Matthew 19

1 When Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] had finished [completed, brought to an end] saying these things [words, teachings], He left [departed from, removed Himself] Galilee [the region of Galilee, a place of ministry] and went [came, traveled] into the region [borders, territory] of Judea [the land of the Jews, southern Palestine] beyond [on the other side of, across] the Jordan [the river Jordan, a significant location]. word study 2 Large [great, multitude of] crowds [multitudes, great number] followed [accompanied, went after] Him, and [also, additionally] He [Jesus, the Healer] healed [made well, cured, served] them [the sick, those in need] there [in that place, at that location]. word study 3 Then some [certain] Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] came and tested [tried to tempt] Him by asking, “Is it lawful [permitted, allowed] for a man [a human being] to divorce [put away, release] his wife [woman, spouse] for any [every, all] reason [cause, charge]?” word study 4 Jesus answered, “Have you not [ever] read [studied or understood] that from the beginning [the very first, at the start] the Creator [God who made them] ‘made them [formed, created] male [male in nature] and female [female in nature],’ word study 5 and said, ‘For this reason [because of this cause, on account of this] a man [human being, person] will leave [abandon, depart from] his father [male parent, ancestor] and mother [female parent, caregiver] and be united [joined, cleave] to his wife [woman, partner], and the two [a pair] will become [exist as, be] one flesh’ ? word study 6 So they are no longer [not any more, no more two] two, but [yet, in contrast] one [united, a single entity] flesh [the physical body, human nature]. Therefore [then, as a result] what God [the supreme Deity, Creator] has joined [united, coupled] together, let man [a human being, husband] not [never, under no circumstances] separate [put asunder, tear apart].” word study 7 “Why then [therefore, for this reason],” they asked, “did Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] order [command, instruct] a man to give [bestow, grant] his wife a certificate [scroll, written document] of divorce [separation, release] and send [release, let go] her away [from his presence, into separation]? ” word study 8 Jesus replied, “Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] permitted you to divorce [to release, set free] your wives because of your hardness of heart [stubbornness, unwillingness to listen]; but it was not this way [thus, in this manner] from the beginning [the start, origin of creation]. word study 9 Now I tell you that whoever divorces [puts away, separates from] his wife, except for [on account of, because of] sexual immorality [immoral sexual behavior], and marries [takes as a spouse, weds] another woman, commits [practices, engages in] adultery [extramarital sexual sin]. ” word study 10 His disciples [learners, pupils] said to Him, “If [on the condition that] this is the case [situation, circumstance] between a man [a human, husband] and his wife [woman, partner], it is better [more beneficial, advantageous] not to marry [to wed, become joined].” word study 11 “Not everyone [all men, every person] can accept [receive, take in] this word [message, teaching],” He replied, “but only [save, except] those to whom [to whom it is given, who have been granted] it has been given [bestowed, granted]. word study 12 For there are eunuchs [born without the ability to marry, naturally celibate] who were born that way [from their mother’s womb, by natural birth]; others were made that way [castrated, rendered infertile] by men [through human action, intentionally]; and still others live like eunuchs [voluntarily celibate, for spiritual purposes] for the sake of the kingdom [the reign, the dominion] of heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place]. The one who can accept [is able to receive, has the capacity to understand] this should accept [embrace, welcome] it.” word study 13 Then [at that specific point in time] the little children [young ones, toddlers] were brought [presented, led] to Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] for Him to place [lay, impose] His hands [as a symbol of blessing and authority] on them and pray [worship, intercede] for them. And the disciples [learners, followers] rebuked [warned, scolded] those who brought [presented, led] them. word study 14 But Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] said, “Let the little children [young ones, humble and trusting] come to Me, and do not [refuse to, forbid] hinder them! For the kingdom [reign, royal power] of heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s domain] belongs to such as these [those who are humble, having a childlike faith].” word study 15 And [also, in addition] after He had placed [laid, imposed] His hands [as a symbol of blessing and power] on them [the children], He went on [traveled, departed] from there [that place, thence]. word study 16 Just then [at that moment, behold] a man [one individual, a certain person] came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher [instructor, master], what good [beneficial, righteous] thing must I do [accomplish, perform] to obtain [gain, acquire] eternal [lasting forever, age-during] life [spiritual existence, divine life]?” word study 17 “Why do you ask Me about what is [truly] good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One [the supreme God, having God’s nature] who is [perfectly] good. If you want to enter [eternal, spiritual] life, keep [obey, observe carefully] the commandments [divine instructions, God’s laws].” word study 18 “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not [intentionally take a life] murder [to kill], do not [be unfaithful] commit adultery [to cheat], do not [take something without permission] steal [to take secretly], do not [give false testimony, perjure] bear false witness [to lie under oath], word study 19 honor [show respect and value] your father [male parent, ancestor] and mother [female parent, nurturer], and love [show esteem and goodwill] your neighbor [near one, fellow human] as [in the same way as, similarly to] yourself [your own person, your own life].’ ” word study 20 “All [every, everything] these I have kept [observed, guarded, watched over],” said the young man [a youth or attendant]. “What [which thing, what aspect] do I still [yet, ongoing] lack [fall short, be inferior, come short of]?” word study 21 Jesus told him, “If you want [desire, wish] to be [exist as] perfect [complete, mature], go [depart, leave], sell [exchange for money] your possessions [belongings, goods] and give [bestow, grant] to the poor [needy, destitute], and you will have [possess, hold] treasure [riches, wealth] in heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place]. Then come [approach], follow [accompany, obey] Me.” word study 22 When the young man [a youth or servant] heard this [the word, saying, or message], he went away [departed, followed] in sorrow [to grieve], because he had [was possessing, held] great [much or many] wealth [possessions or property, riches]. word study 23 Then Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] said to His disciples, “Truly [verily, with certainty] I tell you, it is hard [difficult, with great challenge] for a rich [wealthy, having many possessions] man to enter [go into, become part of] the kingdom [reign, domain] of heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place]. word study 24 Again [once more, from the start] I tell you, it is easier [more feasible, simpler] for a camel [a large animal] to pass through [go through, penetrate] the eye [small opening, narrow passage] of a needle [a sewing instrument, requiring precision] than for a rich [wealthy, prosperous] man [a person with many possessions] to enter [come into, join] the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the supreme deity, Creator].” word study 25 When the disciples [learners, pupils] heard [listened and understood] this, they were greatly [exceedingly, very] astonished [amazed, struck with wonder] and asked, “Who [which one, what person] then [at that time, next] can [is able, has the power] be saved [rescued, delivered from harm, healed]?” word study 26 Jesus [having earnestly beheld] looked at them and said, “With [human] man [from a human point of view] this is [totally] impossible, but with God [the all-powerful Creator] all things [every possibility] are possible [able to be done].” word study 27 “Look [behold, see],” Peter [the rock, a disciple] replied, “we [I, us, as disciples] have left [forsaken, released] everything [all things, our possessions] to follow [accompany, obey] You [as our Lord and Master]. What then [therefore, as a result] will there be [shall we have, will we receive] for us [as our reward, inheritance]?” word study 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal [rebirth, regeneration] of all things, when the Son of Man [the Messiah, God’s appointed ruler] sits on His [glorious, majestic, heavenly] glorious throne, you who have [accompanied, followed, walked with] followed Me will also sit on twelve [positions of authority, seats of judgment] thrones, judging the twelve tribes [clans, families] of Israel [God’s chosen people, the descendants of Jacob]. word study 29 And everyone [all who have made a sacrifice] who has left [forsaken, given up] houses [homes, physical dwellings] or brothers [male siblings, fellow believers] or sisters [female siblings, sisters in the faith] or father [male parent, earthly father] or mother [female parent, nurturer] or wife [spouse, partner] or children [offspring, spiritual descendants] or fields [lands, possessions] for the sake of [because of, in the name of] My name [My authority, character] will receive [be given, inherit] a hundredfold [a hundred times more, abundantly] and will inherit [receive as a legacy, possess] eternal [everlasting, forever] life [spiritual existence, everlasting relationship with God]. word study 30 But many [a great number, much] who are first [foremost, in a position of prominence] will be last [in a position of humility, least], and the last [farthest, in a position of humility] will be first [foremost, in a position of honor]. word study