A Study of Matthew 19…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 1 of 12 To benefit MOST from this study, READ this chapter each day until your class study of it is completed. A Study of Matthew 19 I. Outline. 1. Teaching about Divorce (Matthew 19.1-12; cf., Mark 10.1-12). 2. Little Children Blessed by Jesus (Mt 19.13-15; cf., Mk 10.13-16; Lk 18.15-17). 3. The Rich Young Ruler (Mt 19.16-30; cf., Mk 10.17-31; Lk 18.18-30). II. Summary. The first part of the first verse brings to a close the previous discourse. We are informed about even more healing miracles done by Jesus (2). Those Pharisees came again with one of their questions which they hoped would provide them some kind of charges they could make against Jesus. They asked about divorce. Jesus begins His answer by reminding of how it was IN THE BEGINNING. He tells them that what God has joined together man must not separate. In response, the Pharisees made an appeal to Deuteronomy 24.1... When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house . They asked Jesus WHY Moses commanded a writing of divorcement. Jesus’ statement (in effect) shows that they were using the incorrect word when they used the word COMMANDED. Moses only SUFFERED (allowed, permitted) divorce. He did not command it. Rather, this breakup of the home was permitted for the protection of the wives. In the beginning God’s plan for marriage was: one man for one woman for life. The divorce provision was only a part of the Law on account of the HARD HEARTS of their forefathers. Jesus proceeds to present ONE exception to the marriage law— when fornication is present, the innocent party has the right to divorce the guilty one (9). Verse 10 shows that the disciples clearly understood the strictness of this marriage law. The concept of being a eunuch FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN’S SAKE is introduced in verse 12. For a second time, Jesus indicates to us that little children are not only beautiful and precious, but also innocent (13- 15). Another character in this chapter is generally referred to as THE RICH YOUNG RULER (16-26). Jesus knew his weakness and told him to go and sell what he had and come follow Him. Having great possessions, he went away sorrowful (22). Jesus uses an allegory about a camel and a needle’s eye (24). This statement was shocking to the disciples and they had a question for Jesus (25). Jesus speaks about twelve thrones and a HUNDREDFOLD REWARD. III. Chronology. BIBLE PERIOD: The Period of the Christ. If you are not familiar with the 15 Bible Periods , please click here : https://maplehillchurchofchrist.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/15bibleperiods.pdf “Jesus now embarks on His final trip to Jerusalem (Mt 19.1—20.34). A great deal more happened en route than is recorded by Matthew (the information given by Luke fills ten chapters ), but what is included contains important teaching for Christians and sets the stage for the climactic scenes of the Gospel” [Kenneth Chumbley, The Gospel of Matthew , pp., 336-348]. Created by: David Lemmons btcMatthew19 Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.blog A Study of Matthew 19…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 2 of 12 IV. Aids in Exposition. Matthew 19.1... CAME INTO THE COASTS OF JUDAEA BEYOND JORDAN —“The country lying east of the Sea of Galilee and river Jordan was called by Josephus, ‘the Peraea,’ but it is referred to in the New Testament as ‘beyond the Jordan’ (Mt 4.15, 25; 19.1; Mark 3.8; John 1.28; 3.26; 10.40). It is never called Perea in the New Testament. This country seems to have been called in the Old Testament, ‘land of Gilead.’ It is perhaps the most picturesque and beautiful part of Palestine In the time of Jesus’ ministry Perea with Galilee was under the dominion of Herod Antipas” [H. Leo Boles, A Commentary on the Gospel According to Matthew , Gospel Advocate, p. 384]. Matthew 19.3... TEMPTING HIM, AND SAYING UNTO HIM, IS IT LAWFUL FOR A MAN TO PUT AWAY HIS WIFE FOR EVERY CAUSE? —By using these words: TEMPTING HIM , Matthew lets us know that the inquiry was not a genuine search for truth, but rather a scheme to trap Jesus into saying something that would alienate Him from some part of the people. There actually were two prominent views regarding divorce among the Jews at this time. Rabbi Shammai was the more conservative, teaching that man was not to release his wife unless he had found something indecent in her. Hillel taught that practically any cause was sufficient for a divorce. ||||| “The historical evidence is