February 10, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:
Matthew 19 (NIV)
Divorce
1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”........Continue Reading
God has made marriage to be a sacred union. A union that He loves and is not to be broken for foolish reasons. The disciples reaction to Jesus saying there is only one reason for divorce reminds me very much of people’s attitudes regarding marriage today. If it is so hard to get out of why bother marrying at all…so sad!
Again Jesus uses the example of children in regards to relationship with him their humble dependence it was He desires of us as He tells the rich man. You can follow all the “rules” but it will still never be enough. It is only through Jesus we can be saved!
Matthew 19
So much in this chapter.
Regarding marriage and celibacy Jesus says, “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.”
Different people abstain from marriage and sex for a variety of reasons, for those in those situations He says, “accept it.” Boy, that’s rough. In today’s day and age, sex is a touted as a “right” and that it is unfair to expect anyone to abstain from it or to be denied it. It is touted as being “unhealthy” and other nonsense. Special accommodations are now being made for deviations and perversions. For those challenged in the sexual realm, Jesus says accept where you are and seek Gods’ provision for it rather than following a path that perverts God’s standards.
Once again children are brought to Him and again he says that such are the Kingdom of Heaven “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.”
The disciples are panicked when Jesus talks to the rich man and he walks away when told to give all he has to the poor and to follow Jesus in order to have eternal life.
“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.”
Jesus disclosed to His disciples how it is that man can enter the Kingdom of God and inherit eternal life. With God all things are possible. God will offer His son as a sacrifice for sin to enable believers to enter the Kingdom of God and inherit eternal life. The disciples have given all to follow and obey Jesus. Their reward in Jesus’ kingdom will be to sit on 12 thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel in the Millennium.
Matthew 19
Matthew 19
This chapter shows three scenarios where Jesus defies three current conventions of the Jews. The first is marriage. God certainly values marriage and Jesus lays down the one acceptable reason to divorce which restricts it far more than what the Jews of His day thought. In all situations in marriage we should seek reconciliation and recognize and depend on all the provisions that God gives us for healthy and good relationships: understanding, forgiveness, purity, honesty, vulnerability, kindness and love just to name a few. All who choose to get married should accept this regardless of the loose standards in society.
The next scenario is how the Jews tended to devalue children and Jesus does anything but. He actually expresses once again that we need to model what children have if we are to enter God’s kingdom.
The last convention is how they thought that rich people must be blessed by God and so therefore would be accepted into God’s kingdom. But here Jesus shows that wealth is often times a barrier to entering God’s kingdom because it requires faith and dependence. Wealthy people tend to rely on their wealth to make them whole and have learned the ways of pride and self reliance. It is not impossible, but we all must be aware of the draw that there is in wealth and materialism. And only those who depend on the resources of God to be saved will be saved. And no one who has sacrificed for God’s kingdom will not be rewarded for it.
“Who then can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”