Matthew 19:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

NIV: When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.

NASB: When Jesus had finished these words, He left Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan;

CSB: When Jesus had finished saying these things, he departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea across the Jordan.

NLT: When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River.

KJV: 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;

NKJV: Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

This is an important moment in Jesus' life. He has spent nearly His entire ministry thus far teaching and performing miracles in the northern region of Galilee. He grew up in the small town of Nazareth and later moved to the larger, coastal town of Capernaum. He has travelled far and wide with His disciples, but He has mostly avoided spending much time in Jerusalem or the surrounding region of Judea.

Now, though, Jesus officially leaves Capernaum and the region of Galilee behind. He has told His disciples that He "must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Matthew 16:21). This departure from Galilee toward Jerusalem is the beginning of that process, though Jesus will take some time getting there.

He begins by travelling into the region of Judea but beyond the Jordan. Most likely this means that Jesus travelled east of the Jordan River into the mostly Jewish area of Perea, south of the mostly Gentile region of the Decapolis. Many scholars believe Jesus crossed over the Jordan to the east at this time after entering Judea because the Samaritans would not allow Him to pass through their region (Luke 9:51–56). In essence, this required Jesus and His disciples to take the long way around to get to Jerusalem.

Matthew 19:1–12 is Jesus' response to a question from Pharisees about divorce. After establishing that marriage was designed to be lifelong by God at creation, Jesus insists that divorce is unlawful except in the case of sexual immorality. The disciples suggest it would be better not to marry, at all, in that case. Jesus says that is not true, and a life of celibacy is only for certain people, such as eunuchs of various kinds.

Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause. Jesus reminds them marriage was designed by God at creation. Divorce, then, is lawful only in the case of sexual immorality. A rich young man asks Jesus what good thing he must do to have eternal life. Jesus insists only God is good. He challenges the man's sincerity by asking him to give all his wealth to the poor and follow Him. The man's refusal demonstrates how easy it is to prefer wealth to dependence on God. In response to the disciples' question, Jesus says salvation is impossible with men but not with God.

Matthew 19 follows Jesus' teachings about temptation and forgiveness in chapter 18. This passage begins with Jesus leaving behind Galilee and heading toward Jerusalem the long way around. Jesus tells the Pharisees that divorce is legal only in cases of sexual immorality. Jesus blesses little children and then answers a rich young man who asks how to have eternal life. The man leaves sad after Jesus challenges him to give his money to the poor and follow Him. Jesus says salvation is impossible with men, but not with God. Chapter 20 contains additional parables and examples, and is the last before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem in the days just prior to His crucifixion.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.