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Matthew 19

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

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?

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

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?

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

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

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.

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.

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

But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

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.

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

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

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.

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,

Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

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.

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

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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.

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

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

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.

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.

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

What does Matthew 19:18 mean?

Explanation

In the Gospel of Matthew 19:18, the verse captures part of a conversation between Jesus Christ and a young man, often referred to as the rich young ruler, who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.

In response, Jesus begins to list the commandments of the Mosaic Law that pertain to moral and ethical behavior towards others.

The commandments he lists include prohibitions against murder, adultery, stealing, and bearing false witness, which are essentially the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth of the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The verse is not just a recitation of laws but underscores the importance of ethical conduct in relation to one's neighbors as an aspect of righteousness and spiritual maturity.

The deeper meaning suggests that adherence to these commandments is essential not just for societal order, but as a manifestation of one's faith and reverence for God, which consequently affects one's eternal destiny.

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Historical Context

Matthew 19:18 is situated within the context of First Century Jewish society under Roman occupation.

The Jewish people were highly conscious of the Law of Moses and the importance of following the commandments as part of their covenantal relationship with God.

The young man's question to Jesus reflects a common concern among Jews about inheriting eternal life, which was tied to righteousness and obedience to the Law.

During that time, there was also a variety of interpretations of the Law among different Jewish sects.

The dialogue in the Gospel of Matthew shows Jesus not only affirming the traditional understanding of these commandments but also calling individuals to a deeper commitment beyond mere outward observance.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted in various ways.

One common interpretation within Christian theology is that Jesus is pointing out the impossibility of achieving righteousness and, therefore, eternal life through human effort alone.

This interpretation aligns with the concept of grace in Christian theology, indicating the necessity of Christ's redemptive work for salvation.

Another viewpoint sees Jesus' citation of the commandments as an affirmation of the continuity between the Old and New Covenant, emphasizing ethical living as a perennial value in the Christian life.

Additional perspectives might consist of viewing Jesus' teachings as a call to social justice, protecting the rights of others by not committing acts that harm them (murder, adultery, stealing, false testimony).

Practical Applications

The verse has several practical applications for daily life. It encourages individuals to exhibit integrity and respect for others through their actions. This includes respecting the life, relationships, property, and reputation of others.

In a modern context, these commandments translate into advocating for and upholding systems of justice, maintaining fidelity in relationships, respecting ownership, and being truthful in communication.

Cross-References

Exodus 20:13-16 - "Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."

Deuteronomy 5:17-20 - "Thou shalt not kill.

Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

Neither shalt thou steal.

Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour."

Romans 13:9 - "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek which the Gospel of Matthew was likely written in (albeit the Gospel may also have Aramaic origins) are significant for understanding this verse. The commandments refer to:

"μὴ φονεύσῃς" (mē phoneusēs) - "You shall not murder." The Greek φονεύω (phoneuō) specifically refers to unjustified taking of life.
"μὴ μοιχεύσῃς" (mē moicheusēs) - "You shall not commit adultery." Adultery here, μοιχεύω (moicheuō), is the violation of the marital covenant.
"μὴ κλέψῃς" (mē klepsēs) - "You shall not steal." The term κλέπτω (kleptō) refers to the act of taking something that is not yours.
"μὴ ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς" (mē pseudomartyrēsēs) - "You shall not bear false witness." This involves providing false testimony, ψευδομαρτυρέω (pseudomartyreō), which can lead to injustice or harm to others.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Within the wider ancient Near-Eastern cultural milieu, ethical codes similar to the commandments can be found, perhaps most famously in the Code of Hammurabi.

However, the Judaic perception of these commandments was unique in their direct connection to a covenant with a single deity, Yahweh.

Comparisons can also be made with religious interpretations in other faith traditions that emphasize moral prescriptions. For instance, in Buddhism, similar ethical guidelines are proposed via the Five Precepts, which also include admonitions against taking life and stealing.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the actions prohibited in this verse can be understood to have tangible effects on social and psychological well-being.

For example, the prohibition against murder aligns with understandings about the sanctity of life and the societal disruptions caused by violence.

Similarly, the prohibitions against stealing and lying can be correlated with the necessity of trust and cooperation in human communities for societal harmony and mental health.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have provided different commentaries on Matthew 19:18.

Some focus on the verse's ethical instructions and their relevance to Christian living.

Others highlight the verse's role in the broader narrative of the Gospel, emphasizing Jesus' approach to challenging the rich young ruler's understanding of righteousness and the adequacy of his observance of the Law.

Still, others may point out the way that Jesus invokes these commandments to foreground the need for a change of heart that surpasses legalistic righteousness, pointing towards a more profound, spiritually-oriented interpretation of the Law.

Matthew 19

Matthew 19

What does Matthew 19:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 19:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?