ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Matthew 19

Matt. 19:1–20:34 The Galilean ministry has now ended. Jesus and his disciples begin the journey to Jerusalem.

Matt. 19:1 Judea beyond the Jordan. Most likely the region of Perea, the largely Jewish area just east of the Jordan River between Samaria and the Decapolis.

Matt. 19:3 Pharisees . . . tested him. See note on 3:7. The religious leaders try to make Jesus look guilty by misinterpreting the law. divorce. There was a significant debate among the Pharisees about the correct interpretation of Moses’ divorce regulations (Deut. 24:1).

Matt. 19:6 What . . . God has joined together implies that marriage is not merely a human agreement but a relationship established by God. From the moment they are married, the husband and wife are unified in a way that is different from all other human relationships. Being “one flesh” includes the sexual union of a husband and wife (see Gen. 2:24), but it also means that their primary human loyalty is now to each other, before anyone else (Gen. 2:24).

Matt. 19:8 Because of your hardness of heart means, “because there was rebellion against God among you, leading to broken marriage covenants.” God therefore provided divorce for dealing with such cases. From the beginning it was not so points to God’s original intent that marriage would be lifelong and that, even when divorce is permitted on very specific grounds, it is never required. See note on Deut. 24:1–4.

Matt. 19:9 Every phrase in this verse is important for understanding Jesus’ teaching on divorce. whoever divorces his wife. The word translated here as “divorces” always refers to divorce, not separation (see also v. 3). except for sexual immorality. “Sexual immorality” refers to any sexual intercourse outside of marriage; see note on 5:31–32. This implies that divorce on the grounds of sexual immorality is not prohibited. This is the one exception Jesus makes to the requirement that marriage be lifelong. Sexual immorality undercuts the “one flesh” union (19:5). The parallel passages in Mark 10:11–12 and Luke 16:18 omit “except for sexual immorality,” probably because everyone assumed that divorce was allowed in the case of adultery (this was not at issue in the immediate context in Mark 10 and Luke 16). and marries another, commits adultery. If a divorce is obtained for any reason other than sexual immorality, then the second marriage begins with adultery. Jesus is prohibiting divorce for the many trivial reasons that were used in the first century. This led to widespread injustice, especially for women whose husbands suddenly divorced them. “And marries another” implies that the second marriage, though it begins with adultery, is still a marriage. Once a second marriage has occurred, it would be further sin to break it up. If the exception (“sexual immorality”) occurs, then remarriage to “another” does not constitute adultery and is acceptable. Divorce, it must be remembered, is permitted but not required in the case of sexual immorality. Since God’s intention is that marriage should be for life (Matt. 19:4–8), one should make every reasonable effort to achieve restoration and forgiveness before taking steps to dissolve a marriage through divorce. (On the question of divorce and desertion, see 1 Cor. 7:15 and note.)

Matt. 19:10–12 This saying is best understood as referring to the statement it is better not to marry. those to whom it is given. . . . eunuchs. This would include those without the physical capacity for sexual relations and those who have chosen a life of abstinence (see 1 Cor. 7:6–9; and note on 1 Cor. 7:5–7).

Matt. 19:13 lay his hands on them. A traditional manner of blessing children in Israel (see Gen. 48:14).

Matt. 19:14 to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. See notes on 18:2–4; 18:5–6.

Matt. 19:16 a man came up to him. Verses 16–22 have been called the story of the “rich young ruler” since he is rich (v. 22), young (v. 20), and a ruler (compare Luke 18:18). He may have been a religious lay leader, quite possibly a Pharisee (because of his effort in following the law). He first addresses Jesus as Teacher, a title of respect. Then he asks what good deed he must do to have eternal life. It is the first occurrence of the expression “eternal life” in Matthew (see Matt. 19:29; 25:46). In the parallel accounts (Mark 10:17–22; Luke 18:18–23), the wording of the question and answer differs somewhat. This seems to be a case of different Gospels reporting different parts of the same conversation.

Matt. 19:17 There is only one who is good. Only in understanding God as infinitely good can the young man discover that good deeds cannot earn eternal life. keep the commandments. Jesus is not teaching that good works can earn eternal life, for in vv. 21–22 he will show the man how far short he falls of keeping the commandments (see Ex. 20:3; Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:36–40). But obedience to the law is also an expression of belief in the God who is the source of all good, including eternal life.

Matt. 19:18–19 Which ones? Jesus gives a representative list of commandments (compare Ex. 20:1–17; Lev. 19:18; Deut. 5:7–21; Matt. 22:36–40).

Matt. 19:20 All these I have kept. The man implies he has kept not only these, but the entire law, which they represent. Yet he still senses that something is lacking.

Matt. 19:21 If you would be perfect. Jesus wants to turn this man from focusing on external obedience to examining his heart, revealing that his money is his ruling god. give to the poor. The man had surely already given some money to the poor, for this was considered a duty, especially among the Pharisees. But Jesus calls him to give away everything, exchanging the god of wealth for the eternal treasure found in following the one true God. Jesus’ ultimate answer to the question posed in v. 16 (“What . . . must I do to have eternal life?”) is to follow him.

Matt. 19:23 only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Wealth fools a person into thinking that he or she is self-sufficient apart from God. The general attributes of the “rich” are the opposite of those of a “child” (see 18:1–5; 19:13–15).

Matt. 19:24 camel. The largest land animal in Palestine. the eye of a needle. The smallest opening. Jesus paints a picture of something impossible in order to illustrate that even the seemingly impossible is possible with God.

Matt. 19:25 astonished. Wealth was often seen as a sign of God’s approval and blessing (see Deut. 28:1–14).

Matt. 19:26 with God all things are possible. This is seen in the conversions of rich men like Joseph of Arimathea (27:57) and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:9–10).

Matt. 19:28 the new world. This looks forward to the future end-time renewal of the world (compare 2 Pet. 3:10–13; Revelation 21–22).

Matt. 19:29 receive a hundredfold. See Mark 10:29–30 and note; Luke 18:30. will inherit eternal life. Eternal life is an inherited gift, not an earned reward.

Matt. 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. See note on 20:16.