Matthew 19:3-12 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:6

Wherefore they are no more twain ,.... They were two before marriage, but now no more so; not but that they remain two distinct persons, but one flesh ; or, as the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "one body": hence the wife is to beloved by the husband as his own body, as himself, as his own flesh, Ephesians 5:28 . what therefore God hath joined together ; or, by the first institution of marriage, has declared to be so closely united together, as to be, as it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:7

They say unto him ,.... That is the Pharisees, who object the law of Moses to him, hoping hereby to ensnare him, and expose him to the resentment of the people, should he reject that, as they supposed he would; why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and put her away ? referring to Deuteronomy 24:1 which they thought to be a contradiction, and what they knew not how to reconcile to the doctrine Christ had delivered, concerning the original institution of marriage,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:8

He saith unto them ,.... In answer to their objection; Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives : in which may be observed, that, though it was by direction that Moses, in his system of laws, allowed of divorces; yet not God, but he is said to do it, because it was a branch of the political and judicial laws, by which the people of the Jews were governed under Moses, and whilst the Mosaic economy continued, and did not concern other people, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:9

And I say unto you ,.... To his disciples, when they were with him alone in the house, and asked him more particularly about the subject, concerning which he had been discoursing with the Pharisees, as Mark observes, Mark 10:10 when he said to them much the same things, he had delivered before in Matthew 5:32 whosoever shall put away in his wife ; separate her from his person, house and bed, and dismiss her as his wife, no more to be considered in that relation to him, except it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:10

His disciples say unto him ,.... Being surprised at this account of things, it being quite contrary to what they had been taught, and very different from the general practice and usage of their nation: if the case of a man be so with his wife ; if they are so closely joined together in marriage; if they are, as it were, one flesh, or one body, that a man's wife is himself: that the bond between them is so inviolable, that it is not to be dissolved, but in case of adultery; that if a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:11

But he said unto them ,.... With respect to the inference or conclusion, the disciples formed from what he had asserted: all men cannot receive this saying ; of their's, that it is not good to marry, but it is more proper and expedient to live a single life! every man, as the Syriac version renders it, is not ספק לה , "sufficient", or "fit", for this thing; everyone has not the gift of continency, and indeed very few; and therefore it is expedient for such to marry; for what the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:12

For there are some eunuchs ,.... Our Lord here distinguishes the various sorts of persons, that can and do live in a single state with content: some by nature, and others by violence offered to them, are rendered incapable of entering into a marriage state; and others, through the gift of God, and under the influence of his grace, abstain from marriage cheerfully and contentedly, in order to be more useful in the interest of religion; but the number of either of these is but few, in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:3

Tempting him - Trying what answer he would give to a question, which, however decided by him, would expose him to censure. Is it lawful - for every cause? - Instead of αιτιαν , fault, cause, reason, three MSS. and the Coptic version read αμαρτιαν , sin or transgression: this was probably the original reading - the first syllable being lost, αρτιαν alone would remain, which a subsequent transcriber would suppose to be a mistake for αιτιαν , and so wrote it; hence this various... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:4

He which made them at the beginning - When Adam and Eve were the first of human kind. Made them male and female - Merely through the design of matrimonial union, that the earth might be thus peopled. To answer a case of conscience, a man should act as Christ does here; pay no regard to that which the corruption of manners has introduced into Divine ordinances, but go back to the original will, purpose, and institution of God. Christ will never accommodate his morality to the times, nor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:5

For this cause - Being created for this very purpose; that they might glorify their Maker in a matrimonial connection. A man shall leave ( καταλειψαι , wholly give up) both father and mother - the matrimonial union being more intimate and binding than even paternal or filial affection; - and shall be closely united, προσκολληθησεται , shall be firmly cemented to his wife. A beautiful metaphor, which most forcibly intimates that nothing but death can separate them: as a well-glued board... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:5

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