Matthew 19

In the world that we live in with all its trappings of sex, wealth and power it would seem impossible that anyone could live a life worthy of salvation, it is, but with God and his plan of redemption in Christ Jesus all things are possible…..I have learned in this life that we cannot make someone faithful, that human love many times fails, but that if we put our trust in God through His gift of His Son there is hope. Love freely, forgive easily and accept your salvation humbly for it cost the Father greatly.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: The Pharisees' question about divorce was dangerous. John the Baptist's answer had resulted in imprisonment and ultimately execution.The use of the word testing indicates the malicious intent of the query. The rabbis had been arguing about when it was permissible according to the Law to divorce. Specifically, they wanted to know the meaning of the expression "uncleanness" in Deut. 24:1, which evidently referred to some kind of indecency. One rabbinical school held that the only grounds for divorce was immorality. Another school believed that anything that displeased the husband was sufficient to obtain a divorce. These Pharisees wanted Jesus to take one side on this controversy, thus giving them evidence to use against Him. Jesus avoided the controversy over divorce (v. 3) by giving three reasons for why married people should remain married: (1) God made one male and one female. If God had intended more than one wife for Adam, He would have created more. The same would be true of husbands for Eve. He who made them is literally "the One who created" or "the Creator." The implication is that the Creator is Lord and is the One who determines what is the ideal in marriage. (2) God ordained marriage as the strongest bond in all human relationships. A man leaves his parents and is joined to his wife. The language is very strong here. Leave means "to abandon"; joined to means "to be glued to." The most permanent relationship in society is not between parent and child, but between husband and wife. (3) The two become one flesh. The basic element in marriage is a contract or covenant; part of that covenant is physical intimacy. Jesus pointed out that Moses never commanded divorce, he only permitted it. God's original idea was that married couples would not divorce. Jesus indicates that remaining unmarried is only for a few people. Why do you call Me good may be rephrased as "Why are you asking me concerning what is good?" The only One who can ultimately answer the question about goodness is God. The fact that Jesus went on to answer the question is a quiet claim to deity. If the young man loved his neighbor to the extent required by the Law of Moses, he would have had no difficulty in giving away his wealth to needy people. Jesus' comment about a rich man's salvation would have been difficult for some Jewish people in this period to accept because they held to a form of "prosperity theology." If people prospered, it was evidence of God's blessing on them. Christ is today seated at the right hand of the eternal throne of the Father. In the future kingdom, He will occupy the Davidic throne. In that kingdom, the twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 19

19 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"

4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh' ? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"

8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry."

11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."

13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good 4Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"

17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? 6No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

18 He said to Him, "Which ones?"

Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 19 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"

21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"

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

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"

28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.