Focused Passage

Matthew 19:1-12

Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ

Matthew moves from Jesus’ geographical transition toward Judea, to healing crowds, to Pharisaic testing about divorce, to Jesus’ creation-grounded teaching on marriage, to the disciples’ question about singleness, to Jesus’ reception of children, to the rich young man’s failure to follow, to Jesus’ warning about riches, to the impossibility of salvation apart from God, and finally to the promise of reward in the renewal of all things.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

2 Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.

3 Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

4 Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.

9 Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

10 His disciples said to Him, “If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.”

11 “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given.

12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction - ἐγένετο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular When ὅτε G3753 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular had finished ἐτέλεσεν G5055 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular saying these things τούτους G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . λόγους G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural He left μετῆρεν G3332 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . ἀπὸ G575 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular Galilee Γαλιλαίας G1056 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction went ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural region ὅρια G3725 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of Judea Ἰουδαίας G2449 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular beyond πέραν G4008 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Jordan Ἰορδάνου G2446 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 2

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction Large πολλοί G4183 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural crowds ὄχλοι G3793 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural followed ἠκολούθησαν G190 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction He healed ἐθεράπευσεν G2323 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural there ἐκεῖ G1563 Adverb
Verse 3

Original words

Then Καὶ G2532 Conjunction [some] Pharisees Φαρισαῖοι G5330 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural came προσῆλθον G4334 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular [and] tested πειράζοντες G3985 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction by asking λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv Εἰ G1487 Conjunction Is it lawful ἔξεστιν G1832 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular for a man ἀνθρώπῳ G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular to divorce ἀπολῦσαι G630 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular wife γυναῖκα G1135 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular for κατὰ G2596 Preposition any πᾶσαν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular reason αἰτίαν G156 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 4

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [Jesus] answered ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular - εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular vvv Οὐκ G3756 Adverb Have you not read ἀνέγνωτε G314 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction from ἀπ’ G575 Preposition [the] beginning ἀρχῆς G746 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Creator κτίσας G2936 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular made ἐποίησεν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural male Ἄρσεν G730 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction female θῆλυ G2338 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular

BSB notes

  • Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:2
Verse 5

Original words

and καὶ G2532 Conjunction said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular For this reason Ἕνεκα G1752 Preposition . . . τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Singular a man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular will leave καταλείψει G2641 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [his] τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular father πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular mother μητέρα G3384 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction be united to κολληθήσεται G2853 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular wife γυναικὶ G1135 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural two δύο G1417 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural will become ἔσονται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition one μίαν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular flesh σάρκα G4561 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Genesis 2:24 (see also LXX)
Verse 6

Original words

So ὥστε G5620 Conjunction they are εἰσὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural no longer οὐκέτι G3765 Adverb two δύο G1417 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction one μία G1520 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular flesh σὰρξ G4561 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular has joined together συνέζευξεν G4801 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [let] man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular not μὴ G3361 Adverb separate χωριζέτω G5563 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 7

Original words

Why Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular then οὖν G3767 Conjunction they asked Λέγουσιν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular {did} Moses Μωϋσῆς G3475 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular order [a man] ἐνετείλατο G1781 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular to give [his wife] δοῦναι G1325 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active a certificate βιβλίον G975 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular of divorce ἀποστασίου G647 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction send [her] away ἀπολῦσαι G630 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . αὐτήν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • See Deuteronomy 24:1.
Verse 8

Original words

Jesus replied Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural - Ὅτι G3754 Conjunction Moses Μωϋσῆς G3475 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular permitted ἐπέτρεψεν G2010 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural to divorce ἀπολῦσαι G630 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural wives γυναῖκας G1135 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural because of πρὸς G4314 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular hardness of heart σκληροκαρδίαν G4641 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular But δὲ G1161 Conjunction [it] was γέγονεν G1096 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐ G3756 Adverb this way οὕτως G3779 Adverb from ἀπ’ G575 Preposition [the] beginning ἀρχῆς G746 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 9

Original words

Now δὲ G1161 Conjunction I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction whoever ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἂν G302 Particle divorces ἀπολύσῃ G630 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular wife γυναῖκα G1135 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular except μὴ G3361 Adverb for ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition sexual immorality πορνείᾳ G4202 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction marries γαμήσῃ G1060 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular another woman ἄλλην G243 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular commits adultery μοιχᾶται G3429 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • SBL and BYZ include And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery; see Matthew 5:32.
Verse 10

Original words

His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταί G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural said Λέγουσιν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular If Εἰ G1487 Conjunction this οὕτως G3779 Adverb is ἐστὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular case αἰτία G156 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular between τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular a man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [and] μετὰ G3326 Preposition [his] τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular wife γυναικός G1135 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular it is better συμφέρει G4851 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐ G3756 Adverb to marry γαμῆσαι G1060 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Verse 11

Original words

Not Οὐ G3756 Adverb everyone πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural can accept χωροῦσιν G5562 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural this τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular word λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular He replied εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural but only [those] ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction to whom οἷς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural it has been given δέδοται G1325 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 12

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction there are εἰσὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural eunuchs εὐνοῦχοι G2135 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural who οἵτινες G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv ἐκ G1537 Preposition vvv μητρὸς G3384 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv κοιλίας G2836 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular were born ἐγεννήθησαν G1080 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural that way οὕτως G3779 Adverb - καὶ G2532 Conjunction - εἰσὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural [others] εὐνοῦχοι G2135 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural - οἵτινες G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural were made [that way] εὐνουχίσθησαν G2134 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural by ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural men ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - εἰσὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural [still others] εὐνοῦχοι G2135 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural - οἵτινες G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv ἑαυτοὺς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural live like eunuchs εὐνούχισαν G2134 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural for the sake of διὰ G1223 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural The [one] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular who can δυνάμενος G1410 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular accept [this] χωρεῖν G5562 Verb - Present Infinitive Active should accept [it] χωρείτω G5562 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.