MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:1 The Galilean ministry has now ended. Jesus and his disciples begin the journey to Jerusalem. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:3 PHARISEES... TESTED HIM. See note on 3:7. The religious leaders try to make Jesus look guilty by misinterpreting the law. DIVORCE. There was a significant debate among the Pharisees about the correct interpretation of Moses’ divorce regulations (Deuteronomy 24:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:6 WHAT... GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER implies that marriage is not merely a human agreement but a relationship established by God. From the moment they are married, the husband and wife are unified in a way that is different from all other human relationships. Being “one flesh... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:8 BECAUSE OF YOUR HARDNESS OF HEART means, “because there was rebellion against God among you, leading to broken marriage covenants.” God therefore provided divorce for dealing with such cases. FROM THE BEGINNING IT WAS NOT SO points to God’s original intent that marriage... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:9 Every phrase in this verse is important for understanding Jesus’ teaching on divorce. WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE. The word translated here as “divorces” always refers to divorce, not separation (see also v. Matthew 19:3). EXCEPT FOR SEXUAL IMMORALITY. “Sexual immorality”... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:10 THIS SAYING is best understood as referring to the statement IT IS BETTER NOT TO MARRY. THOSE TO WHOM IT IS GIVEN.... EUNUCHS. This would include those without the physical capacity for sexual relations and those who have chosen a life of abstinence (see 1 Corinthians 7... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:13 LAY HIS HANDS ON THEM. A traditional manner of blessing children in Israel (see Genesis 48:14). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:14 TO SUCH BELONGS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. See notes on 18:2–4; 18:5–6. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:16 A MAN CAME UP TO HIM. Verses Matthew 19:16 have been called the story of the “rich young ruler” since he is rich (v. Matthew 19:22), young (v. Matthew 19:20), and a ruler (compare Luke 18:18). He may have been a religious lay leader, quite possibly a Pharisee (because o... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:17 THERE IS ONLY ONE WHO IS GOOD. Only in understanding God as infinitely good can the young man discover that good deeds cannot earn eternal life. KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. Jesus is not teaching that good works can earn eternal life, for in vv. Matthew 19:21 he will show the... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:18 WHICH ONES? Jesus gives a representative list of commandments (compare Exodus 20:1; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 5:7; Matthew 22:36). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:20 ALL THESE I HAVE KEPT. The man implies he has kept not only these, but the entire law, which they represent. Yet he still senses that something is lacking. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:21 IF YOU WOULD BE PERFECT. Jesus wants to turn this man from focusing on external obedience to examining his heart, revealing that his money is his ruling god. GIVE TO THE POOR. The man had surely already given some money to the poor, for this was considered a duty, espec... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:23 ONLY WITH DIFFICULTY WILL A RICH PERSON ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Wealth fools a person into thinking that he or she is self-sufficient apart from God. The general attributes of the “rich” are the opposite of those of a “child” (see Matthew 18:1; Matthew 19:13). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:24 CAMEL. The largest land animal in Palestine. THE EYE OF A NEEDLE. The smallest opening. Jesus paints a picture of something impossible in order to illustrate that even the seemingly impossible is possible with God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:25 ASTONISHED. Wealth was often seen as a sign of God’s approval and blessing (see Deuteronomy 28:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:26 WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. This is seen in the conversions of rich men like Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57) and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:9). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:28 THE NEW WORLD. This looks forward to the future end-time renewal of the world (compare 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:29 RECEIVE A HUNDREDFOLD. See Mark 10:29 and note; Luke 18:30. WILL INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. Eternal life is an inherited gift, not an earned reward. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 19:30 BUT MANY WHO ARE FIRST WILL BE LAST, AND THE LAST FIRST. See note on 20:16. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]