Impossibilities (Matthew 19:1-30)

Opening Prayer

Scripture Reading

Matthew 19 NKJV

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Introduction:

Today we are back in the Book of Matthew.

But before we study Matthew 19, its important for us to be reminded of what we learned thus far.

Jesus has been teaching us about the values of the Kingdom, how it functions and what its like.

Up until this point, we’ve seen Jesus both call and prepare His disciples for ministry.

While doing so, he exposed them to different trials and tests. This was part of their preparation.

Their character had to catch up to their calling.

Quick example:

Question: Who remembers the storm in the middle of the sea of Galilee, where Jesus allowed the disciples to enter a storm, only to save them?

There we saw the disciples coming to the realization that Jesus was the Messiah, God in the flesh, the One who walks on water, the fulfillment of Job 9.8.

There we also saw Jesus calling Peter to do the impossible, to walk on water.

And its the same with us, sometimes God will call’s us to do impossible things. The disciples knew this well.

Whether that be walking on water, healing the sick, feeding five thousand with two loaves and one fish.

The disciples knew that walking with Jesus and serving Him would require faith.

They had to learn to actively walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5.7) and understand that they were completely dependent upon Jesus fulfill their calling and to walkout their Christian faith.

John 15:4–5 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

And like we will see today:

We need Jesus in our marriages.

We need Jesus in the lives of our children.

We need Jesus in our ministries.

We need Jesus for salvation; and

We need Jesus to do the impossible.

So let’s begin:

(A) Marriage and Divorce:

Matthew 19:1–9 NKJV

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

So here we see Jesus expanding his ministry to the area of Judea beyond the Jordan.

And on His way there, His popularity grows and multitudes come to follow Him.

In verse three, we see the Pharisees approaching Him.

And they came with bad intentions.

Jesus however knew this.

Matthew 9.4 tells us that Jesus could see the evil dwelling in the hearts and minds of these religious leaders.

And just like He knew what was going on in their hearts - He knows our hearts and minds.

The Pharisees came to Him with a trick question, hoping to incriminate Him.

They ask: Matthew 19:3 “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?””

In those days there was a significant debate between Pharisees when is it lawful to divorce your wife.

They were referring to what was written in Deuteronomy 24:1-4.

There were two schools of thought concerning divorce among the Jews.

The first was Rabbi’s Shammai’s interpretation of Deuteronomy 24:1-4.

He believed that a man should not divorce his wife she has been found in unchastity.

Meaning, she had be unfaithful to her husband and had sex outside of her marriage.

The second school of thought was Rabbi Hillel’s interpretation of Deuteronomy 24:1-4.

He believed you could divorce your wife for something as small as spoiling a dish of food.

So if, for example, the wife burned the husbands breakfast - He was allowed to divorce her.

There was even Rabbi Akiba, that believed that you could divorce your wife - if you found someone fairer that her.

So, if your wife is getting old and you are unattractive to her - you can boot her and find someone more attractive.

Obviously, these Rabbi’s had misinterpreted God’s Word.

Jesus however, was not interested in men’s opinions on the Word of God.

He cared about what God said.

Just like when He was confronted by the Devil in the desert, where the Devil twisted God’s Word to trick Jesus, Jesus goes back to the Word of God - allowing the Bible to interpret itself.

And just like the Pharisees and the Devil twisted scripture, to make it say things it did not say, so there are false religions, like Islam, and cults like the Jehovah’s witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists twist the Word of God to make it say things that it does not say.

You need to be on guard against these things, because the Word of God is a double-edged Sword (Hebrews 4.12 and Ephesians 6.17).

And if you don’t know how to use it properly, the Devil will use it against you to kill your faith and the faith of others.

But the Bible warns us against them in 2 Peter 3:15-17.

2 Peter 3:15–17 NLT

And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

Therefore its important for you to always read the Bible for yourself, and test what you are being told.

1 John 4:1–4 NLT

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

Now back, to what Jesus had to say about marriage.

Matthew 19:4–5 “And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?”

Here we see Jesus quoting Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24.

Jesus makes it clear, that God’s intention for marriage was that of a life-long commitment.

Marriage is not merely a human agreement.

Marriage is a covenant before God, where God changes the from being single to becoming one flesh with the other person.

Again, because God designed marriage.

It is between one woman and one man.

Homosexual marriage is not marriage - because two people of the same sex cannot reproduce or fulfill God’s command give Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth with Godly offspring.

The Bible makes it clear that when you are married you become one flesh, in a sexual union before God.

When you are married you leave your parents household, and establish your own family.

You produce children.

Now back to the topic of divorce.

Jesus makes it clear that God did not command divorce.

However, permits it in instances of sexual immorality.

So what does that mean?

The sexual immortality comes from the Greek Word porneia.

The Word porneia is a broad term that includes a variety of sexual sins, such as: fornication (pre-marital sex), adultery (extra-martial sex), sex with prostitutes and even idolatry - because sex outside of marriage was often times used as a form of pagan worship in demonic rituals.

Jesus therefore, makes it clear that if someone’s marriage partner commits these sins while being married they are allowed to divorce their marriage partner.

Why? Because of the it has the power to destroy everyone involved, the husband, wife and the children.

In fact the Bible tells us, that is why God hates it.

Malachi 2:16 NLT

“For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

Therefore, God’s heart is always for reconciliation and forgiveness.

God does not command divorce in instances of adultery, but will permit it.

