Matthew 19 — “From the Beginning It Was Not So: The Kingdom and the Cost of Discipleship”
Matthew 18 revealed the mercy that preserves the Kingdom.
Matthew 19 now reveals the order that sustains it.
After teaching forgiveness and humility,
Christ teaches the structure of human life according to God’s will.
This chapter teaches one central truth:
The Kingdom restores creation to its original design and calls the heart to total surrender.
1. The Journey Toward Jerusalem
“Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, He went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.” (Matt 19:1)
The narrative turns toward Jerusalem.
Every step now moves toward the Passion.
St Bede the Venerable writes:
“He goes toward Judea not seeking honor but hastening toward suffering.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Teaching intensifies as the Cross approaches.
Doctrine is given not in leisure, but on the road to sacrifice.
Crowds follow Him, and He heals them — mercy still flows even as judgment draws near.
2. The Question of Divorce
“And Pharisees came up to Him and tested Him by asking, ‘Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?’” (v. 3)
They seek not truth but trap.
Moses permitted divorce; Rome allowed it; the schools disputed its grounds.
Christ answers not by citing custom,
but by returning to creation.
St John Chrysostom observes:
“They ask about permission; He speaks of nature.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
The Kingdom does not lower God’s law to human weakness —
it raises humanity back to God’s design.
3. “From the Beginning He Made Them Male and Female”
“Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female?” (v. 4)
Christ appeals to Genesis.
Marriage is not a contract invented by society,
but a sacrament rooted in creation.
St Augustine writes:
“He goes back to the beginning, because the truth of marriage is older than the weakness of sinners.”
(On Marriage and Concupiscence)
Sexual difference is not accident —
it is vocation.
Man and woman together image God’s communion.
4. “The Two Shall Become One Flesh”
“And the two shall become one flesh.” (v. 5)
Marriage is not merely legal unity,
but bodily and spiritual union.
St Ambrose teaches:
“One flesh does not mean one body only, but one life, one faith, one hope.”
(On Abraham)
This unity is God’s work, not man’s.
“What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” (v. 6)
Marriage belongs to heaven before it belongs to earth.
5. Moses and the Hardness of Heart
“Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” (v. 8)
Divorce was concession, not command.
St Jerome comments:
“Moses tolerated what God did not will, lest worse evils follow.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
The Law restrained sin.
Grace heals it.
Christ does not abolish Moses —
He fulfills him by restoring man to holiness.
6. The New Law of Fidelity
“Whoever divorces his wife… and marries another, commits adultery.” (v. 9)
The Kingdom raises the moral law.
Marriage becomes a sign of Christ’s own fidelity to His Church.
St Augustine writes:
“What Christ joined in mystery, He forbade man to tear in practice.”
(On Adulterous Marriages)
Human love is now sacramental —
a visible sign of invisible grace.
7. The Disciples’ Astonishment
“If such is the case… it is better not to marry.” (v. 10)
They grasp the cost.
Christ answers:
“Not all can receive this saying.” (v. 11)
Both marriage and celibacy are vocations.
St John Chrysostom says:
“He does not command virginity, but crowns it.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
Marriage images divine fidelity.
Celibacy images the coming Kingdom where marriage passes away.
Both belong within the order of salvation.
8. “For the Sake of the Kingdom”
“There are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 12)
This refers not to violence,
but voluntary renunciation.
St Ambrose writes:
“They are eunuchs not in body but in will, who cut off desire for the love of Christ.”
(On Virginity)
Virginity is not rejection of creation,
but anticipation of resurrection.
9. The Children Brought to Christ
“Then children were brought to Him…” (v. 13)
After teaching marriage and renunciation,
Christ blesses children — the fruit of marriage and the image of simplicity.
The disciples would dismiss them.
But Christ rebukes the rebuke.
10. “To Such Belongs the Kingdom”
“Let the children come to Me… for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 14)
Children embody:
• dependence
• trust
• openness
St Bede writes:
“He blesses children that adults may learn innocence.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
The Kingdom is not seized by power
but received like a gift.
11. The Rich Young Man Approaches
“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (v. 16)
He seeks life,
but clings to wealth.
St Augustine remarks:
“He desired heaven but held earth fast.”
(Sermons)
He asks about deeds.
Christ speaks of commandments.
12. The Law and the Call to Perfection
“You shall not kill… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (vv. 18–19)
The commandments are not abolished.
They are foundation.
But Christ adds:
“If you would be perfect…” (v. 21)
Perfection means total surrender.
13. “Sell What You Have”
“Go, sell what you possess… and come, follow Me.” (v. 21)
Christ touches the man’s idol.
St John Chrysostom says:
“He did not command poverty to all, but revealed what bound this man.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
Discipleship requires freedom of heart.
14. The Sorrowful Departure
“He went away sorrowful.” (v. 22)
He chooses wealth over Christ.
St Gregory the Great writes:
“He fled not from poverty, but from love.”
(Homilies on the Gospels)
Sorrow follows divided hearts.
15. The Danger of Riches
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…” (v. 24)
Wealth itself is not condemned.
Attachment is.
St Jerome comments:
“Not riches but chains are blamed — the chains of desire.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
The Kingdom requires loosened hands.
16. “With God All Things Are Possible”
“Who then can be saved?” (v. 25)
Christ answers with grace.
Salvation is not human achievement
but divine gift.
St Augustine teaches:
“What is impossible to pride is possible to grace.”
(Sermons)
17. The Promise to the Apostles
“We have left everything…” (v. 27)
Christ replies:
“You will sit on twelve thrones…” (v. 28)
The Church is founded on sacrifice.
St Bede writes:
“They abandoned little and received much, for they left nets and inherited heaven.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
18. The Hundredfold Promise
“Everyone who has left houses… will receive a hundredfold.” (v. 29)
God is never outdone in generosity.
Loss for Christ becomes gain in eternity.
19. “Many Who Are First Will Be Last”
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (v. 30)
The Kingdom reverses human values.
St Ambrose says:
“He overturns pride that He may crown humility.”
(On the Duties of the Clergy)
Status fades.
Faith remains.
Christ in Matthew 19
Jesus is:
• the Restorer of Creation
• the Bridegroom of the Church
• the Teacher of Fidelity
• the Caller of the Perfect
• the Friend of Children
• the Judge of Hearts
• the Giver of Eternal Life
Spiritual Application
Honor marriage as God’s work.
Receive children as blessings.
Let go of idols.
Choose Christ over wealth.
Trust grace more than strength.
Seek perfection through love.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
Teacher of truth and Bridegroom of the Church,
You restored marriage to its first holiness
and called souls to follow You in perfect freedom.
Free our hearts from all false attachments.
Teach us to love as You love,
to choose what is eternal over what is passing,
and to follow You with undivided hearts,
until the day when earthly unions give way
to the wedding feast of heaven
and we rejoice with You forever
in the Kingdom of Your Father.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 