Matthew 19 - Jesus Loved Kids ... Of All Ages!
Divorce
19 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’[a] 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’[b]? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Jesus continued to heal the people, as the crowds followed him. The Pharisees continued to be jealous of Jesus and were looking to trip him up in his teaching and discredit him. Today, they ask him if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife.The key was they said, "For any reason".
It is helpful to have a little background on divorce in Jesus' culture historically.
These words were the center of the debate. Each school of thought understood that the Mosaic law gave permission for divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1: When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house. Each side knew and believed Deuteronomy 24:1; the question was, “What constitutes uncleanness?”
The school of Rabbi Shammai understood that uncleanness meant sexual immorality, and said this was the only valid reason for divorce. The school of Rabbi Hillel understood uncleanness to mean any sort of indiscretion; even to the point where for some rabbis, burning a husband’s breakfast was considered valid grounds for divorce.
So in their question, the Pharisees tried to get Jesus to side with one teaching or the other. If He agreed with the lax school of Rabbi Hillel, it was clear that Jesus did not take the Law of Moses seriously. If He agreed with the strict school of Rabbi Shammai, then Jesus might become unpopular with the multitude, who generally liked access to an easy divorce. The religious leaders had reason to believe they had caught Jesus on the horns of a dilemma. (Guzik)
So instead of getting hooked into taking sides Jesus goes back to God's intent for marriage. God created men and women to be joined in marriage as male and female. Importantly in a marriage it is made holy by God, as he joins men and woman together as one. In the Catholic church, marriage is a sacrament. The word sacrament means "holy thing" So, you could make the argument that marriage is a sacrament because God is the one who makes it holy.
Luther acknowledge,d the holy nature of marriage, but he defined a sacrament as having three things. First, it was a commandment of God. Second involved an earthly element (water, bread, wine). Finally, the promise of the forgiveness of sins. You can see how only Communion and Baptism would fit into the definition. Both are commanded by God, "Go and make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." and "Take and eat this is my body broken and blood poured out for you!". Both involve earthly elements. Body and bread for communon and water for baptism. All three represent the promise of salvation. Mark 16:16 says, "Whoever believes and baptized will be saved." "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28
7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
Jesus explains that the only exception Moses made for divorce was if a woman committed adultery. When the disciples realized they did not have carte blanche to divorce their wives, they wondered if it was wise to get married. Jesus doesn't pull any punches and says that only those who can accept this should get married. Then, he implies that some are born "eunuchs", and some choose to be "eunuchs". You might say some choose to be single, and others just seem to be destined to be single from birth either emotionally or physically.
The term eunuch was used figuratively for those who voluntarily abstain from marriage. Jesus here gave three kinds of eunuchs.
· Those who are born without the capacity for sex and marriage.
· Those who are made by others without the capacity for sex and marriage.
· Those who choose to live without sex and marriage for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.
Paul said that the one who is unmarried because of calling should be holy both in body and in spirit (1 Corinthians 7:34). Therefore these eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake should come to peace with their celibacy both physically and spiritually; it should not be a consistent torment to them in either aspect. (Guzik)
The Little Children and Jesus
13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Similar to the passage a few days ago, we see Jesus is definitely "pro-kid". As he taught before that unless one had the faith of a child they could not see the kingdom. When the disciples tried to shoo the kids away, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Once again Jesus talks about the kingdom of heaven, and once again he connects little children to it. Jesus placed his hands on them as a sign of blessing.
What is it about kids that Jesus sees so much in them?
1. They have a simple faith.
2. They trust those in authority until given a reason not to.
3. They are ready to act on their faith without a lot of excuses.
4. They haven't grown cynical.
5. They can burst out in spontaneous praise, affection, and worship!
You might conclude the religious leaders lacked of all of these qualities and characteristics!
How about you? Do you have some of those qualities that describe a child-like faith?
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
The first mistake the man makes is when he asks Jesus, "What must I do to get eternal life?" He assumes eternal life is something he can gain by effort. Since the man was rich he was used to establishing a price for something he wanted to acquire. He had probably heard Jesus talking about eternal life and figured this too had a price tag.
Jesus then redefines the word "good". Even today "good" is a very relative term. Good by whose standard? Something might be good for me, but bad for you. Jesus tells them it is only God who determines what is good or bad. And then goes to the Ten Commandments as an objective "arbiter" of what is good or bad.
Of course, the rich man thinks he has kept all of the commandments. Or, at least in his mind. He may have been keeping the letter of the law, but Jesus tested him on the spirit of the law. In this case the law of worshipping God only. But, in fact, his true God was money, because when Jesus asked him to sell all of his possessions and give them to the poor, he went away sad. He could not choose God over money!
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus used the metaphor that it was easier for a camel going through the eye of needle than a person whose God was money to make it into heaven. The bottom line is that it is just as impossible for the camel to get through the eye of a needle than a man whose true god was money. Why? Because you cannot serve two masters. Jesus said, "You will grow to either love the one or hate the other. You cannot serve both God and money!"
When the disciples heard this they wondered if it would be impossible for them to get into heaven. Though money might not have been their God, maybe there was something else like pride, greed, or worldliness. Jesus uses their question to show the true nature of salvation. We can never earn our way into heaven. Only God can save us. We can't save ourselves.
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Since the disciples had truly left everything to follow Jesus, they wondered what was in store for them. Jesus gave them a promise. He promised that with whatever they gave up in this life, they would receive a hundred fold in the next. But then he ends with a warning. There would be many who think that they were the ones who would be in line for heaven's biggest rewards, but they might be badly mistaken.
Would you say you have given up everything to follow Jesus? In losing or giving up things for Jesus have you already seen God bless your life and give you more than you could have asked for?
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