Matthew 19

But looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26

PREVIEW: In Matthew 19, Jesus teaches the and His disciples about divorce, and shows them what it takes to be His follower and enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 19 Outline:

Instruction About Divorce - Read Matthew 19:1-15

Rich Young Ruler - Read Matthew 19:16-26

The Apostles’ Reward – Read Matthew 19:27-30

Instruction About Divorce - Read Matthew 19:1-15

1. The Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him again, this time on the subject of divorce. What question did they ask Him and how was their question a “test” (v. 3)?

2. Matthew 19:4-6 can be used to disprove the Mormon claim that polygamy is biblical. Instead of answering their test question with a “yes” or “no,” what was Jesus’ answer (vv. 4-6)?

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3. When we’re asked questions about difficult spiritual situations, how should our answer be like Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees?

4. Based upon Jesus’ answer, the Pharisees asked Him a follow-up question (v.7): “Why then did command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” Why did Moses command this? Was Moses’ command God’s original intent for marriage? (See also Deuteronomy 24:1-4.)

5. When is divorce permissible? (See :32.)

6. Based upon Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees’ question about divorce, the disciples then asked Jesus their own question. What was their question and concern (v. 10)? What was Jesus’ response to their concern (vv. 11- 12)? (See also Genesis 2:18, 24 and :29-33.)

Rich Young Ruler - Read Matthew 19:16-26

Matthew 19:16-26 is used by the Jehovah's Witnesses to claim that Jesus denied being God when He told the rich young ruler that there is no one good but God.

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7. A young man approached Jesus to find out how he might obtain eternal life (v. 16). What did he believe needed to be done to obtain eternal life (v. 16)?

8. Matthew 19:16-20 is used by some Jewish apologists and scholars to demonstrate that Jesus says that you have to keep the law in order to get to heaven. Jesus listed the commandments the young man should keep (v. 18). The young man claimed to have kept all these since his youth (v. 19), and asked, “What do I still lack?” What was Jesus saying the young man needed to do to obtain eternal life? (See also :24-26.)

9. The young man needed to let go of his riches, for they were keeping him from following Jesus. What was his response to Jesus’ answer to the question, “What do I still lack?" (v. 22)?

10. Like the rich young ruler, we often want to follow Jesus’ ways and obtain a closer relationship and knowledge of Him. What did Jesus say is required for those to happen in our life? (See Matthew 16:24-26)

11. How hard is it for a person who is rich in this world to enter the kingdom of heaven? (See :22, 19:24, :24, 1 Corinthians 1:26, and 1 Timothy 6:9.)

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12. Even if a person completely trusts in riches or the things of this world, is their salvation impossible? (See Matthew 19:26)

The Apostles’ Reward – Read Matthew 19:27-30

13. The disciples asked Jesus what their reward would be for leaving what they had left to follow Him (v. 27). What did they leave? (See :20 and Luke 5:11.)

14. What is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ and following Him? (See Matthew 19:21, Luke 14:25–33, and Philippians 3:7-8.)

15. Jesus gave a list of things a person might have to leave to follow Him (v.29). What is the reason He gave for leaving those things? What is the reward He promised to those who leave those things?

16. What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (v.30)?

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