Matthew 19:11-15

Mat 19:11 (KJB)
But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

This response of Jesus is tied to the comment made by the disciples in verse 10. Jesus was speaking concerning a preference for remaining single. He is not speaking of a forced celibacy like the Roman Catholic Church does but a voluntary desire to remain single so there is less family encumbrances and more time to dedicate to the sending forth of the Gospel. Many men have no desire to remain single. I know of men who have lost their wives to death and in a short time they are remarried. Not everyone has the gift of being single but only to those who are given it. (1 Cor 7:7-8 KJV) For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. {8} I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. The Apostle Paul believed in the same way that all those who are involved in ministry should remain single because this would cut down on diversions of worldly matters. (1 Cor 7:32-33 KJV) But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: {33} But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

Mat 19:12 (KJB)
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Then Jesus begins to speak about eunuchs. Eunuchs were normally placed in charge of the king’s harem. There are three types of eunuchs mentioned by Jesus. The first type are those who born that way, it could be a physical malady where when the man became older he would not be able to impregnate his wife. Then there is the second type of eunuch which would undergo castration. When they were normally placed in charge of the harem, they would be unable to sire any children if any activity took place between him and any of the harem. Then there is the third type of eunuch which is one who is not mutilated in any way and can sire children. This person does not become involved in a marriage relationship but chooses to remain single for the purpose of having way less entanglements in the world and more time to devote to the Gospel. Only those who truly understand that this life is transitory and the few years we have to send out the Gospel will become fewer if we allow ourselves to marry and have children. Those who have been gifted with the ability to remain single will have a definite time advantage over those who have a family.

Mat 19:13 (KJB)
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

It was a custom for parents to bring their children to the scribes and elders of the synagogue to receive a blessing from them. Therefore, those that brought their children to Jesus had held Him to be a Rabbi. The children were probably very young and had to be carried into the house. (Luke 18:15 KJV) And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. The Luke account states they were infants. The disciples had rebuked those who had the little children. Maybe the reason the disciples tried to stop it was because they were learning from Jesus and did not want to be interrupted. This is a strange occurrence because to the Jews children were considered a blessing of God and God’s favor. Whatever the reason was as to why the disciples rebuked the parents with the children remains unknown.

Mat 19:14 (KJB)
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus then rebukes the disciples and tells them not to forbid the children to come unto Him. The word “suffer” is in the Imperative mood making it a command to the disciples. There will be many who will be saved when they are children and they have the same standing before the cross as every other believer. Then Jesus tells them that “of such” is the Kingdom of Heaven. This means that those believers who have the attributes of children such as trust, love, joy, innocence, simplicity, etc., are the type of believers which make up the kingdom of God. Too many think that you have to be well educated or have some type of training to be in the kingdom of God but all it takes is child like faith, the size of the mustard seed. When a child jumps from a step into his father’s arms, he is not worried about gravity or wind shear, all he is concerned about is his faith that daddy will catch him. That is the kind of child like faith we are to have in our Heavenly Father. We don’t worry about what the world thinks, we just know our Heavenly Father will catch us when we make that leap of faith.

Mat 19:15 (KJB)
And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

After Jesus had explained to His hearers about children and their attributes, and how they too are included in being saved at an early age, then laid His hands upon them and blessed them. Then after He had blessed He departed out of the house.

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