Matthew 19:11-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 19:3-12

We have here the law of Christ in the case of divorce, occasioned, as some other declarations of his will, by a dispute with the Pharisees. So patiently did he endure the contradiction of sinners, that he turned it into instructions to his own disciples! Observe, here I. The case proposed by the Pharisees (Matt. 19:3); Isa. it lawful for a man to put away his wife? This they asked, tempting him, not desiring to be taught by him. Some time ago, he had, in Galilee, declared his mind in this... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 19:10-12

19:10-12 His disciples said to him, "If the only reason for divorce between a man and his wife stands thus, it is not expedient to marry." He said to them, "Not all can receive this saying, but only those to whom it has been granted to do so. There are eunuchs who were born so from their mothers' womb; and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let him who is able to receive this... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 19:10-12

It would be wrong to leave this matter without some attempt to see what it actually means for the question of divorce at the present time. We may at the beginning note this. What Jesus laid down was a principle and not a law. To turn this saying of Jesus into a law is gravely to misunderstand it. The Bible does not give us laws; it gives principles which we must prayerfully and intelligently apply to any given situation. Of the Sabbath the Bible says, "In it you shall not do any work" ( ... 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 19:11

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

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:12

Verse 12 12.For there are eunuchs Christ distinguishes three kinds of eunuchs Those who are so by nature, or who have been castrated by men, are debarred from marriage by this defect, for they are not men. He says that there are other eunuchs, who have castrated themselves, that they may be more at liberty to serve God; and these he exempts from the obligation to marry. Hence it follows, that all others who avoid marriage fight against God with sacrilegious hardihood, after the manner of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 19:3-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 19:10-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 19:10-12

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 19:11

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

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