Matthew 19:6-13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:9

Except it be for fornication - See on Matthew 5:32 ; (note). The decision of our Lord must be very unpleasant to these men: the reason why they wished to put away their wives was, that they might take others whom they liked better; but our Lord here declares that they could not be remarried while the divorced person was alive, and that those who did marry, during the life of the divorced, were adulterers; and heavy judgments were, denounced, in their law, against such: and as the question... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:10

If the case of the man - Του ανθρωπου , of a husband, so I think the word should be translated here. The Codex Bezae, Armenian, and most of the Itala, have του ανδρος , which, perhaps, more properly signifies a husband, though both words are used in this sense. Our word husband comes from the Anglo-Saxon, hus and band : the bond of the house, anciently spelt housebond , - so in my old MS. Bible. It is a lamentable case when the husband, instead of being the bond and union of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:11

All - cannot receive this saying - A very wise answer, and well suited to the present circumstances of the disciples. Neither of the states is condemned. If thou marry, thou dost well - this is according to the order, will, and commandment of God. But if thou do not marry, (because of the present necessity, persecution, worldly embarrassments, or bodily infirmity), thou dost better. See 1 Corinthians 7:25 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:12

Eunuchs - Ευνουχος , from ευνην εχειν , to have the care of the bed or bedchamber; this being the principal employment of eunuchs in the eastern countries, particularly in the apartments of queens and princesses. These are they whom our Lord says are made eunuchs by men, merely for the above purpose. So born from their mother's womb - Such as are naturally incapable of marriage, and consequently should not contract any. For the kingdom of heaven's sake - I believe our Lord here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:13

Then were there brought unto him little children - These are termed by Luke, Luke 18:15 , τα βρεφη , infants, very young children; and it was on this account, probably, that the disciples rebuked the parents, thinking them too young to receive good. See on Mark 10:16 ; (note). That he should put his hands - It was a common custom among the Jews to lay their hands on the heads of those whom they blessed, or for whom they prayed. This seems to have been done by way of dedication or... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:6

Verse 6 6.What God therefore hath joined. By this sentence Christ restrains the caprice of husbands, that they may not, by divorcing their wives, burst asunder the sacred knot. And as he declares that it is not in the power of the husband to dissolve the marriage, so likewise he forbids all others to confirm by their authority unlawful divorces; for the magistrate abuses his power when he grants permission to the husband to divorce his wife. But the object which Christ had directly in view was,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:7

Verse 7 7.Why then did Moses order? They had thought of this calumny, (597) if, which was more probable, Christ should demand a proper cause to be shown in cases of divorce; for it appears that whatever God permits by his law, whose will alone establishes the distinction between what is good or evil, is lawful. But Christ disarms the falsehood and slander by the appropriate reply, that Moses permitted it on account of their obstinacy, and not because he approved of it as lawful. And he confirms... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:9

Verse 9 9.But I say to you. Mark relates that this was spoken to the disciples apart, when they had come into the house; but Matthew, leaving out this circumstance, gives it as a part of the discourse, as the Evangelists frequently leave out some intermediate occurrence, because they reckon it enough to sum up the leading points. There is therefore no difference, except that the one explains the matter more distinctly than the other. The substance of it is: though the Law does not punish... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:10

Verse 10 10.His disciples say to him. As if it were a hard condition for husbands to be so bound to their wives, that, so long as they remain chaste, they are compelled to endure every thing rather than leave them, the disciples, roused by this answer of Christ, reply, that it is better to want wives than to submit to a knot of this kind. (603) But why do they not, on the other hand, consider how hard is the bondage of wives, (604) but because, devoted to themselves and their own convenience,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:11

Verse 11 11.All are not capable of receiving this saying. By this he means, that the choice is not placed in our hands, as if we were to deliberate on a matter submitted to us. If any man thinks it advantageous for him to want a wife, and, without making any inquiry, lays upon himself an obligation to celibacy, (606) he is widely mistaken. God, who has declared it to be good that a man should have a woman to be his helper, will punish the contempt of his own appointment; for mortals take too... read more

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