Matthew Chapter 19
Showing all 30 verses for Matthew Chapter 19.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; "
"When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea, on the far side of the Jordan river."
I want you to notice that my teaching always led somewhere - it wasn't abstract theory, it was preparation for the road ahead, including the hardest part of it. Let your own understanding move you towards action too.
"And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. "
"Large crowds followed him, and he healed people there."
I keep showing up for people wherever I am, even mid-journey, even under pressure. Don't wait for the "right time" to care for someone in front of you.
"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? "
"The Pharisees also came to him, trying to trap him, and asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?""
I recognise when someone is asking a question not to learn but to trap me - and I answer with truth anyway, rather than dodging or playing political games with people's real lives.
"And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, "
"He answered them, "Haven't you read that the one who created them at the beginning made them male and female,""
When you're facing a hard question, I want you to look for the deeper purpose behind it, not just the rules people argue about on the surface.
"And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? "
""and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?""
I want you to see marriage, at its best, as a deep, committed union - something worth real investment and loyalty, not a casual arrangement.
"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. "
""So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.""
I take your commitments seriously, and I'm asking you to as well - don't treat what should be a lifelong bond as something disposable when things get difficult.
"They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? "
"They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?""
I'm not afraid of hard follow-up questions - even when people quote scripture back at me to challenge what I've said, I welcome the chance to explain more fully.
"He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. "
"He said to them, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard, but it was not like that from the beginning.""
I want you to understand the difference between what you can get away with and what's actually best for you. Just because something is allowed doesn't mean it was ever the ideal.
"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. "
""I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.""
I ask you to take your commitments seriously and not look for easy exits when things get hard - real faithfulness matters, in marriage and everywhere else in your life.
"His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. "
"His disciples said to him, "If that's the situation between a husband and wife, it's better not to marry at all.""
I understand that some of what I ask can feel overwhelming at first hearing - it's alright to react honestly, the way my own followers did, rather than pretending it doesn't challenge you.
"But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. "
"But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this teaching, only those to whom it has been given.""
I don't force the same path onto everyone. What's right for your life may not be right for someone else's, and that's fine - listen for what's actually given to you.
"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. "
""For there are some who were born unable to marry, some who were made that way by others, and some who have chosen to give up marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this should accept it.""
I honour the choice to devote your life fully to a bigger purpose, even when that means giving up things others take for granted. If that's your calling, embrace it without shame.
"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. "
"Then people brought little children to him so he could place his hands on them and pray for them, but the disciples told them off for it."
I notice when people try to keep others away from me because they seem unimportant or inconvenient - and I always push back against that instinct.
"But Jesus said, little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them.""
I say clearly: don't let anyone stop the vulnerable or overlooked from coming to me. My door is open especially to those the world considers too small or unimportant to bother with.
"And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. "
"He placed his hands on them in blessing, and then went on from there."
I don't just talk about caring for people - I follow through with real, personal attention, even when there's somewhere else I need to be next.
"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? "
"Just then, a man came up to him and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?""
I want you to notice when you're searching for one more thing to do to feel secure or good enough - that search often reveals what's really going on underneath, and I'm about to show this man exactly that.
"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. "
"He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good. But if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.""
I meet you exactly where your understanding currently is, and start there - but I'm also always inviting you to think more carefully about the words and assumptions you use without noticing.
"He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, "
"The man said, "Which ones?" Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,""
I start by checking how you treat other people in the ordinary, practical details of life - honesty, faithfulness, respect for what belongs to others - because that reveals a great deal.
"Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. "
""honour your father and mother, and love your neighbour as yourself.""
I want you to see that every rule about how to treat people ultimately comes down to one thing: love your neighbour the way you care about yourself. That's the real test, not just avoiding technical violations.
"The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? "
"The young man said to him, "I have kept all these since I was young. What am I still missing?""
I notice when you've done everything "right" by the rules and still feel something is missing - that restlessness isn't a failure, it's often the doorway to the real question you actually need answered.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. "
"Jesus said to him, "If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.""
I know exactly what it is that has too tight a grip on you, even when it isn't obvious to you. Real freedom sometimes means letting go of the very thing you're most attached to and following me instead.
"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. "
"But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."
I never force anyone to follow me - I lay the real cost before you honestly, and I let you choose. But I want you to notice what sorrow like his is actually telling you about where your heart is anchored.
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. "
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.""
I want you to examine honestly whether what you own has started to own you instead - comfort and security can quietly become the very things that keep you from real freedom.
"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. "
""And I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.""
I use an image this extreme on purpose, so you never forget it: trusting in what you own to secure your life is a dead end. It's meant to shock you into rethinking where your real security lies.
"When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? "
"When the disciples heard this, they were completely astonished, and asked, "Then who can possibly be saved?""
I don't mind when my teaching genuinely unsettles your assumptions - that unsettled feeling is often exactly where real understanding begins to grow.
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. "
"Jesus looked at them and said, "With people, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.""
I want you to stop measuring your chances by your own strength or resources - what feels impossible to you on your own is never impossible for God. Bring me your limitations honestly, and let go of trying to save yourself.
"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? "
"Then Peter answered him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What will we get for that?""
I don't rebuke you for wanting to know that your sacrifices matter - it's a fair, honest question, and I always answer honest questions honestly.
"And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "
"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.""
I promise you that what you give up to follow me is never wasted - there is a future where everything you sacrificed is met with real honour and purpose. Trust that promise, even when the cost feels heavy now.
"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. "
""And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for my sake will receive a hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life.""
I promise that nothing you truly give up for my sake is lost - it comes back multiplied, in ways you may not expect, and it leads to a life that never runs out. Don't be afraid of the cost.
"But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. "
""But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.""
I want you to stop ranking yourself and others by worldly measures of status, timing, or achievement - in my kingdom, those rankings get reversed in ways that should keep you humble and full of hope, whichever end of the ladder you think you're on.