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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 19:29 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 19:29 speaks to the sacrifices that people might make for the sake of following Jesus.

In a literal sense, the verse mentions the act of forsaking houses, family members, and lands, which could symbolize a form of detachment from worldly possessions and relationships if they interfere with one's commitment to the spiritual journey and Jesus's teachings.

The deeper meaning implies a promise that those sacrifices will not be in vain.

The "hundredfold" return suggests a great, even if not strictly material, reward.

Furthermore, the verse promises "everlasting life," which can be understood as the ultimate reward of eternal communion with God in the afterlife, for those who prioritize their spiritual commitments over earthly attachments.

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Historical Context

This passage is part of a conversation Jesus has with his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew.

The specific context is after a rich young man has left saddened from Jesus' challenge to sell all he has and give to the poor in order to gain treasure in heaven and follow Him.

The disciples, recognizing the challenge of such a commitment, are questioning what their own sacrifices mean, and Peter asks what they will receive in return.

In this historical moment, leaving one's family and property could mean a complete severance from social security and identity, as family and land were the cornerstones of social structure and survival in the Jewish culture at the time.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse presents concepts of radical discipleship and eschatological reward.

The call to discipleship often includes profound personal sacrifice, mirrored in Jesus' own life and death.

Different denominations might emphasize various aspects of this calling, with some focusing on the literal forsaking of material possessions and others emphasizing a more metaphorical interpretation of prioritizing spiritual over material wealth.

The promise of reward, both in the present (symbolically "a hundredfold") and in the afterlife ("everlasting life"), reinforces the Christian belief in the reality of the Kingdom of God and its ultimate fulfillment.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse challenges individuals to reflect on their attachments and priorities.

Christians may interpret this as a call to generosity, whether this means being open to share one's possessions, time, or abilities with others, or more broadly to hold one's relationships and possessions loosely compared to the value placed on spiritual growth and adherence to Jesus.

It could also inspire acts of faith where believers step into new vocacies or ministries at personal cost or into charity work.

Cross-References

Mark 10:29-30 - "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Luke 18:29-30 - "And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words like "forsaken" (ἀφήκεν) imply leaving or abandoning, which in context can mean giving up or renouncing.

"Hundredfold" (ἑκατονταπλασίονα) suggests a return of a hundred times the amount given up. This term is used metaphorically as a way to express an exceedingly great reward.

"Everlasting life" (ζωὴν αἰώνιον) encompasses the concept of eternal existence, with "αἰώνιον" directly referring to an age, perpetuity, or eternity in Greek.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The idea of forsaking material possessions for spiritual gain is not unique to Christianity.

Many religious traditions include similar concepts:

Buddhism teaches detachment from worldly desires to achieve Enlightenment.
Hindu ascetics often forsake familial and social ties for spiritual practice.
In Islam, the concept of Jihad includes a struggle against worldly attractions to focus on spiritual growth.

This concept is also echoed in ancient myths, such as those of ascetic figures who relinquish their worldly status for spiritual enlightenment or pursuits.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science does not directly address spiritual concepts such as "everlasting life" as they fall outside the purview of empirical evidence and measurement.

However, psychological studies often point to the benefits of altruism and non-attachment to material possessions for personal well-being, which aligns with the underlying message of personal sacrifice for greater good or spiritual health.

Commentaries

Scholars and religious figures over the centuries have provided various interpretations of Matthew 19:29:

Some argue that the verse is not a call to literal poverty, but an encouragement to radical commitment above worldly considerations.
Various commentaries highlight the contrast between the temporal and the eternal, stressing that the rewards of following Jesus far outweigh any earthly losses.
Others point out that Jesus is addressing the issue of attachment and priority, emphasizing the value of eternal life over material wealth.

The consensus among many Christian commentaries is that Matthew 19:29 offers a profound challenge to assess values and lifestyle choices in light of one's relationship with Jesus and the reality of the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19

Matthew 19

What does Matthew 19:29 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 19:29 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?