Matthew 19:10-12

Scripture Reading: Matthew 19:10-12

Introduction

What Do You Think About this Statement?:

“Idolatry is Still Alive and Well”

Do You Believe that Statement is True ?

I Think So

Idolatry isn’t Just Worshiping a Rock or Practicing Deviant Behavior

Idolatry is Taking Anything, Good or Bad, and Making it an Ultimate Thing

When We Love/Need/Serve Anything More Than God

As Christians, Everything We Think, Say, and Do is to Be in Service to God

If Anything We Think, Say, or Do is Not Done in Service to God…

It is Done in Service to Something Else…

Usually Ourselves

Idolatry is Always About Pleasing Myself

To Think, Say, and Do for My Own Pleasure

To Passionately Pursue Anything that I Believe will Make Me Happy

That Being the Case, Idolatry is as Rampant in 21st Century America…

As it was in 1st Century Athens

What are Some Things that We Love, Need, Serve Today?

Money

Materialism/Possessions

Pride/Success/Popularity/Fame

Pleasure (Food, Alcohol, Drugs, Sex)

One that We Might Not Think About is:

Relationships/Marriage

Being in a Relationship/Getting Married is a Good Thing

But Whenever it Becomes an Ultimate Thing…

It Becomes an Idol

Whenever a Relationship/Marriage Becomes…

Something that I Can’t Live Without…

It’s Become an Idol

Whenever a Relationship/Marriage Becomes…

My Source of Happiness, Pleasure, and Purpose…

It’s Become an Idol

Only God can Supply True and Lasting Happiness, Pleasure, and Purpose

Only When Our Relationships/Marriages are Used to Glorify God…

Will We Find True Happiness, Pleasure, Purpose, and Fulfillment

Matthew 19:10-12

Last Week, Jesus was Questioned By the Pharisees on the Topic of Divorce

In Jewish Culture, Like American Culture, Divorce was Normal

A Man could Divorce His Wife for Just about Any Reason

When Asked About that, Jesus Taught that God Never Intended for Divorce to Exist

This was Just as Radical a Teaching in Jesus’ Day as it is in Our’s

And We See that By How the Disciples Respond:

Matthew 19:10 (NASB95)

10 The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.”

It’s Important to Know a Little Cultural Background…

To Fully Appreciate What the Disciples are Saying Here

In Jewish Culture, Marriage and Child-Bearing was a Viewed as Responsibility

Both Boys and Girls were Married Off at a Young Age…

So They could Begin having Babies

Marriage and Childbearing was a Religious, Familial, and Societal Responsibility

In the Code of Jewish Law, We Read:

"Every man is obliged to marry in order to fulfill the duty of procreation, and whoever is not engaged in propagating the race is as if he shed blood, diminishing the Divine image and causing His Presence to depart from Israel."

God Told Adam and Eve to “Be Fruitful and Multiply”

To Not Obey this Original Command was Considered Shameful

They Considered an Unmarried Person as Half a Person

I Bring All this Up to Say this:

In Jewish Culture, Singleness wasn’t Considered an Option

Marriage was Expected for Everyone

And the One Consolation that Jewish People had was:

“At Least I can Get a Divorce if Things Don’t Go Well!”

But Now, Jesus has Just Taught His Disciples…

That Divorce isn’t an Option, Either

Let’s Put Ourselves in Their Shoes:

“As Jewish People, it’s Our Religious/Civic Duty/Obligation to Get Married”

“But Now Our Master is Telling Us that We aren’t Allowed to Get Out of it”

They’re Weighing the Options in Their Minds:

1.) Get Married to Please/Conform to Our Society…

But Be Stuck in a Potentially Unhappy Marriage

2.) Remain Single so We aren’t Stuck in an Unhappy Marriage…

But Be Shamed By Our Society/Community

And So the Disciples Figured:

“I Guess, if We have to Choose, it would Be Better to Remain Single!”

They May have Expected Jesus to Disagree with Their Conclusion…

But He Doesn’t

Matthew 19:11 (NASB95)

11 But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given.

Not Everyone can Accept Singleness Over Marriage…

But Some can Because it’s Been Given to Them By God

“Given” can be Translated as “Gifted”

“The Only Ones Who can Accept this Message…”

“Are Those Who have Been Gifted By God”

Jesus Says Singleness/the Ability to Remain Single…

Is a Gift

But it’s Hard for Us to See it that Way, isn’t it?

We Often Look at Singleness as a Curse Instead of a Gift

Singleness is Often Something We Want to Rid Ourselves of ASAP

Our Culture Idolizes Relationships/Sex

We’ve Convinced Ourselves that We Can’t Find Fulfillment…

Outside of Being in a Relationship, Being Married, or Having Sex

We’ve Convinced Ourselves that a Life Without Relationships, Marriage, and Sex…

Is a Life Without Fulfillment, Happiness, and Joy

But the Scriptures Firmly Deny that Idolatrous Belief

A Life of Fulfillment, Happiness, and Joy…

Does Not Rely Upon Relationships, Marriage, or Sex

It Relies Upon One’s Commitment to God

Jesus Calls Singleness a Gift From God

Paul Does as Well:

1 Corinthians 7:7–9 (NLT)

7 But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another. 8 So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. 9 But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.

Some are Able to Remain Single…

Without Overwhelming Sexual Desire and Temptation to Lust

Jesus and Paul Call this a Gift From God

What is the Purpose of a Gift?

