|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | '''<div id="19:3-9 See comments on Mt 5:31-32">19:3-9 See comments on Mt 5:31-32<div>'''
| + | 19:3-9 See comments on Mt 5:31-32 |
| | | | |
| − | '''19:10-12 Is Jesus enjoining celibacy here?'''<br>
| + | ====19:10-12 Is Jesus enjoining celibacy here?==== |
| − | No! Jesus clearly makes it a matter of personal choice. Because of being born impotent or having been emasculated, eunuchs do not marry. To make oneself a eunuch for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake, means to live like a eunuch in voluntary sexual abstinence by refraining from marriage in order to devote oneself exclusively to the work of God. To be able to do this however is a gift. Not every Christian can do it, and God does not expect it (cp 1Cor 7:7-9). In V7 here Paul is alluding to a gift with which God had endowed him. He was not referring to his unmarried state, but to the gift of self-control he had which led in turn to him being able to remain unmarried. We learn this from Mt 19:8-9. The phrase “it is good for them if they abide even as I” in V8 refers to Paul’s unmarried state. Abide (KJV), or remain (NKJV), is a verb in what is known as the aorist tense in the Greek construction of the sentence, signifying Paul’s unmarried state as a permanent and final decision: “as I have always been and always will be.” Paul’s unmarried state was of his own choosing and he was able to maintain it through the gift of self-control with which God had endowed him. (See also comments on Ac 22:3-5; 1Cor 7:7-9). | + | No! Jesus clearly makes it a matter of personal choice. Because of being born impotent or having been emasculated, eunuchs do not marry. |
| | | | |
| − | '''<div id="19:13-15 What does Jesus mean here by His reference to little children as “...for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven”?"> 19:13-15 What does Jesus mean here by His reference to little children as “...for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven”?<div>'''
| + | To make oneself a eunuch for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake, means to live like a eunuch in voluntary sexual abstinence by refraining from marriage in order to devote oneself exclusively to the work of God. To be able to do this however is a gift. |
| − | Jesus teaches here that the Kingdom of Heaven is made up of those who exhibit humility and childlike faith, whether they be little children or adults (cp Mt 18:3-4). We learn too from these scriptures that little children go straight to heaven when they die, which is also confirmed for us in the Old Testament (cp 2Sam 12:22-23). When David said here “I shall go to him...” he meant that he would one day be with his son in heaven. Neither Mt 18:3-4 nor Mt 19:13-15 mean that little children do not have an inherent potential for sinning, but rather that they are not culpable in the same sense as those whose sins are premeditated and deliberate. God does not hold them accountable as He does those who can properly understand His purpose for them in His plan of redemption. The age of accountability will vary with one’s understanding (under Jewish law a youth is accountable at 13 years of age by his Bar Mitzvah – a ceremony by which he is accepted into the Jewish congregation of men).
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | '''<div id="19:16-22 Why did the rich young ruler not get saved?"> 19:16-22 Why did the rich young ruler not get saved?<div>'''
| + | Not every Christian can do it, and God does not expect it (cp 1Cor 7:7-9). In V7 here Paul is alluding to a gift with which God had endowed him. He was not referring to his unmarried state, but to the gift of self-control he had which led in turn to him being able to remain unmarried. We learn this from Mt 19:8-9. |
| − | The rich young ruler sincerely wanted to get saved, but on his terms, not the terms Jesus laid down. He was not prepared to obey Jesus and put Him above his possessions. This is not teaching that believers have to dispose of all their possessions as a condition of salvation, but it does teach that whatever material wealth we do have must be placed at the service of God. We must be prepared to employ it for the Kingdom, not for self-gratification. Believers must place all of their possessions at the service of God once they are saved, and this is taught throughout the New Testament (cp Mt 6:19-21; Lk 12:13-21, 32-34; 16:9; Ac 2:44-45; 4:34-37; 1Ti 6:17-19;He 13:5).
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | See also comments on 19:23-26; Lk 12:13-15, 12:16-21
| + | The phrase “it is good for them if they abide even as I” in V8 refers to Paul’s unmarried state. Abide (KJV), or remain (NKJV), is a verb in what is known as the aorist tense in the Greek construction of the sentence, signifying Paul’s unmarried state as a permanent and final decision: “as I have always been and always will be.” |
| | | | |
| − | '''<div id="19:23-26 Is Jesus teaching here that it is impossible for rich people to get saved without God’s help?"> 19:23-26 Is Jesus teaching here that it is impossible for rich people to get saved without God’s help?<div>'''
| + | Paul’s unmarried state was of his own choosing and he was able to maintain it through the gift of self-control with which God had endowed him. (See also comments on Ac 22:3-5; 1Cor 7:7-9). |
| − | Yes! Jesus illustrates here the impossibility of a rich person entering into heaven with the figure of a camel being unable to go through the eye of a needle: it is not merely difficult, but impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. So it is equally not merely difficult, but also impossible for a rich person to be saved. But God can do it – He can even save rich people. But even so, their hearts must be changed by having their attachment to material riches replaced by attachment to the true riches - treasure in Heaven (cp Mk 10:23-24 with Pr 23:4-5; Mt 6:19-21; Lk 12:13-21, 32-34; 16:9; Ac 2:44-45; 4:34-37; 1Ti 6:17-19; He 13:5; Jas 5:1-6).
