven," and then lays His hands upon them. A rich young man approaches Jesus, asking what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus first directs him to keep the commandments, and when asked which ones, lists several from the Decalogue, including loving one's neighbour. The young man claims to have kept all these from his youth and asks what he still lacks. Jesus then challenges him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him, promising treasure in heaven. The young man, however, goes away sorrowful because of his great wealth. Jesus then teaches His disciples about the extreme difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, likening it to a camel passing through the eye of a needle. When the disciples express amazement and ask who then can be saved, Jesus assures them that "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Peter then asks about the disciples' reward for forsaking all to follow Him. Jesus promises them that in the "regeneration," they will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, and that anyone who forsakes family or possessions for His name's sake will receive a hundredfold reward and inherit everlasting life, concluding with the proverb that "many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first."

Core Concepts

  • Marriage and DivorceJesus reasserts the divine institution of marriage as a permanent union of one flesh, allowing divorce only in cases of fornication, contrasting it with Moses' allowance due to human 'hardness of heart'.
  • Children and the KingdomJesus welcomes and blesses little children, teaching that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those with such innocence and humility, rebuking the disciples who sought to prevent them.
  • Eternal Life and CommandmentsA rich young man seeks to inherit eternal life, and Jesus initially directs him to keep the commandments as a path to life, listing several from the Decalogue.
  • Riches and SalvationJesus teaches that it is exceedingly difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, illustrating this with the metaphor of a camel and a needle's eye, but affirms that with God, all things are possible.
  • Sacrifice and DiscipleshipJesus challenges the rich young man to sell all his possessions and follow Him, and later promises great rewards, including thrones and everlasting life, to those who forsake everything for His name's sake.
  • Hardness of HeartJesus explains that Moses permitted divorce not as God's original design, but as a concession to the 'hardness of your hearts' among the people, indicating a deviation from divine will.
  • Divine PossibilityIn response to the disciples' amazement about the rich entering heaven, Jesus declares that while impossible for men, 'with God all things are possible,' highlighting God's power in salvation.