New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Matthew 19
1
When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee. He went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 10:40
2
Large crowds followed him. He healed them there.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 12:15
3
Some Pharisees came to put him to the test. They asked, "Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"
Reference
4
Jesus replied, "Haven't you read that in the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female'?--(Genesis 1:27)
Reference
Creation
Genesis 1:27
Genesis 5:2
Parallel theme
Genesis 2:23
Malachi 2:15
Luke 10:26
Genesis 2:18
Matthew 22:31
Matthew 12:3
5
He said, 'That's why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.'--(Genesis 2:24)
Reference
6
They are no longer two, but one. So a man must not separate what God has joined together."
Reference
Parallel theme
Romans 7:2
Ephesians 5:28
Malachi 2:14
References God
Mark 10:9
Hebrews 13:4
Proverbs 2:17
7
They asked, "Then why did Moses command that a man can give his wife a letter of divorce and send her away?"
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 5:31
Malachi 2:16
Isaiah 50:1
Jeremiah 3:8
Matthew 1:19
References Moses
Mark 10:4
8
Jesus replied, "Moses let you divorce your wives because you were stubborn. But it was not this way from the beginning.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 2:24
9
Here is what I tell you. Anyone who divorces his wife and gets married to another woman commits adultery. A man may divorce his wife only if she has not been faithful to him."
Reference
10
The disciples said to him, "If that's the way it is between a husband and wife, it is better not to get married."
11
Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept the idea of staying single. Only those who have been helped to live without getting married can accept it.
Reference
12
Some men are not able to have children because they were born that way. Some have been made that way by other people. Others have made themselves that way in order to serve the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept living that way should do it."
Reference
13
Some people brought little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on the children and pray for them. But the disciples told the people to stop.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 2:39
14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them."
Reference
15
Jesus placed his hands on them. Then he went on from there.
16
A man came up to Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?"
Reference
Eternal Life
John 3:15
Jude 1:21
1 John 1:2
1 John 5:20
Matthew 25:46
Titus 3:7
1 John 2:25
1 Timothy 6:19
1 Timothy 6:12
Parallel theme
Acts 16:30
17
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter the kingdom, obey the commandments."
Reference
18
"Which ones?" the man asked. Jesus said, " 'Do not commit murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false witness.
Reference
19
Honor your father and mother.'--(Exodus 20:12?16; Deuteronomy 5:16?20) And 'love your neighbor as you love yourself.' "--(Leviticus 19:18)
Reference
20
"I have obeyed all those commandments," the young man said. "What else do I need to do?"
Reference
21
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 12:33
Acts 2:45
Luke 14:33
John 12:26
Luke 9:23
Matthew 5:48
John 10:27
References Jesus
Mark 10:21
Luke 18:22
Matthew 19:28
23
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "What I'm about to tell you is true. It is hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Reference
Kingdom
Mark 10:23
Luke 18:24
John 3:3
Acts 14:22
Matthew 5:20
Matthew 18:3
John 3:5
Parallel theme
Matthew 13:22
Proverbs 11:28
1 Corinthians 1:26
24
Again I tell you, it is hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. But it is even harder for the rich to enter God's kingdom."
Reference
Kingdom
Luke 18:25
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 13:23
Matthew 23:24
References God
John 5:44
Matthew 19:26
25
When the disciples heard this, they were really amazed. They asked, "Then who can be saved?"
Reference
26
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, that is impossible. But with God, all things are possible."
Reference
Parallel theme
Job 42:2
Genesis 18:14
Numbers 11:23
Zechariah 8:6
References God
Jeremiah 32:27
Luke 1:37
Luke 18:27
Jeremiah 32:17
Psalm 62:11
References Jesus
Mark 10:27
27
Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What reward will be given to us?"
Reference
Parallel theme
Philippians 3:8
Luke 5:11
Mark 2:14
Deuteronomy 33:9
Luke 15:29
Matthew 9:9
Luke 14:33
1 Corinthians 4:7
References Peter
Luke 18:28
Mark 10:28
28
"What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus said to them. "When all things are made new, the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne. Then you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones. You will judge the 12 tribes of Israel.
Reference
Glory
Matthew 25:31
Matthew 16:27
Parallel theme
Isaiah 65:17
Isaiah 66:22
2 Peter 3:13
Revelation 21:5
Revelation 4:4
Revelation 3:21
References Israel
Revelation 7:4
References Jesus
Revelation 20:4
29
Everyone who has left houses or families or fields because of me will receive 100 times as much. They will also receive eternal life.
Reference
Summary of Matthew 19
Matthew 19 begins with Jesus leaving Galilee and entering the region of Judea, where large crowds continue to follow Him and experience His healing ministry, but the narrative quickly moves toward a difficult confrontation with the Pharisees concerning marriage and divorce.
The Pharisees attempt to test Jesus by asking whether a man can divorce his wife for any reason, but Jesus moves beyond the technical debate by returning to God's original purpose in creation, explaining that marriage was designed as a profound union in which two people become one.
