Matthew 19:10-12

Matthew 19:10-12

[10] His  disciples  say  unto him,  If  the case  of the man  so  with  his wife,  not  good  to marry.  [11] But  he said  unto them,  All  men cannot  receive  saying,  save  they to whom  it is given.  [12] For  some eunuchs,  which  were so  born  from  their mother's  womb:  and  some eunuchs,  which  were made eunuchs  of  men:  and  eunuchs,  which  themselves  eunuchs  for  the kingdom  of heaven's sake.  He that is able  to receive 

What does Matthew 19:10-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Some scholars who believe that Jesus meant to discourage remarriage in Matthew 19:9 interpret the disciples" statement in Matthew 19:10 as evidence that they understood Him in this light. [1] If a person has to remain unmarried after he divorces, it would be better if he never married in the first place. However this is probably not what Jesus meant in Matthew 19:9. The evidence for this is His reference to eunuchs in Matthew 19:12 as well as the inferiority of this view as explained above.
Probably the disciples expressed regret because Jesus had come down more conservatively than even Rabbi Shammai, the more conservative of the leading rabbis. Jesus conceded divorce only for sexual indecency, as Shammai did, but He was even more conservative than Shammai on the subject of remarriage. He encouraged the disciples not to remarry after a divorce involving sexual indecency whereas Shammai permitted it. His encouragement lay in His clarification that marriage constitutes a very binding relationship ( Matthew 19:4-6). The disciples thought that if they could not divorce and remarry, which both Hillel and Shammai permitted, they would be better off remaining single.
Jesus responded that not everyone can live by the strict verdict that the disciples had just passed in Matthew 19:10, namely, never marrying. He did not mean that it is impossible to live with the standards He imposed in Matthew 19:4-9. If He meant the latter, He eviscerated all that He had just taught. Some could live by the strict verdict that the disciples suggested, namely, eunuchs whom God graciously enables to live unmarried.
Jesus identified three types of eunuchs ( Matthew 19:12). Some eunuchs were born impotent or without normal sexual drive and therefore remained unmarried. Other eunuchs were eunuchs because others had castrated them, most notably those eunuchs who served in government positions where they had frequent access to royal women. Still other eunuchs were those who had chosen an unmarried life for themselves so they could serve God more effectively. Thus in answer to the disciples" suggestion that Jesus" encouragement to remain unmarried presented an unreasonably high standard ( Matthew 19:10), Jesus pointed out that many people can live unmarried. He was one who did. For those so gifted by God it is better not to marry. Those who can accept this counsel should do so.
However neither Jesus nor the apostles viewed celibacy as an intrinsically holier state than marriage ( 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Hebrews 13:4; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:5). They viewed it as a special calling that God has given some of His servants so they can be more useful in His service. Eunuchs could not participate in Israel"s public worship ( Leviticus 22:24; Deuteronomy 23:1). However they can participate in the kingdom and, we might add, in the church ( Acts 8:26-40; 1 Corinthians 7:7-9). Evidently there were some in Jesus" day who had foregone marriage in anticipation of the kingdom. Perhaps John the Baptist was one, and maybe some of Jesus" disciples had given up plans to marry to follow Him (cf. Matthew 19:27). Jesus definitely was one for the kingdom"s sake.
To summarize, Jesus held a very high view of marriage. When a man and a woman marry, God creates a union that is as strong as the union that bound Adam and Eve together before God created Eve from Adam"s side. Man should not separate what God has united (cf. Romans 7:1-3). However, even though God hates divorce He permits it in cases where gross sexual indecency (fornication) has entered the marriage. Jesus urged His disciples not to divorce (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:10), and if they divorced He urged them not to remarry (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:11; 1 Corinthians 7:27). However, He did not go so far as prohibiting remarriage (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:9; 1 Corinthians 7:28). He encouraged them to realize that living unmarried after a divorce is a realistic possibility for many people, but He conceded it was not possible for all (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:9). A primary consideration should be how one could most effectively carry on his or her work of preparing for the kingdom (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:32-34).
Matthew did not record the Pharisees" reaction to this teaching. His primary concern was the teaching itself. He only cited the Pharisees" participation because it illustrated their continuing antagonism, a major theme in his Gospel, and because it provided the setting for Jesus" authoritative teaching.