1Christ healeth the sick in Judaea: 3answereth the question of the Pharisees concerning divorce, and the objection of his disciples to the expediency of marriage: 13receiveth little children with tenderness: 16instructeth a young man how to attain eternal life, and how to become perfect: 23showeth how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God: 27and promiseth great rewards to his disciples, and to all who have forsaken ought to follow him.
1AND ita came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judæa 1beyond Jordan;
a Mark 10:1.
1 Other: about or near the Jordan, as Mat. 4:15. For, Judea was situated on the same side of Jordan where Galilee was located.
2And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
3¶Theb Pharisees also came unto him, 2tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to 3put away his wife for 4every cause?
b Mark 10:2.
2 Namely, to see whether they could find anything in His answer whereby they might render Him suspect with the people.
3 That is, to be divorced from his wife, as Mat. 5:31.
4 Or, all manner.
4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them atc the beginning made them 5male and female,
c Gen. 1:27.
5 Or, but one of the male and one of the female kind.
5Andd6said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall 7cleave to his wife: and theye twain shall be 8one flesh?
d Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:31.
6 These are Adam’s words, Gen. 2:24, but are here ascribed unto God, because Adam spoke the same through God’s inspiration; of which meaning see the annotation on Gen. 2:24.
7 Or, adhere to. The Greek word is a similitude taken from two different things, which are fastened with glue one to another.
e 1 Cor. 6:16.
8 That is, as one body, or as one flesh, 1 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 5:31.
6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. Whatf therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
f 1 Cor. 7:10.
7They say unto him, Whyg did Moses then 9command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
g Deut. 24:1; Jer. 3:1.
9 Moses indeed commanded to give a writing of divorcement, for the clearing of the woman, who was so wrongfully forsaken or divorced; but such forsaking he never approved, but only connived at the same, because of their hardness of heart, as magistrates must sometimes permit things to avoid greater mischief, which otherwise they ought to restrain; as Christ Himself also uses the word suffered in His answer and the Pharisees themselves, Mark 10:4.
8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9Andh I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
h Mat. 5:32; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10.
10¶His disciples say unto him, If the 10case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
10 Namely, that the man is so firmly bound to the woman.
11But he said unto them, Allimen cannot 11receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
i 1 Cor. 7:7, 17.
11 That is, have not the gift of continence, but those to whom it is especially given of God, 1 Cor. 7:17.
12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their 12mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, 13which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, 14which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. 15He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
12 That is, who by nature are unfit for marriage.
13 That is, who are made unfit for it by men.
14 That is, who, having the gift of continence, willingly remain unmarried that they may serve God with less trouble and to further the kingdom of heaven both in themselves and in others, 1 Cor. 7:32, 33, 34, 35. Otherwise, he who has not this gift, it is better for him to marry than to burn, 1 Cor. 7:9.
15 That is, he, who has this gift of continence, let him make use of it according as his calling or occasion permits.
13¶Thenj were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked 16them.
j Mark 10:13; Luke 18:15.
16 Namely, those who brought them, Mark 10:13.
14But Jesus said, Sufferk little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for 17of such is the kingdom of heaven.
k Mat. 18:3; 1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2.
17 Namely, the children of the covenant, as were the children of those Jews. Otherwise, the children of unbelievers are called unclean, 1 Cor. 7:14.
15And he laid his 18hands on them, and departed thence.
18 This ceremony was used not only in the installation in ecclesiastical services, but also in other special blessings, Gen. 48:14.
16¶And,l behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
l Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18.
17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is 19none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, 20keep the commandments.
19 Namely, of himself, perfectly, and the origin of all good; such an one as thou dost not account Me to be.
20Christ answers here according to the question and opinion of this young man, who thought he was able to obtain salvation by his own good works. And therefore Christ directs him to the law, thereby to bring him to the acknowledgment of his imperfection, and afterwards to faith in Him, Gal. 3:22, 24.
18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thoum shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
m Exod. 20:12; Deut. 5:17; Rom. 13:9.
19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thoun shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
n Lev. 19:17; Mat. 22:39; Mark 12:31; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8.
20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what 21lack I yet?
21 Gr. wherein do I yet come too short?
21Jesus said unto him, 22If thou wilt be perfect, gooand sell that thou hast, andp give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 This Christ says to convince this young man, who thought that he had kept all God’s commandments, forasmuch as he had outwardly lived according to the same, that he still lacked much, yea even concerning the keeping of the commandments of the second table, seeing he had rather kept his goods, than, at the command of Christ, to give the same to the poor and follow Him; which also appears out of the twenty-third verse. For, he, who would keep the same, shall not hardly but certainly enter into the kingdom of heaven, Rom. 10:5.
o Luke 12:33; 16:9.
p Mat. 6:19; 1 Tim. 6:19.
22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great 23possessions.
23 Or, goods.
23¶Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, Thatq24a rich man shall hardlyr enter into the kingdom of heaven.
q Prov. 11:28; Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24.
24 That is, who sets his heart and trust on riches, as is expounded, Mark 10:24.
r with difficulty
24And again I say unto you, 25It is easier for a 26camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 This was a proverb among the Jews, whereby they gave to understand the impossibility of any matters.
26 Or, as some think, a cable.
25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; buts27with God all things are possible.
s Job 42:2; Jer. 32:17; Zech. 8:6; Luke 1:37; 18:27.
27 Forasmuch as God is able to divert even the heart of the rich from trusting in riches and endue them with faith in Christ, and with an humble heart.
27¶Thent answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; 28what shall we have therefore?
t Mat. 4:20; Mark 10:28; Luke 5:11; 18:28.
28 That is, what shall we get by it?
28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the 29regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the 30throne of his glory, yeu also shall sit upon twelve thrones, 31judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 That is, in the restoration of all things, when the faithful shall be perfectly renewed both in body and soul, Acts 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:42, 43. Others join the words in the regeneration with the foregoing.
30 Namely, for to judge the quick and the dead.
u Luke 22:30.
31 Namely, because the apostles shall condemn them, not only by their example, that they have believed in Christ, whereas the other Israelites remained unbelieving, as is said of the Ninevites, Mat. 12:41, but likewise by their consent, as is also said of all believers, 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; although the apostles shall herein be eminent above others, Luke 22:30; Rev. 21:14.
29Andv every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shallw receive an 32hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
v Deut. 33:9.
w Job 42:12.
32 That is, manifold. See Luke 18:30.
30Butx many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
x Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30.