Chapter 19
Verses 1-12 Read the Bible verses.
Jesus explained that marriage was for two people to be joined together as one–they should not be separated–this is what God planned from the beginning.
The Jewish leaders said that Moses gave the people of the Old Testament papers for divorce.
Jesus said, “That is true. That is not what God planned. Because the people were hard-hearted spiritually, Moses allow them to be divorced.”
Jesus said, “Unfaithfulness or adultery (having sex with someone else) is the only reason for a divorce.”
The Jewish rules had allowed divorce for many reasons. The disciples thought that this “adultery only” rule was really narrow. So they said, it would be better not to get married then.
Jesus did not argue with them about the narrowness of the adultery rule. Jesus did not talk about the Jewish rules that allowed many reasons.
Jesus let what he said about divorce stand the way it was. When the disciples said that it would be better then not to marry, Jesus just went on with that thought. Jesus said that not everyone could live without being married. Jesus meant that the desire for a sexual relationship would make most people marry.
Jesus explained that some people can live their live without sexual activity and do so without sinning.
Jesus said some men have been made eunuchs. A eunuch is a man who has had his private parts (testes, testicles) cut and removed. This was often done to men who served in a queen’s house and was around the king’s women.
The men did not have the ability to produce sperm. Usually boys were made eunuchs before they developed, so they had little or no sex drive.
Jesus said that some men have made themselves eunuchs so they can give their life to working for God. This may mean that they did not become eunuchs physically but that they lived as a eunuch, avoiding sexual relationships.
Verses 13- 15 Read the Bible verses.
Some children were brought to Jesus. The disciples thought that Jesus was too busy and too important of a person to bother with children.
Jesus wanted the children to come to him. “Suffer them“ means “allow them” and “Forbid them not” means “do not stop them”.
Verses 16- 30 Read the Bible verses.
A rich young man came to Jesus and wanted to know what he needed to do to have eternal life.
Jesus told him that he needed to obey the 10 commandments. The young man said that he had obeyed the commandments since he was a boy.
Jesus told him one thing you lack (don’t have or have need of ) go sell all that you have and then come and follow me.
This made the young man very sad. He was very rich. He went away.
Jesus said to the disciples, “It is easier for a camel to go through the “eye of a needle” than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of heaven.”
The disciples were surprised. All through the Old Testament, riches were thought of God’s blessings on a person’s life. If a person was rich, God must be blessing him. How could it be hard for him to get into heaven?
First of all, there have been many people in the Old Testament and the New Testament and nowadays that are very rich and are they are wicked people. Being rich does not automatically mean that God thinks you are good and is blessing you.
The “eye of a needle” was a small doorway in the city wall. Long ago cities had tall thick walls that went around the city to protect it from an army that would attack. The walls had large gates where people, animals, and wagons, etc. came in and out. At a certain time in the evening they were closed and in the morning they were opened. Near the main gates, was a small doorway. When the gates were closed, the small door could be opened to allow someone to come in. However, it would be very hard for a tall camel to get down low enough to get in.
It is hard for rich people to “get down low”. Rich people are looked up to and respected. Rich people are well known. Rich people get honor and are treated better than other people. A rich person would find that hard to give up.
A rich person trusts in his money to get what he wants and needs. If you have enough money, you can buy almost anything.
Rich people are not used to being humble. Rich people would not want to become poor.
If the rich young man really wanted eternal life, he needed to understand that Jesus comes first. If Jesus asks a person to give up something, that person needs to say “Yes”, because they want Jesus more.
Eternal life is forever. Riches stay here on earth. They are left behind when you die.
At some time, you will give up the riches. The question is: Will you give up the riches now? Or will you give up the riches at death?
If the person is willing to give up the riches now and choose a life with Jesus, he will be laying up riches in heaven all during his life here.
Jesus wanted the rich young man to see that. But the rich young man was not willing.
Jesus does not ask all Christians to give up everything they have. But the idea still is true. Jesus might ask you to give up your job and be a preacher or missionary for him. Jesus might ask you to give thousands of dollars to help people. Jesus might ask you to give up a boyfriend or girlfriend, if that person is not the right one for you. Jesus might ask you to give time to help people.
The idea is —are you willing to put Jesus first in your life?
The disciples said to Jesus, “We have given up everything for you.”
It is true, they had.
There were people who gave Jesus and the disciples money as an offering. (Luke 8:3 “Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”) Judas kept the money because he was the treasurer. (John 12:6, 13:29)
It does not seem that with offerings only that Jesus or the disciples would have much money. They probably had just enough to buy food and a place to stay when they traveled. It would seem that the disciples who had families would be given money to take care of their families’ needs.
It would not be in Jesus’ character to ask men to follow him and to leave their families without a way to take care of those families.
Jesus told the disciples that anyone who gives up things, family, etc. to follow him will receive 100 times more in heaven some day.
He told the disciples that they would sit on 12 thrones and judge the tribes of Israel, when Jesus comes back to earth.
Some people who are very important here on earth may not be important one day in heaven, and some people who are not important now on earth will some day be a very important person in heaven.