Matthew 19:11
But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
{ "author": "Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood", "location": "Written from Galilee, likely", "dateTime": "Around 50-60 AD", "literaryStyle": "Gospel narrative with theological discourse, featuring direct dialogue and thematic exploration" }
The disciples, reacting to Jesus' stringent teaching on divorce that reasserts God's original design for marriage, declare that under such strict conditions, it would be better not to marry at all. Jesus then responds, not by contradicting the disciples' sentiment that avoiding marriage can be a valid choice, but by clarifying that the ability to live without marriage isn't a universal capacity or even a personal preference, but a specific gift from God. He will go on to explain that this gift allows for a life dedicated to the kingdom, distinguishing it from mere natural disposition or self-imposed hardship.
The disciples thought Jesus' teaching on marriage was too hard. But Jesus reframes their complaint, shifting the focus from difficulty to a divine calling.
Jesus’ disciples reacted to the high standard of marriage He just set – that divorce is only permissible for sexual unfaithfulness. They exclaimed, 'If that's the case, it's better not to marry!' (Matthew 19:10).
But Jesus understood their reaction wasn't just about inconvenience; it was a misunderstanding of a higher purpose. He clarifies in verse 11: 'Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given.'
The Shift in Focus
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 19:11 is available in the Sola app.
Jesus introduces three categories of people who abstain from marriage. What does this reveal about God's perspective on different life choices?
Jesus expands on the idea of this 'gift' in verse 12, describing different types of 'eunuchs'. It’s crucial to understand these aren't just literal descriptions but represent different ways people are uniquely set apart for God's purposes:
Eunuchs by Birth or Man's Action: These individuals are physically unable to marry. They represent those whose circumstances, by no choice of their own, set them apart.
Eunuchs Who Have Made Themselves Such for the Kingdom: This is the key group Jesus is highlighting. It refers to those who voluntarily choose celibacy, not out of bitterness towards marriage or for personal ease, but with the express purpose of dedicating themselves entirely to God's work. This is the 'gift' mentioned in verse 11 – the capacity and calling to be undistracted in serving the Lord.
What This Means:
This passage echoes Jesus' teaching by stating that while marriage is good, some individuals have received the gift of celibacy, implying a divine enablement for different states of life.
1 Corinthians 7:9Paul directly addresses those who choose not to marry, aligning with Jesus' idea that this choice is not for everyone but is 'good' or preferable for some when enabled by God.
Romans 12:3This verse speaks about recognizing God-given abilities and gifts within the body of Christ, which parallels Jesus' point that the capacity for celibacy is a gift from God, not a universal human ability.
Matthew 19:12Immediately following this verse, Jesus elaborates on the different ways one can be a 'eunuch' for the sake of the kingdom, directly explaining the 'saying' that not all can receive and to whom it is given.
calvinMatthew 19:10-12: "His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry."
- His disciples say to him, If such be the case of the man with his wife, [600] it is not expedient to enter into marriage. 11. Who said to them, [601] All are not capable of receiving this saying, but those to whom it is given. 12. For there are eunuchs, who were so born from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs, who have been made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs,…
henryMatthew 19:3-12: "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"
19:3-12 The Pharisees were desirous of drawing something from Jesus which they might represent as contrary to the law of Moses. Cases about marriage have been numerous, and sometimes perplexed; made so, not by the law of God, but by the lusts and follies of men; and often people fix what they will do, before they ask for advice. Jesus replied by as…
{ "author": "Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood", "location": "Written from Galilee, likely", "dateTime": "Around 50-60 AD", "literaryStyle": "Gospel narrative with theological discourse, featuring direct dialogue and thematic exploration" }
The disciples, reacting to Jesus' stringent teaching on divorce that reasserts God's original design for marriage, declare that under such strict conditions, it would be better not to marry at all. Jesus then responds, not by contradicting the disciples' sentiment that avoiding marriage can be a valid choice, but by clarifying that the ability to live without marriage isn't a universal capacity or even a personal preference, but a specific gift from God. He will go on to explain that this gift allows for a life dedicated to the kingdom, distinguishing it from mere natural disposition or self-imposed hardship.
The disciples, reacting to Jesus' stringent teaching on divorce that reasserts God's original design for marriage, declare that under such strict conditions, it would be better not to marry at all. Jesus then responds, not by contradicting the disciples' sentiment that avoiding marriage can be a valid choice, but by clarifying that the ability to live without marriage isn't a universal capacity or even a personal preference, but a specific gift from God. He will go on to explain that this gift allows for a life dedicated to the kingdom, distinguishing it from mere natural disposition or self-imposed hardship.
"But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given." — { "author": "Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood", "location": "Written from Galilee, likely", "dateTime": "Around 50-60 AD", "literaryStyle": "Gospel narrative with theological dis…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