Jesus acknowledges that Moses permitted divorce because of human hardness of heart, but He makes clear that this concession does not represent God's original intention for marriage, thereby placing covenant faithfulness above cultural convenience and personal preference.
The disciples are so challenged by this teaching that they suggest perhaps it is better not to marry, but Jesus explains that some people remain unmarried for different reasons, including a deliberate commitment to serve God's kingdom, showing that both marriage and dedicated singleness can have legitimate places within God's purposes.
The chapter then shifts to children, whom the disciples attempt to keep away from Jesus, but Jesus corrects them and welcomes the children, declaring that the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them and thereby emphasizing humility, dependence, openness, and the value of those who possess little social power.
A wealthy man then approaches Jesus asking what he must do to obtain eternal life, and although he believes that he has faithfully kept the commandments, Jesus exposes the deeper issue by asking him to surrender his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.
The man's sadness reveals that his greatest obstacle is not merely the possession of wealth but his attachment to wealth, because his possessions have become more important to him than complete obedience and wholehearted discipleship.
Jesus therefore warns that wealth can make entrance into God's kingdom extremely difficult, not because possessing material resources is automatically sinful, but because possessions can create a powerful sense of independence, security, status, and self-sufficiency that competes with complete dependence upon God.
When the disciples ask who can possibly be saved, Jesus gives the essential answer: what human beings cannot accomplish by their own power, God can accomplish, making salvation fundamentally dependent upon God's grace and power rather than human achievement.
Peter then points out that the disciples have left everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus assures them that sacrifices made for Him will not ultimately be wasted, promising future participation in His kingdom and eternal life.
The chapter concludes with Jesus reversing ordinary human concepts of success by declaring that many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first, reinforcing the kingdom principle that worldly wealth, position, privilege, and recognition do not determine a person's ultimate standing before God.
The central message is that Matthew 19 calls people to place God's purposes above cultural expectations, personal desires, family pressures, possessions, wealth, and status, while showing that genuine discipleship requires wholehearted commitment and that salvation itself is ultimately possible only through God's power.
The chapter ultimately teaches that following Jesus means allowing Him to redefine what marriage, family, children, wealth, sacrifice, success, and eternal life truly mean, because the values of God's kingdom often reverse the priorities of the surrounding world and call people toward humility, faithfulness, generosity, dependence, and complete devotion to God.
The Pharisees attempt to test Jesus by asking whether a man can divorce his wife for any reason, but Jesus moves beyond the technical debate by returning to God's original purpose in creation, explaining that marriage was designed as a profound union in which two people become one.
Jesus acknowledges that Moses permitted divorce because of human hardness of heart, but He makes clear that this concession does not represent God's original intention for marriage, thereby placing covenant faithfulness above cultural convenience and personal preference.
The disciples are so challenged by this teaching that they suggest perhaps it is better not to marry, but Jesus explains that some people remain unmarried for different reasons, including a deliberate commitment to serve God's kingdom, showing that both marriage and dedicated singleness can have legitimate places within God's purposes.
The chapter then shifts to children, whom the disciples attempt to keep away from Jesus, but Jesus corrects them and welcomes the children, declaring that the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them and thereby emphasizing humility, dependence, openness, and the value of those who possess little social power.
A wealthy man then approaches Jesus asking what he must do to obtain eternal life, and although he believes that he has faithfully kept the commandments, Jesus exposes the deeper issue by asking him to surrender his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.
The man's sadness reveals that his greatest obstacle is not merely the possession of wealth but his attachment to wealth, because his possessions have become more important to him than complete obedience and wholehearted discipleship.
Jesus therefore warns that wealth can make entrance into God's kingdom extremely difficult, not because possessing material resources is automatically sinful, but because possessions can create a powerful sense of independence, security, status, and self-sufficiency that competes with complete dependence upon God.
When the disciples ask who can possibly be saved, Jesus gives the essential answer: what human beings cannot accomplish by their own power, God can accomplish, making salvation fundamentally dependent upon God's grace and power rather than human achievement.
Peter then points out that the disciples have left everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus assures them that sacrifices made for Him will not ultimately be wasted, promising future participation in His kingdom and eternal life.
The chapter concludes with Jesus reversing ordinary human concepts of success by declaring that many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first, reinforcing the kingdom principle that worldly wealth, position, privilege, and recognition do not determine a person's ultimate standing before God.
The central message is that Matthew 19 calls people to place God's purposes above cultural expectations, personal desires, family pressures, possessions, wealth, and status, while showing that genuine discipleship requires wholehearted commitment and that salvation itself is ultimately possible only through God's power.
The chapter ultimately teaches that following Jesus means allowing Him to redefine what marriage, family, children, wealth, sacrifice, success, and eternal life truly mean, because the values of God's kingdom often reverse the priorities of the surrounding world and call people toward humility, faithfulness, generosity, dependence, and complete devotion to God.