DIVORCE

1 AND it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judæa beyond Jordan;
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

WHO WILL ENTER GOD'S KINGDOM?
13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

THE RICH YOUNG MAN
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

1And it came to passe, that when Iesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coastes of Iudea, beyond Iordane:

2And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.

3 The Pharisees also came vnto him, tempting him, and saying vnto him, Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wife for euery cause?

4And hee answered, and said vnto them, Haue ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female?

5And said, For this cause shall a man leaue father and mother, and shall cleaue to his wife: and they twaine shalbe one flesh.

6Wherefore they are no more twaine, but one flesh. What therefore God hath ioyned together, let not man put asunder.

7They say vnto him, Why did Moses then command to giue a writing of diuorcement, and to put her away?

8Hee saith vnto them, Moses, because of the hardnesse of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wiues: but from the beginning it was not so.

9And I say vnto you, Whosoeuer shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away, doth commit adultery.

10 His disciples say vnto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marrie.

11But hee said vnto them, All men cannot receiue this saying, saue they to whom it is giuen.

12For there are some Eunuches, which were so borne from their mothers wombe: and there are some Eunuches, which were made Eunuches of men: and there be Eunuches, which haue made themselues Eunuches for the kingdome of heauens sake. He that is able to receiue it, let him receiue it.

13 Then were there brought vnto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14But Iesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come vnto me: for of such is þe kingdome of heauen.

15And he laide his hands on them, and departed thence.

16 And behold, one came and said vnto him, Good master, what good thing shall I do, that I may haue eternall life?

17And he said vnto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandements.

18He saith vnto him, Which? Iesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnesse,

19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe.

20The young man saith vnto him, All these things haue I kept from my youth vp: what lacke I yet?

21Iesus said vnto him, If thou wilt be perfect, goe and sell that thou hast, and giue to the poore, and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen: and come and follow me.

22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowfull: for he had great possessions.

23 Then said Iesus vnto his disciples, Uerely I say vnto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdome of heauen.

24And againe I say vnto you, It is easier for a camel to goe thorow the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of God.

25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saued?

26But Iesus beheld them, and said vnto them, With men this is vnpossible, but with God al things are possible.

27 Then answered Peter, and said vnto him, Behold, we haue forsaken all, and followed thee, what shall we haue therefore?

28And Iesus said vnto them, Uerily I say vnto you, that ye which haue followed me, in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shal sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shal sit vpon twelue thrones, iudging the twelue tribes of Israel.

29And euery one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my Names sake, shall receiue an hundred fold, and shall inherite euerlasting life.

30But many that are first, shall be last, and the last shall be first.

I == Matt 7:28 ; 11:1 ; 13:53 ; 26:1 ; Mark 10:1 ; John 10:40

II == Matt 12:15

IV ==Gen 1:27 ; 5:2 ; Mal 2:15

V == Gen 1:27 ; 2:24 ; Mark 10:5-9 ; 1st Cor 6:16 ; 7:2 ; Eph 5:31

VII == Deut 24:1-4 ; Matt 5:31

IX == Matt 5:32 ; Mark 10:11 ; Luke 16:18 ; 1st Cor 7:10-13

X == Prov 21:19

XI == 1st Cor 7:2 , 7-9 , 17

XII == 1st Cor 7:32 , 34 ; 9:5 , 15

XIII == Mark 10:13 ; Luke 18:15

XIV == Matt 18:3

XVI == Lev 18:5 ; Mark 10:17 ; Luke 10:25 ; 18:18

XVII == Deut 11:27 ; 30:19 ; 1st Sam 15:22 ; Prov 25:12 ; Eccles 4:17 ; Phil 2:12 ; Matt 7:21 ; 24:13 ; 25:34-36 ; Luke 6:27-36 ; Rom 2:13 ; Gal 5:6 ; James 2:14-26 ; 1st John 3:19-24

