Matthew 19
Discussion about Divorce and Marriage
1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.
Jesus, You healed the sick then, will You do it now? My body is fine, but my soul is sick. I sin again and again, doing what I later hate. Why is my mind and heart so cold? Why do I love you so little.
Lord, please, I beg You, take this temptation away from me. Yet, if it is not Your will to heal me, let Your will be done. Then find a way to use my twisted struggle for Your glory. Perhaps by changing me more slowly You receive greater glory. I am not to know. Please change me Jesus.
3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ 5 And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”
10 Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”
11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. 12 Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
Jesus, my wife and I are one. What is good for her is good for me. What is good for me is good for her. Help me to be good for her Lord. We both know I can make life difficult. I surely haven’t always been good for her. Help us both to be one in You, closer to You, loving You more and more and in that way we will be closer to each other.
Jesus Blesses the Children
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
Jesus, what does it mean to be like a child? I have children. They accept gifts without worrying about repaying the gift. They are just thankful. They are made happy by simple little things in life. They love being with friends and playing.
Lord, help me to just accept Your salvation and be thankful for it. Help me to be easily made happy. Help me to enjoy the loved-ones You have surrounded me with. Lord, help me live a life of simple faith, love and joy. I love You Jesus.
The Rich Man
16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Jesus, this is such a scary story for me. We certainly are rich in Your eyes…most Americans are. Are You asking me to sell all that I have? And if you did say it plainly to my face, would I? Probably not.
Jesus, help me to see the worthlessness of my worldly possessions and the value of heavenly ones. Help me to know and obey Your perfect will. Help me to help the poor the best I can. Help me to treasure You and Your love and Your Word more than anything here on earth.
27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Jesus, I am so afraid to give up the things of this world to follow You. I hang on to people and things that keep me from You. Why? I know better. I know in my mind that You are the only way. You are all that really matters. I guess my heart doesn’t really love You as I should.
Jesus, change my heart. Help me see You will for me. Make me one of those unseen people that work in the background of life. One of those that actually make a difference, but no one notices. Change me so I can give You what is truly already Yours. Change me Lord. Lead me and help me to follow. I am weak and afraid. Change me Lord.
Footnotes:
- Matthew 19:4 Gen 1:27; 5:2.
- Matthew 19:5 Gen 2:24.
- Matthew 19:7 See Deut 24:1.
- Matthew 19:9 Some manuscripts add And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Compare Matt 5:32.
- Matthew 19:12 Greek and some make themselves eunuchs.
- Matthew 19:16 Some manuscripts read Good Teacher.
- Matthew 19:17 Some manuscripts read continue to keep.
- Matthew 19:19 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20; Lev 19:18.
- Matthew 19:28 Or in the regeneration.
- Matthew 19:28 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
- Matthew 19:30 Greek But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.