Matthew 19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The beginning of the last journey to Jerusalem . The question concerning divorce . ( Mark 10:1-12 .) read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The sanctity of marriage. I. CONVERSATION WITH THE PHARISEES . 1 . Work in Peraea . The Lord hath now finally left Galilee; the restless hostility of the Pharisees had driven him from the province in which at first he had met with such great success, and which was regarded as his own country. Judaea, too, was now unsafe for him. His hour was almost come; he would work while it was day; but he would not expose himself to unnecessary danger before the time appointed. Peraea... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The ethics of marriage. Note here a contrast: multitudes following Christ for healing, Pharisees pursuing him for mischief. Satan will be among the sons of God. Jesus turns the contradiction of sinners into instructions for his disciples. Let us consider— I. THE PHARISEE 'S QUESTION RELATING TO CAPRICIOUS DIVORCE . 1 . The occasion . 2 . The reply . II. THEIR CITATION OF THE MOSAIC CONCESSION OF DIVORCEMENT . 1 . The con cession ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:2

Great multitudes followed him. He was favourably received by the unprejudiced Peraeans. Healed them. Those of the multitude who had need of healing ( Luke 9:11 ). There . In the "beyond Jordan" region. St. Mark observes that he taught them. Thus, "at one time teaching, at another working miracles, he varied his means of salvation, that from the miracles faith might be given him as a Teacher; and by his teaching he might urge to edification the miracles which he wrought" (St.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:3

We have now to listen to our Lord's teaching respecting divorce and marriage. The Pharisees. The article is better omitted. Our Lord was not long left in peace by these inveterate enemies, who, if they could not openly persecute him, might hope to extract something from his words and sentiments which might be used to his disadvantage. They were probably envoys sent from Jerusalem to entrap and annoy him. Tempting him. Trying to get him to give an answer which would in any case afford a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:3-9

Divorce. The readiness with which the marriage tie is dissolved in some countries, and the daring questions on the subject that have been raised in England, make it important for us to see clearly how divorce should be regarded in the light of the teachings of Christ. Plainly he sets his face against any divorce except in the most extreme case. Let us consider some of the pleas for a laxer rule, and then look at the duty of resisting them. I. PLEAS FOR A GREATER FREEDOM OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:4

He answered and said. Our Lord does not directly reply in the negative, but refers to the original institution of marriage. All his auditors agreed in holding the legality of divorce, though they differed in their estimation of the causes that warranted separation. It was quite a new idea to find the propriety of divorce questioned, and to have their captious question met by an appeal to Scripture which they could not gainsay, and an enunciation of a high ideal of matrimony which their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:5

And said. The words that follow are assigned to Adam in Genesis 2:23 , Genesis 2:24 , but he spake by inspiration of God, as he knew nothing of "father and mother" by personal experience, and therefore they can be rightly attributed to the Creator. It was, in fact, a prophetic utterance of which Adam was the mouthpiece; as St. Augustine says, "Deus utique per hominem dixit quod homo prophetando praedixit." For this cause. Because of this Divine appointment, and especially of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:6

Wherefore ( ὡ ì στε ); so that . This follows from the quotation just given. Our Lord explains and confirms the original dictum by an assertion of his own and a general law. What God hath joined together. The institution of marriage is God's appointment. Christ says ὁ Ì , what, neuter singular, not "those whom," plural and concrete, that he may make it clear that he is here speaking in the abstract, not specially of Adam and Eve. What he enunciates is true of all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:6-7

Natural laws and human infirmities. The law of marriage must be thought of as fixed for human beings before the Fall. Natural laws are not fixed in view of man's wilfulness and sin. They remain natural laws after man has sinned; but their application and practical working are modified by the new conditions and relations which sin has introduced. God made man male and female. God designed single pairs. God proposed lifelong faithfulness of the wedded pairs. There is no natural provision made... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:3-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:6-7

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