Bible Commentaries
Matthew 19

Verse 1

Coasts [ορια] . Better Rev., borders; though it is easy to see how the translation coasts arose, coast being derived from the Latin costa, a side, and hence a border generally, though now applied to the sea - side only.

Verse 3

Tempting. See on Matthew 6:13.

For every cause. The temptation turned upon the dispute dividing the two great Rabbinical schools, the one of which (that of Hillel) held that a man might divorce his wife for any reason which rendered her distasteful to him; and the other (that of Shammai) that divorce was allowable only in case of unchastity. The querists would be anxious to know which side Jesus espoused.

Verse 5

Shall cleave [κολληθησεται] . Lit., shall be glued.

Shall be one flesh [εσονται εις σαρκα μιαν] . Lit., "into one flesh;" Wyc., two in one flesh.

Verse 6

What [ο] . Not those. Christ is contemplating, not the individuals, but the unity which God cemented; and so Wyc., that thing that God enjoined; i e., knit together. The aorist tense (denoting the occurrence of an event at some past time, considered as a momentary act) seems to refer to the original ordinance of God at the creation (ver. 4).

Verse 7

Writing [βιβλιον] . Rev., bill. The word is a diminutive of biblov, which originally means the inner bark of the papyrus, used for writing, then a book or roll of this bark; hence a paper, bill.

Verse 8

Because of [προς] . Rev., for : having regard to.

It was not so [ου γεγονεν ουτως] . The A. V. is commonly understood to mean, it was not so in the beginning. But that is not Christ 's meaning. The verb is in the perfect tense (denoting the continuance of past action or its results down to the present). He means : Notwithstanding Moses ' permission, the case has not been so from the beginning until now. The original ordinance has never been abrogated nor superseded, but continues in force.

Verse 9

Except for fornication [μη επι πορνεια] . Lit., not on account of fornication.

Verse 10

The case [αιτια] . Not the relation of the man to his wife, nor the circumstances, the state of the case. Aijtia refers to cause (ver. 3), and the meaning is, if the matter stands thus with reference to the cause which the man must have for putting away his wife.

Verse 14

Suffer [αφετε] . Lit., leave alone. Compare Mark 14:6; Mark 14:36; Luke 13:8. Sir J. Cheke : Let these children alone.

Verse 17

Why callest thou me good? [τι με λεγεις αγαθον] . But the true reading is, ti me ejrwtav peri tou ajgaqou; Why askest thou me concerning the good?

There is none good but one, that is God [ουδεις αγαθος ει υη εις ο θεος] . But the reading is, ei=v ejstin oJ ajgaqov, One there is who is good. The saying of Christ appears especially appropriate in the light of the Rabbinic apothegm, "There is nothing else that is good but the law."

Verse 24

Camel - through a needle 's eye [καμηλον δια τρυπηματος ραφιδος] . See on Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25. Compare the Jewish proverb, that a man did not even in his dreams see an elephant pass through the eye of a needle. The reason why the camel was substituted for the elephant was because the proverb was from the Babylonian Talmud, and in Babylon the elephant was common, while in Palestine it was unknown. The Koran has the same figure : "The impious shall find the gates of heaven shut; nor shall he enter there till a camel shall pass through the eye of a needle." Bochart, in his history of the animals of scripture, cites a Talmudic passage : "A needle 's eye is not too narrow for two friends, nor is the world wide enough for two enemies." The allusion is not to be explained by reference to a narrow gate called a needle 's eye.

Verse 26

This [τουτο] . Not the salvation of rich men, but salvation in general. It is in answer to the question, who can be saved ? Man cannot save himself nor his fellow. God only can save him.

Verse 27

We. Emphatic, in contrast with the young ruler.

Verse 28

Have followed. "Peter had said together the words we have left, we have followed. Jesus replies to them separately; for the latter was peculiar to the apostles, the former common to them with others" (Bengel).

In the regeneration. The final restitution of all things. To be construed with ye shall sit.

Shall sit [καθιση] . Or shall have taken his seat, which brings out more vividly the solemn inauguration of Christ 's judgment.

Verse 29

Every one [πας] . Compare 2 Timothy 4:8, "to all them that love his appearing." " Not only apostles, nor ought Peter to have inquired only concerning them " (Bengel). The promise hitherto restricted to the apostles now becomes general.

A hundred - fold [εκατονταπλασιονα] . But many very high authorities read pollaplasiona, manifold. So Rev. in margin. Compare Mark 10:30, where there is added "houses and brethren," etc. Also the Arabic proverb : "Purchase the next world with this; so shalt thou win both."