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Matthew 19

Jesus declares God’s authority over marriage and kingdom life, exposing the limits of wealth and human ability to save.

Jesus leaves Galilee for the region of Judea beyond the Jordan, where crowds follow him and receive healing. Pharisees test him with a question about divorce, and he answers from God’s purpose in creation before speaking about celibacy. He welcomes children whom the disciples try to turn away. A wealthy young man then asks about eternal life, leading to a hard exchange about possessions and a promise to those who have left much to follow Jesus.

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1When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
4He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
5and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh’?
6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
7They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”
8He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
9I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”
10His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.”
11But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
13Then little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
14But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”
15He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
16Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
17He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’
19‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21Jesus 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.”
22But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
25When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”
28Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.
30But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Matthew 19:26Jesus answers the disciples’ alarm about salvation by locating its possibility in God’s power, beyond human ability.
Matthew 19:29Jesus promises eternal life and abundant recompense to those whose allegiance to him has cost them homes or family ties.
Matthew 19:28The promise of twelve thrones places the disciples’ costly following within the future reign of the Son of Man.
Where this chapter reaches

Jesus quotes Genesis to ground marriage in creation, joining the creation of male and female with the account of husband and wife becoming one flesh. Mark and Luke share accounts of Jesus welcoming children, confronting a wealthy seeker, and teaching about the difficulty of wealth and the power of God.

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After reading the whole chapter

What do Jesus’ welcome of children and his exchange with the wealthy man show you about his kingdom?

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How does the disciples’ question about salvation shape your reading of God’s power in verse 26?

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Questions people ask about Matthew 19

What does Matthew 19 say about divorce?

Jesus answers a test about divorce for any reason by appealing to God’s joining of husband and wife. He says Moses permitted divorce because of hard hearts, then identifies divorce and remarriage as adultery, with an exception for sexual immorality. The exchange does not address every circumstance involving separation or danger.

Does Matthew 19 mean every Christian must sell everything?

Jesus gives the command to sell possessions and give to the poor to this young man, who leaves sad because he has great wealth. The chapter does not repeat that command as a rule for every disciple. It does extend the warning: riches pose a grave obstacle to entering God’s kingdom.

What does Matthew 19:26 mean by “with God all things are possible”?

The statement answers the disciples’ question about who can be saved after Jesus describes the difficulty of a rich person entering God’s kingdom. Its immediate subject is salvation, which exceeds human ability and depends on God’s power. The verse gives no promise that every desired outcome will occur.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).