Jesus Reorders Marriage, Mercy, Salvation, and Reward

Matthew 19:1 Now when Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River. 19:2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 19:3 Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?" 19:4 He answered, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 19:5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." 19:7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?" 19:8 Jesus said to them, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way. 19:9 Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery." 19:10 The disciples said to him, "If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!" 19:11 He said to them, "Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given. 19:12 For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, and some who were made eunuchs by others, and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it." 19:13 Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 19:15 And he placed his hands on them and went on his way. 19:16 Now someone came up to him and said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?" 19:17 He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 19:18 "Which ones?" he asked. Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19:19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself." 19:20 The young man said to him, "I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?" 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 19:22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. 19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 19:24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God." 19:25 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, "Then who can be saved?" 19:26 Jesus looked at them and replied, "This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible." 19:27 Then Peter said to him, "Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" 19:28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 19:29 And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 20:2 And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 20:3 When it was about nine o'clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work. 20:4 He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.' 20:5 So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o'clock that afternoon, he did the same thing. 20:6 And about five o'clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day without work?' 20:7 They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You go and work in the vineyard too.' 20:8 When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and give the pay starting with the last hired until the first.' 20:9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each received a full day's pay. 20:10 And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage. 20:11 When they received it, they began to complain against the landowner, 20:12 saying, 'These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.' 20:13 And the landowner replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn't you agree with me to work for the standard wage? 20:14 Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you. 20:15 Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first last."

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

In this section, Jesus answers questions about divorce, welcomes children, confronts a rich man’s false confidence, and teaches that God gives salvation and reward by His own grace. He shows that marriage is rooted in creation, children belong in the kingdom, wealth can block humble trust, and God’s generosity overturns human pride.

Jesus leaves Galilee and goes into Judea. Crowds follow Him, and He heals them. The Pharisees come to test Him with a question about divorce. Jesus does not answer from human debate first. He goes back to creation. God made humanity male and female. In marriage, a man and woman become one flesh. What God has joined, no one should separate. Jesus says Moses allowed divorce because of hard hearts, but that was not the Creator’s original purpose.

Jesus also says that divorcing one’s wife and marrying another is adultery, except in the case named in the text. The exact scope of that exception should not be pressed beyond what Matthew says. The main point is clear: divorce is not a casual matter, and it belongs to the brokenness of sin, not to God’s first design.

The disciples react strongly and say it may be better not to marry. Jesus does not say marriage is wrong. He says not everyone can accept this saying. He then speaks of those who remain unmarried for the sake of the kingdom. Singleness can be a real calling, but it is given to some, not all.

Then little children are brought to Jesus. The disciples try to stop them, but Jesus welcomes them. He says the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Children are not praised because they are sinless. They picture the humble and dependent posture needed to receive the kingdom. Jesus blesses them and sends them on their way.

Next a rich young man asks what good thing he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus points him to God, who alone is truly good. He tells him to keep the commandments. When the man asks which ones, Jesus names several commands that deal with love for neighbor. The man says he has kept them all, but Jesus exposes the real issue. He tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. This is not a general law that salvation is earned by giving away wealth. Jesus is pressing this man at the point of his heart. His riches are his rival master. The man goes away sorrowful because he is very rich.

Jesus then says it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. His picture of a camel and a needle shows how impossible this is by human strength. The disciples ask who then can be saved. Jesus answers that what is impossible with people is possible with God. Salvation does not come by human power, moral effort, or status. It depends on God’s action.

Peter then asks what the disciples will receive, since they have left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus promises real future reward. In the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, the twelve will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. He also says that anyone who leaves house, family, or fields for His sake will receive far more and inherit eternal life. Costly discipleship is not forgotten.

Jesus then warns that many who are first will be last, and the last first. He tells the parable of the vineyard workers to show this. Workers are hired at different times, but each receives the same wage. Those hired first complain because they want more than they agreed to receive. The owner says he has done them no wrong and has the right to be generous. The point is not that God gives no reward. The point is that His generosity overturns human pride, comparison, and entitlement.

Taken together, this section brings marriage, singleness, children, wealth, salvation, and reward under God’s rule. Jesus strips away human self-justification and teaches that kingdom life rests on God’s design, God’s standards, God’s power, and God’s grace.

• Marriage is grounded in God’s creation design, so divorce is a concession to human sin, not the original ideal.
• The exception clause in Matthew 19:9 should be handled carefully and not pressed beyond the text.
• Singleness for the sake of the kingdom is a real calling for some, but not for everyone.
• The kingdom belongs to the humble and dependent, as shown by the children brought to Jesus.
• Wealth can become a rival master and keep a person from wholehearted following.
• Salvation is impossible by human power but possible with God.
• Jesus promises real future reward to His followers.
• God’s generosity overturns envy, entitlement, and human ranking.

• Do not treat Jesus’ teaching on divorce as permission for casual marriage breakdown.
• Do not make the exception clause say more than the text clearly says.
• Do not read the rich young ruler as proof that eternal life is earned by works.
• Do not turn the vineyard parable into a denial of all distinctions in kingdom reward.
• Do not detach this section from Matthew’s larger kingdom and fulfillment framework.

Jesus shows God’s original design for marriage, God’s welcome of the humble, God’s power to save the impossible, and God’s freedom to give reward as He wills. The unit fits Matthew’s larger picture of Jesus the king who teaches kingdom life and reverses human pride.

Honor marriage as a covenant under God. Receive singleness, if given, as a kingdom calling. Welcome children, the weak, and the overlooked. Examine whether wealth or self-confidence has become a false security. Follow Christ with trust, knowing that salvation is God’s work and reward rests in His hands.

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