that the Jews in general followed the teachings of Hillel. But, the Pharisees would like to create a conflict between the Lord and Shammai and his followers, or between the Lord and Hillel and his followers. Whichever position the Lord took would get him in serious trouble” [Roy C. Deaver, “Jesus Leaves Galilee for Judaea; Question about Divorce: Jesus Receives Little Children; Peril of Riches,” in A Homiletic Commentary on the Book of Matthew , Editors: Garland Elkins and Thomas B. Warren, p. 493]. ||||| “The Lord stood to be in jeopardy whatever his pronouncement was on the question at hand. It appeared that he would infuriate some part of the people, no matter what he answered” [Bob Winton, Book of Matthew , p. 225]. Matthew 19.4... HAVE YE NOT READ —“In His answer Jesus doesn’t begin at the point of crisis (divorce), but with the Divine institution of marriage. By what God DID (in creating man male and female, Gen 1.27) and SAID (that a man should leave father and mother and cleave to his wife, Gen 2.24) at the beginning, He established the pattern for marriage. It is to be an exclusive, indissoluble union between one man and one woman for life. It is not a human convention subject to secular whims, but the primary human relationship ordained and governed by God” [Kenneth Chumbley, The Gospel of Matthew , 1999, p. 337-338]. ||||| HE WHICH MADE THEM AT THE BEGINNING MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE —Those who think they can arbitrarily change their gender are still going to meet Jesus that last day (John 12.48) as the male or female they truly are. Our sympathy and love goes out to those who have been influenced to believe that gender is an option, but the Bible allows no such option. When trans- gender individuals have sexual relations with their own gender rather than following the God- given plan of marriage between male and female, they become fornicators and make themselves ineligible for heaven (1 Cor 6.9-11). Certainly it is possible to come out of such and to repent of that disobedience and be forgiven, just as some of these very Corinthian saints did (v. 11). Matthew 19.5... AND THEY TWAIN SHALL BE ONE FLESH —“Although the order of creation established male priority and leadership and female dependence (1 Tm 2:13; 1 Cor 11:8f), a fact made painfully clear after the fall (Gen 3:16), man’s position could never be thought of as one of absolute independence. (1 Cor 11:11f) He was created male in view of his female whom God Created by: David Lemmons btcMatthew19 Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.blog A Study of Matthew 19…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 3 of 12 would create later. With the woman, man is completed. She is not merely his property, but an absolutely essential ingredient in his full humanness. According to God’s original design, as male and female, they each contribute to the enrichment of the other and to the fullness of them both. It would be sacrilege for men to interpose a counterproposal of separation and divorce. By saying and female, Christ has restored woman to her true position and glory, not in the sense of conferring upon her a new, modern role, but rather by re-establishing her in that ancient glory appointed for her at the creation” [Harold Fowler, The Gospel of Matthew , Bible Study Textbook Series, College Press, An e-Sword Module]. Matthew 19.6... WHAT THEREFORE GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER, LET NOT MAN PUT ASUNDER —“‘One flesh’ speaks of a unity so close and vital that ‘the spouse can never be considered a disposable appendage’ (Garland, 199; cf. Eph 5.28-31). Divorce, however, puts division where there should be unity. Note that Christ says, WHAT God has joined together, not WHOM. It isn’t individual marriages Jesus primarily has in mind, but God’s action in uniting husbands and wives in the marriage relationship at the creation. JOINED TOGETHER ( suzeugnumi , yoked together, united; only here and Mark 10.9) underscores the fact that it is God who makes a marriage and that what He has done is not to be undone by man. This should be a sober warning to anyone who brings a marriage to an end or encourages such. The answer Christ gives the Pharisees’ question (v. 3), therefore, is an unequivocal ‘No!’—a man cannot divorce his wife for every cause” [Kenneth Chumbley, pp. 338-339]. Matthew 19.7-8... WHY DID MOSES THEN COMMAND TO GIVE A WRITING OF DIVORCEMENT, ... MOSES BECAUSE OF THE HARDNESS OF YOUR HEARTS SUFFERED YOU TO PUT AWAY YOUR WIVES —“In reply to the Pharisees' use of Deut.