Matthew 19.AT 19{
Matt. 19:1-2. The Lord is in Judea again, continuing His gracious work upon the multitude that followed Him.
Matt. 19:3-9. He teaches here that what is instituted for man, Judaism cannot put aside, and Christianity must uphold it. The Pharisees tempting Him, say, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" The Lord leads them back to God's original institution, That abides, one man and one woman were to unite in marriage; they are one in the sight of God. "What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so. 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 that is put away, committeth adultery." It is man's lust that sets aside God's institution, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." Heb. 13:4. The Lord's authority "I SAY unto you," establishes this. The only case where separation is allowed, is where the bond has been already broken by sin.
The converted Gentiles had to be taught to respect this tie as a necessary thing. (Acts 15:20, 29; 1 Thess. 4:3-7.) Christianity, by Christ's authority, puts marriage in its place as a divine institution for man.
Matt. 19:10-12. Here another principle is brought in. Some were not able to receive what He said, only those to whom it was given. Some were unfitted for marriage naturally, some were unfitted by men, but there were others, such as the apostle Paul, who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the gift of God, gave himself entirely up to the Lord's service. (1 Cor. 7:7, 37.) If a man in the power of the Holy Spirit has the gift from the Lord to do this, and be entirely heavenly, so much the better, yet it would be evil to condemn or speak against the relationship which God originally instituted. (1 Cor. 7:7.)
Matt. 19:13-15. The Lord shows His affection for the children. It is human nature again in its simple, lonely, confiding character before being outwardly defiled by practice of sin. In Matt. 18, the child illustrated the spirit suited to the kingdom. How encouraging to parents to see the Lord receiving the children; laying His hands on them, and rebuking His disciples who rebuked those who brought them, by saying. "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." He knew the value of a child. He laid His hands on them. What encouragement to parents. What will we ask of Him for our children?
"I ask no worldly portion for my child;
I seek not of Thee gold, or rank, or fame;
Save it from sin; from human passions wild;
An interest in Thy love is all I claim.
Lord, make it Thine-Thine only-is my plea,
To love, and serve, and live alone for Thee.”
-J. G. D.
Matt. 19:16-22. In the young man we see one in nature outwardly good and amiable, but the evil in him leads him to turn his back on the Lord and go away from Him. He shows desire to learn the right way, and he admires the Lord's goodness, and he wanted to have eternal life. He had not learned himself. He says, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" He thought he was good, and could do good. The Lord answered, "Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Notice the Lord leaves "eternal" out, for the law was for life on earth, for living by, not to gain heaven by. But the young man thinks he can and had kept the commandments from his youth up, and asks further, "What lack I yet?" Jesus 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." Will he do it? Alas! possessions are his god, the true God is shut out. The Lord exposed his covetous heart, and he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." (Ex. 20:3.) "The rich He sends empty away." Irreproachable in his behavior, the Lord tries his heart; he loves earthly things, and God is left out, he clings to his possessions. What he desired to possess is not esteemed. Man at his best estate is altogether vanity, his heart is away from God. Possessions, which in the Jew's mind, were a mark of divine favor, are seen here holding the heart away from God, and spiritual blessing is not esteemed.
Matt. 19:23, 24. "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 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." What a complete change to the disciples' minds this was. "Who, then can be saved?" Impossible with men, but with God all things are possible: The rich cannot save himself, but God can reduce him to nothing but a sinner in his own eyes, and then will save him. (1 Sam. 2:6-8; Luke 1:53.) The Lord knows how to humble the rich spirit, and to make it poor before Him. He knows how to make a Saul of Tarsus, to feel that his righteousness is filthy rags, and that he is the very chief of sinners. The disciples had to learn that all of self and earth was worthless for salvation in the sight of God, but that God could find the way of salvation for the humbled soul.
Matt. 19:27-29. "Then answered Peter, and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee! what shall we have therefore?" and 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. 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 hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life." The regeneration means, the renewed world, what we speak of as the millennium or reign of Christ. The disciples are to have the center places in the kingdom to reign over and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who had left all that by nature they loved, for Christ's name, would have an hundred fold (heavenly comforts for the soul, but with persecutions, see Mark) in this life. What we lose now for Christ, is heavenly gain now in realizing our possessions in Christ. We realize now what eternal life is, and shall enter into its fullness at the end.
Matt. 19:30. "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." This is the Lord's sovereignty in calling and rewarding His servants. Matt. 20:1-16 continues it.