The Gospels · Chapter 19 of 28
Matthew 19
Leaving Galilee for Judaea, Jesus is tested about divorce and answers from creation, upholding the one-flesh union God joined. He welcomes little children, then meets a rich young man who keeps the commandments yet cannot part with his wealth to follow. Jesus warns how hard riches make entrance to the kingdom, and promises reward to those who forsake all.
What happens in Matthew 19
Jesus moves toward Judaea, healing the multitudes. Pharisees test him about lawful grounds for divorce, and he answers from creation, that God made them male and female and joined the two as one flesh, so no one should put them asunder. Moses permitted divorce because of hard hearts, but it was not so at the start. When children are brought to him, the disciples rebuke them, but Jesus welcomes them, for the kingdom belongs to such. A young man asks what he must do for eternal life.
Jesus points to the commandments, which the man claims to keep, then tells him to sell all, give to the poor, and follow. He goes away sorrowful, holding great wealth. Jesus tells the disciples a rich man hardly enters the kingdom, harder than a camel through a needle. Astonished, they ask who can be saved, and Jesus says with God all things are possible, promising reward to those who leave all for him.
Matthew 19 in context
Jesus has left Galilee and is traveling the region beyond Jordan on the way to Jerusalem and the cross. The divorce question reflected a live rabbinic debate over how narrowly or broadly Moses's provision could be read.
Children held little social standing. The rich young man embodies the assumption that prosperity signaled God's favor, which makes the disciples' shock at Jesus's warning understandable.
Main themes of Matthew 19
Matthew 19 (KJV)
1And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; 2And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. 3The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9And 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 which is put away doth commit adultery. 10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12For there are some 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 made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. 13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. 16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus 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. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And 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. 25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28And 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. 29And 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 hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Verses to carry from Matthew 19
“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”Matthew 19:14
“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.”Matthew 19:21
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”Matthew 19:26
Direct words of Jesus
How Matthew 19 points to Jesus
Jesus stands at the center of every exchange here, and the call is always to himself. He does not merely commend obedience to the commandments but tells the young man to come and follow me, revealing that eternal life is found in a person, not a list. He welcomes the children the world overlooks, showing the tenderness of God toward the small and empty-handed. When the disciples despair of who can be saved, Jesus lifts their eyes to the God with whom all things are possible, and salvation is his gift, not our achievement.
To those who forsake houses and family for his name he promises a hundredfold and everlasting life. He is the treasure worth every loss, the One whose worth exposes what we clutch and offers infinitely more.
Questions about Matthew 19
Why did Jesus tell the young man to sell everything?
Jesus was not making poverty a universal rule but exposing this man's true master. He claimed to keep the commandments, yet his wealth held the place that belonged to God. The command to sell all and follow revealed that he loved his possessions more than the treasure Jesus offered. The issue was not money itself but its grip on his heart, which kept him from following the only One who gives eternal life.
How can a camel pass through a needle's eye?
Jesus used a deliberately impossible image to show that no rich person can enter the kingdom by their own resources or worth. Wealth breeds self-reliance that resists trusting God. When the disciples ask who then can be saved, Jesus does not lower the bar but points beyond human ability, for with God all things are possible. Salvation is never earned or purchased. It is God's gracious work in a surrendered life.
Reflection
The rich young man walked away sorrowful because he loved his possessions more than the One before him. His question was sincere, but his hands were full. What are you holding that keeps you from following freely? With God the impossible grip can be loosed, and what you lose for Christ he repays.
A prayer from Matthew 19
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