Even though it may seem impossible to reconcile and to restore a marriage after something like adultery takes place.

God is willing to help restore the marriage, and do the impossible - where we in our own ability cannot.

John MacArthur, also notes that both here and in Matthew 5:1-32 God is not not forbidding the innocent party from remarrying. Why? Because they did nothing wrong.

Only the one who committed the adultery and caused the divorce is not permitted to remarry.

To marry such a women or man, caught in adultery, would make you guilty of committing adultery.

Listen to what 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 NKJV

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

(B) Jesus teaches on Celibacy

Matthew 19:10–12 NKJV

His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

In verse 10, we see the disciples acknowledging just how high God set the standard for marriage.

They believe that it might be better not to marry, and Jesus does not disagree with them.

Jesus acknowledged marriage as a lifelong commitment that can only be fulfilled with God’s help.

Marriage however is not for everyone.

Some are prevented from marrying because of birth defects or were prevented from marrying because of what is imposed by them on others.

Others however, choose not to marry and remain single, for the sake of advancing the Kingdom of God.

Jesus and the apostle Paul were examples of these.

1 Corinthians 7:7 NLT

But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.

1 Corinthians 7:32 NLT

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.

However, this does not mean that Jesus is suggesting that celibacy is superior calling to marriage.

Not everyone is called to celibacy, it is a gift given to the individual by God.

We all are born with a desire for companionship and have sexual desires be fulfilled in marriage.

It is also a safeguard against sexual immorality.

Listen to what Paul says:

1 Corinthians 7:9 NKJV

but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1 Corinthians 7:2 NKJV

Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

We as followers of Jesus need to hear what Jesus has called us to individually, and to walk in what He has for us.

Being celibate might seem impossible for some, but with God’s help and gifting - He will make it possible for you to walk through it.

1 Corinthians 7:17 NKJV

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

(C) Jesus Blesses Little Children

Matthew 19:13–15 NKJV

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

Here we see people bringing infants to Jesus so He could lay hands on them and bless them.

This was a common practice, and we see in the Bible did this to pass a blessing from one generation to another.

(D) Jesus counsels the Rich Young Ruler

Matthew 19:16–22 NKJV

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

So here we see the a rich young ruler approaching Jesus.

This young man was likely a Pharisee, because of the diligence he displayed in obeying the Law.

He believed that He could earn His salvation through works.

That is why He asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life.”

But Jesus knew that this young man did not yet know that God’s standard for Him to live by was perfection. Anything less than that, would result in the young man going to Hell.

Matthew 5:48 NKJV

Therefore you shall be perfect, jut as your Father in heaven is perfect.

So Jesus used the law just to show Him how far short He fell of God’s standard and that He needed a Savior - Jesus.

Galatians 3:24 NKJV

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The young man needed be humbled, because He was self-righteous and believed that He had kept God’s law perfectly.

He believed that He had kept the second half of the ten commandments perfectly.

He believed he was a good person, that treated other people right.

But Jesus saw right through Him.

Jesus knew that He loved his money more than he loved God.

So Jesus said to Him, Matthew 19:21 “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.””

And the man went away sorrowful.

Why? Because this man’s god was His money.

Jesus knew that this young man’s wealth had a means through which he had established an identity for himself, how he had obtained power and a sense of meaning in his life.

Jesus had to get this young man to examine his own heart.

By asking this young man to sell all His possessions, to give it to the poor, and to follow Him instead, Jesus did three things:

Firstly, he showed Him that he was not blameless by the law, because He was guilty of loving himself and his possessions more than his neighbors.

Secondly, He showed Him that he had broken the first and the greatest commandment and that was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. His god was his money.

And thirdly, Jesus answered his question on how to obtain eternal life. To follow Jesus. He is the only way to Heaven.

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

But the young man was not willing to give up his riches and position.

He went away sorrowful.

One would think, Jesus would run after Him and to convince Him to follow Him. Here was a young man asking what He could do to gain eternal life - when was the last time someone came up to you and asked what they could do to be saved? Its a very rare thing.

Our first instant would be to try and convince them to follow Jesus. Almost giving them a sales pitch on all reasons why they should believe in Jesus. Here are all the benefits etc.

But what did Jesus do?

He let him go.

Because Jesus is in the business of making disciples not believers.

His not interested in having people follow Him who confess Him with His mouth but their heart is far from Him.

So He gives us a choice.

Its Him or world. But you can’t have both. There is no grey area.

Matthew 10:37–39 NKJV

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

(E) With God All Things Are Possible

Matthew 19:23–30 NKJV

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Thinks section of scripture is obviously linked to the story of the rich young ruler.

The Bible makes it clear that it is impossible for those who are wealthy to be saved outside of the grace of God.

You can’t fit a camel through the key of a needle. Its not possible.

Wealthy people often self-sufficient and will do everything they can to hold on to that independence.

However, if God wills for them to be saved - only by His grace is it possible.

It is also impossible for us to be saved by works, as the rich young ruler believed.

It is only by faith in Christ that we can saved, apart from works. (Ephesians 2.8-9).

And because of God’s grace, we see two rich men who were saved in Jesus day - Joseph of Arimathea, in whose tomb Jesus was buried and Zacchaeus the tax collector.

The disciples, however, had left everything to follow Jesus.

Jesus promised to supply all their needs (Matthew 6.33).

And to reward them both in this life and eternally.

Although in this life we will suffer persecution.

Mark 10:29–30 NKJV

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.