XVIII == Ex 20:12-16 ; Deut 5:16-20 ; Rom 13:9 ; James 2:11

XIX == Lev 19:18 ; Matt 15:4 ; 22:39 ; Rom 13:9 ; Gal 5:14 ; James 2:8

XXI == Matt 6:20 ; Luke 12:33 ; 16:9 ; Acts 2:45 ; 4:34-35 ; 1st Time 6:18-19

XXIII == Matt 13:22 ; Mark 10:24 ; 1st Cor 1:26 ; 1st Time 6:9-10

XXVI == Gen 18:14 ; Job 42:2 ; Jer 32:17 ; Zech 8:6 ; Luke 1:37 ; 18:27

XXVII == Deut 33:9 ; Matt 4:20 ; Mark 10:28 ; Luke 5:11 ; 18:28

XXVIII == Matt 20:21 ; Luke 22:28-30 ; 1st Cor 6:2-3 ; Rev 2:26 ; 3:21

XXIX == Mark 10:29-30 ; Luke 18:29-30

XXX == Matt 20:16 ; 21:31-32 ; Mark 10:31 ; Luke 13:30

1 When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan. 2 Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there. 3 Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?" 4 He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." 7 They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss (her)?" 8 He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery." 10 [His] disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 He answered, "Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted. 12 Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it." 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, 14 but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 15 After he placed his hands on them, he went away. 16 Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?"17 He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"20 The young man said to him, "All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" 26 Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible." 27 Then Peter said to him in reply, "We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?" 28 Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

v 1-9. We see from Lk. 16:14-18 that Jesus was using divorce to show the Pharisees that they were not keeping all the law. They viewed divorce loosely, but Jesus gave only one exception for this, unfaithfulness in marriage, Matt. 5:32; 19:1-12 . (Views on this may be a one time affair; repeated offenses; pregnancy discovered in the betrothal stage; a situation in which the couple discover they are related) Jesus did not take part in the divisions, but emphasized God’s plan was for marriage between a man and woman to be permanent. Jesus called marriage among divorcees adultery. Matthew and Mark 10:1-12 imply that Jesus considered even those who did not want divorce but had it filed against them and remarried to be living in adultery, unless there had been unfaithful. Moses permitted the divorces to prevent greater sin. In our class we will not become involved with any of those views, but stress marriage as a permanent bond requiring faithfulness from this point on , regardless of the past.) See note in Mark 10:6 regarding creation. 

v 10-12. The disciples thought this was too strict and said that if a man couldn’t get a divorce for any reason it would be better not to marry. That was not Jesus’ point. Marriage should deter lust and unfaithfulness, but to some that would not apply.

ALL MEN TAKE NOT THIS WORD: Unless a man pray for the grace of God to enable them to live so, not all will receive the gift of living singly and chastely, and for some it may be necessary to that end to fast as well as praying for those is given from above.

THERE ARE EUNUCHS, WHO HAVE MADE THEMSELVES EUNUCHS, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: Not to be taken in a literal sense; but to be taken that there are such, who have taken a firm and commendable resolution of leading a single and chaste life, in order to serve God in a more perfect state than those who marry: as St. Paul clearly shows 1st Cor. 7, 37-38

v 13-15. Luke places this incident in his record, 19:15-17, to follow up on the teaching of humility. The disciples were trying to shield Jesus from having to take time to mess with little children, but He not only cared for and blessed them, he pointed out that those who come to God must come in the humility and dependence of a child.

v 16-22. This rich young man wanting eternal life recognized Jesus as good, but not God, so Jesus made another claim to Deity. Jesus told him to keep five of the six commandments of relationship to man, and he claimed he had kept them. Then Jesus followed up with the instruction to sell all he had and give to the poor, which would apply to the 10th commandment of coveting. It would also show whether, v 19, he loved his neighbor as himself. This proved he could not keep all the commandments to be saved, but had to humble himself and follow Jesus. Mt. 19:25 and Mk. 10:24, 26 stress the amazement of the disciples at that teaching, because like the other Jews, they thought temporal prosperity was a sign of divine favor.
Predication of the Savior concerning our future rewards. Mt. 19: 27-30v 23-26. Unlike Zacchaeus who volunteered to give to poor, Lk. 19:8, this young man went away sadly, more interested in possessions than eternal life. So Jesus used the hyperbole of the impossibility of a camel going through a needle’s eye. (This was a true needle, not the small gate which might be gone through with difficulty.) This was impossible for man but possible with God for men to be saved.

v 27-30. The incident prompted Peter to comment that the disciples had left all to follow Jesus. He responded that though they lost family, they would gain an hundred fold larger family of believers through their ministry, plus eternal life. (Mark 10:30,31 adds receive an hundred fold and includes houses and lands, but with persecution. Mt. 19:28 says in the kingdom the disciples will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel . (Judas will be replaced.) Perhaps these are some of those mentioned Rev. 4:4.