To Serve in the Kingdom of God

Some People have the Gift of Singleness

God Expects Them to Use this Gift in Service of the Kingdom

That’s What Jesus Goes on to Say Next

Matthew 19:12 (NASB95)

12 “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”

“Eunuch” Typically Refers to a Man Whose Been Castrated

Here, Jesus Refers to 3 Different Types of “Eunuchs”

Some were Born Eunuchs

He’s Referring to People Who were Born Without the Ability to Procreate

Some were Made Eunuchs By Others

This was Very Common in the Ancient World

Kings and High Officials would Often Castrate Their Male Servants…

So They wouldn’t Be Able to Take Advantage of Any of the Women

Daniel and His Friends were Likely Made Eunuchs in Babylon

And Some Make Themselves Eunuchs for the Sake of the Kingdom

Jesus isn’t Talking about Self-Mutilation

He’s Talking About Choosing to Live a Life of Singleness/Celibacy

And the Reason for Choosing to Live that Type of Life…

Is for the Sake of the Kingdom

These are People Who Choose to Be Single/Celibate in Order to Serve the Kingdom

This Doesn’t Mean that Those Who Choose to Marry Can’t Serve the Kingdom

It Doesn’t Mean that Those Who Choose to Marry are Any Less Devout

But Those Who are Single are Able to Dedicate Themselves to Kingdom Service…

In Ways that Those Who are Married Can’t

Notice What Paul has to Say Along These Lines:

1 Corinthians 7:32–35 (NLT)

32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

Those Who are Married have Responsibilities that the Unmarried Don’t have

Those Who are Single have Unique Opportunities to Serve the Lord…

That Those Who are Married Don’t have

There are Certain Distractions that the Unmarried Don’t have

Jesus and Paul Both Urge Singles to Use Their Gift/Opportunity to Serve the Kingdom

And it Just So Happens that Jesus and Paul…

Are Perfect Examples of Using the Gift of Singleness for the Kingdom

Jesus, Our Teacher, Master, Savior, and King was Single

Paul, Our Brother and Greatest Christian Evangelist, was Single

And They Used Their Gift and Their Undistracted Opportunities…

So Serve the Kingdom

Application

Every Couple Weeks I Get an Email From the Jenkins Institute

It’s Run By 2 Brothers Who are Preachers

In this Email, They List Churches that are Looking for Preachers

Most of the Time the Churches will have a List…

Of Requirements/Preferences that They Want in a Preacher

Many will List Things Like:

“Must have a Preaching Degree”

“Must Teach/Preach the Truth”

“Must Be a People Person”

And So on

But You Know What Else is Listed by at Least Half of the Churches on There?

“Must Be Married with Children”

If They were Looking for a Preacher 2,000 Years Ago…

You Know Who that would’ve Disqualified?

Jesus Christ & the Apostle Paul

It’s Not Just Many in the World Who Look Down on Singleness

We, Christians, have a History of Doing the Same

Some Religions Overly Exalt the Idea of Singleness/Celibacy

But We have Drastically Undervalued it

We Ought to Celebrate Singleness…

And Encourage Those Who are Single to Serve

We Ought to Be Willing to Learn From Singles

They have a Unique Perspective and a Lot to Teach the Church

They have the Unique Ability to Teach the Rest of Us…

Some of the More Difficult Principles of Christianity, Like:

How to have Self-Control

How to Not Idolize Relationships, Marriage, and Sex

How to Better Devote Ourselves to the Kingdom

The Christian Life is a Life of Surrender to Jesus and the Building Up of His Kingdom

The Christian Life can Take Many Different Forms and Paths

Christians can Marry, if They So Choose

Christians can Remain Single, if They So Choose

But it’s Important to Remember this:

Don’t Choose Your Path in Life Because…

You Believe it will Bring You Fulfillment, Happiness, or Pleasure

If You Get Married, Don’t Do it Because You Think it will Make You Happy

Marriage is Not Always Sunshine and Rainbows

Marriage will Not Fix All Your Problems

If You Choose to Get Married, Do So as a Way of Surrendering to Jesus

If You are Single/Celibate, Regardless of the Reason…

Don’t Remain that Way Because You Think it will Make You Happy

Be Single/Celibate as a Way of Surrendering to Jesus

Don’t Pursue Marriage to Make You Happy

Don’t Pursue Singleness to Make You Happy

Pursue Jesus in Whatever Circumstance You Find Yourself in

Only Then will You Find Fulfillment, Happiness, and Joy

As Kingdom Citizens…

Everything We Do in Life Ought to Be Done with the Purpose of:

“I Am Doing this in Service to King Jesus?”

If You’re Married, Praise God for the Wonderful Gift of Marriage He’s Given You

And Don’t Idolize Singleness…

But Love, Respect, and Serve Your Spouse

Use Your Marriage to Glorify God, Serve the Church, and Proclaim the Gospel

If You’re Single, Praise God for the Wonderful Gift of Singleness He’s Given You

And Don’t Idolize Relationships, Marriage, or Sex

They are Good, But They are Not Ultimate

Jesus is Ultimate

Use Your Singleness to Glorify God, Serve the Church, and Proclaim the Gospel

Jesus Lived in a Society…

That Didn’t Consider Singleness as an Option

We Live in a Society…

That Considers Singleness as a Curse/Unwanted State

But Jesus Said to His Society and Ours…

“Singleness is a Gift…”

“And it Ought to Be Used in Service to the Kingdom and as a Glory to God”