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.