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | See also comments on Lk 12:16-21. Mt 19:16-22; Lk 12:13-15, 12:16-21
| + | ''Back to [[Matthew Study]]'' |
| − | | + | |
| − | '''<div id="19:28-29 To what does Jesus refer here?"> 19:28-29 To what does Jesus refer here?<div>'''
| + | |
| − | In the regeneration in Mt 19:28 (KJV), refers to the age to come – the new earth and Christ’s millennial reign (cp Mk 10:29-30; Lk 18:29-30, 22:28-30 and Ac 3:20-21). Part of the present-day – now, in this time – rewards promised to Christians in Mk 10:30 and Lk 18:30 are persecutions. There is a cause for rejoicing when Christians are persecuted for Christ (cp Mk 10:30; Lk 18:30 also Jn 15:20 and 2Ti 3:12 with Jas 1:2 and 1Pe 4:12-17). The blessings Christians receive in this life far outweigh the persecutions and any material losses they may suffer, and beyond the persecutions is the triumph assured to those who love Christ (cp Mt 10:22-23; 24:13; Mk 13:13;Jn 6:27; Jas 1:12; 5:11). See also comments on 1Pe 4:17.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | '''<div id="19:30 What does Jesus mean by “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first”?"> 19:30 What does Jesus mean by “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first”?<div>'''
| + | |
| − | Jesus uses this phrase on four different occasions in the gospels: twice in Matthew – here and in Ch 20 - and once each in Mark and Luke, to teach Christians that no one should suppose that they will be placed first in the future eternal kingdom before others (cp Mt 19:23-30). In answer to Peter’s question in Mt 19:27 as to what exactly could the disciples expect seeing that they had left all to follow Him, Jesus assured them that the blessings He gives will far outweigh any material loss or persecutions they may suffer for Him, but in His closing statement in V30 that many that are first shall be last, and the last first, Jesus warns that even those who have given up most for Him must never presume that the chief places in the future eternal kingdom are guaranteed to them (cp Mt 20:1-16).
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Jesus’ discourse in Mt 20:1-16 is called the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. In it Jesus expands upon His closing statement in 19:30. Jesus teaches in this parable that salvation is by grace alone, not by merit, and everyone who responds affirmatively to God’s call to salvation will have a place of honour in the future eternal kingdom. Length of service has no bearing on it – new Christians in their service to God are just as important to Him as those who have served Him the longest. No one should feel superior because of position or length of service in the church, for God is no respecter of persons. In the age to come many who held high office in the church and were thought to be great leaders will be placed behind others who held no office and were considered to be unimportant. In the future eternal kingdom every Christian will be treated according to how their works are made manifest at the Judgement Seat of Christ (cp Ro 14:10; 2Cor 5:9-10). Every Christian has to come before the Judgement Seat of Christ for their earthly works to be tried, and it is how those works stand or fall that will determine the Christian’s place in Heaven (cp 1Cor 3:11-15).
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Every one of the earthly works we build upon the foundation of Christ will be evaluated, but only the works symbolized by gold, silver and precious stones will be able to withstand the heat of the refining fire. All lesser works represented by wood, hay and stubble will burn up. Christians will not lose their salvation if this happens, but there will be a loss of heavenly rewards (cp Lk 13:22-30). Jesus teaches us here that merely professing to know Him will not gain anyone entry into the future eternal kingdom. Only those who conform strictly to the conditions He has laid down for salvation can enter in. The Jews thought that as they were the descendants of Abraham and Isaac, etc, they would automatically enter in, but Jesus illustrates by this parable that no one can enter in who is not totally consecrated to the service of God and completely yielded to the authority of Jesus. This applies to everyone who professes to be a Christian (cp Mt 7:21-27).
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | See also comments on Mt 20:20-28.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | '''Back to [[Matthew Study]]'''
| + | |
No! Jesus clearly makes it a matter of personal choice. Because of being born impotent or having been emasculated, eunuchs do not marry.
To make oneself a eunuch for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake, means to live like a eunuch in voluntary sexual abstinence by refraining from marriage in order to devote oneself exclusively to the work of God. To be able to do this however is a gift.
Not every Christian can do it, and God does not expect it (cp 1Cor 7:7-9). In V7 here Paul is alluding to a gift with which God had endowed him. He was not referring to his unmarried state, but to the gift of self-control he had which led in turn to him being able to remain unmarried. We learn this from Mt 19:8-9.
The phrase “it is good for them if they abide even as I” in V8 refers to Paul’s unmarried state. Abide (KJV), or remain (NKJV), is a verb in what is known as the aorist tense in the Greek construction of the sentence, signifying Paul’s unmarried state as a permanent and final decision: “as I have always been and always will be.”
Paul’s unmarried state was of his own choosing and he was able to maintain it through the gift of self-control with which God had endowed him. (See also comments on Ac 22:3-5; 1Cor 7:7-9).
