19:1 And it came to pass, [that] when Jesus had finished these
sayings, he a departed from Galilee, and came into the
coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
(a) Passed over the water out of Galilee into the borders
of Judea.
19:31 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and
saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to b put away his
wife for every cause?
(1) The band of marriage ought not to be broken, unless it is
because of fornication.
(b) To send her a bill of divorce; see (Mt 1:19).
19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and
mother, and shall c cleave to his wife: and they d
twain shall be one flesh?
(c) The Greek word conveys "to be glued unto", by which it
signifies the union by marriage, which is between man and
wife, as though they were glued together.
(d) They who were two become one as it were: and this word
"flesh" is figuratively taken for the whole man, or the
body, after the manner of the Hebrews.
19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What
therefore God hath e joined together, let not man put
asunder.
(e) Has made them yokefellows, as the marriage itself is
called a yoke, by a borrowed kind of speech.
19:72 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a
writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
(2) Because political laws are adjusted to allow some things,
it does not follow that God therefore approves of them.
19:8 He saith unto them, Moses f because of the hardness of
your hearts g suffered you to put away your wives: but
from the beginning it was not so.
(f) Being brought about because of the hardness of your
hearts.
(g) By a political law, not by the moral law: for the moral
law is a perpetual law of God's justice; the other bows
and bends as the carpenter's bevel.
19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife,
except [it be] h for fornication, and shall marry
another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which
is put away doth commit adultery.
(h) Therefore in these days the laws that were made against
adulterers were not regarded: for they would have no
need of divorce, if the marriage had been severed by
punishment of death.
19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the i case of the man be
so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry.
(i) If the matter stands in this way between man and wife,
or in marriage.
19:113 But he said unto them, All [men] cannot k receive
this saying, save [they] to whom it is given.
(3) The gift of celibacy is peculiar, and therefore no man can
set a law to himself of perpetual celibacy.
(k) Receive and admit, as by translation we say, that a
straight and narrow place is not able to receive many
things.
19:12 For there are some l eunuchs, which were so born from
[their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which
were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have
m made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's
sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive
[it].
(l) A man can become a eunuch in one of two ways: the
first is by castration or emasculation, and the other
by natural causes, such as a rupture.
(m) Who abstain from marriage, and live as celibates
through the gift of God.
19:134 Then were there brought unto him little children, that
he should put [his] hands on them, and pray: and the
disciples rebuked them.
(4) The elect infants and little children are contained in the free
covenant of God. (Ed.)
19:165 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master,
what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
(5) Those who seek to be saved by the law do not even know the
law themselves.
19:21 Jesus said unto him, If n 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.
(n) The young man did not answer truly in saying that he
had kept all the commandments: and therefore Christ
sets forth an example of true charity before him, to
show the disease that lay lurking in his mind.
19:236 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto
you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom
of heaven.
(6) Rich men have need of a singular gift of God to escape out
of the snares of Satan.
19:24 And again I say unto you, It is o easier for a p camel
to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to
enter into the kingdom of God.
(o) Literally, "it is of less labour".
(p) Theophylact notes, that by this word is meant a cable
rope, but Caninius alleges out of the Talmuds that
it is a proverb, and the word "Camel" signifies the
beast itself.
19:287 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That
ye which have followed me, in the q 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.
(7) It is not lost, that is neglected for God's sake.
(q) The regeneration is understood to mean that day when
the elect will begin to live a new life, that is to
say, when they will enjoy the heavenly inheritance,
both in body and soul.
19:308 But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last
[shall be] first.
(8) To have begun well, and not to continue unto the end, is
not only unprofitable, but also hurts very much.
