Christ declares matrimony to be indissoluble: he recommends the making one’s self an eunuch for the kingdom of heaven; and parting with all things for him. He shows the danger of riches, and the reward of leaving all to follow him.

¹ And it happened that, when Jesus had completed these words, he moved away from Galilee, and he arrived within the borders of Judea, across the Jordan.

² And great crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

³ And the Pharisees approached him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to separate from his wife, no matter what the cause?”

⁴ And he said to them in response, “Have you not read that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female?” And he said:

⁵ “For this reason, a man shall separate from father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife, and these two shall become one flesh.

⁶ And so, now they are not two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.”

⁷ They said to him, “Then why did Moses command him to give a bill of divorce, and to separate?”

⁸ He said to them: “Although Moses permitted you to separate from your wives, due to the hardness of your heart, it was not that way from the beginning.

⁹ And I say to you, that whoever will have separated from his wife, except because of fornication, and who will have married another, commits adultery, and whoever will have married her who has been separated, commits adultery.”¹

1. 19:9Except it be, etc: In the case of fornication, that is, of adultery, the wife may be put away: but even then the husband cannot marry another as long as the wife is living.(Challoner)

¹⁰ His disciples said to him, “If such is the case for a man with a wife, then it is not expedient to marry.”

¹¹ And he said to them: “Not everyone is able to grasp this word, but only those to whom it has been given.¹

1. 19:11All men take not this word: That is, all receive not the gift of living singly and chastely, unless they pray for the grace of God to enable them to live so, and for some it may be necessary to that end to fast as well as pray: and to those it is given from above.(Challoner)

¹² For there are chaste persons who were born so from their mother’s womb, and there are chaste persons who have been made so by men, and there are chaste persons who have made themselves chaste for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever is able to grasp this, let him grasp it.”¹²

1. 19:12The translation here prefers ‘chaste persons’ over eunuchs or celibate persons for a number of reasons. First, the term eunuch is used figuratively by Christ, as is the term ‘castraverunt’ (castrated). Second, the term eunuch is obscure today. Third, this passage began with a teaching on the proper behavior of married persons, so it is not solely about virgins or celibate clergy and religious. The term ‘chaste persons’ has sufficient breadth and depth, and is an accurate representation of the meaning of the term.(Conte)
2. 19:12There are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs, for the kingdom of heaven: This text is not to be taken in the literal sense; but means, that there are such, who have taken a firm and commendable resolution of leading a single and chaste life, in order to serve God in a more perfect state than those who marry: as St. Paul clearly shows. 1 Cor. 7. 37, 38.(Challoner)

¹³ Then they brought to him little children, so that he would place his hands upon them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them.

¹⁴ Yet truly, Jesus said to them: “Allow the little children to come to me, and do not choose to prohibit them. For the kingdom of heaven is among such as these.”

¹⁵ And when he had imposed his hands upon them, he went away from there.

¹⁶ And behold, someone approached and said to him, “Good Teacher, what good should I do, so that I may have eternal life?”

¹⁷ And he said to him: “Why do you question me about what is good? One is good: God. But if you wish to enter into life, observe the commandments.”

¹⁸ He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said: “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony.¹

1. 19:18Notice that Jesus specifically says ‘murder’ (homicidium), not ‘kill.’ Therefore, the Old Testament translation of the commandment as ‘You shall not murder’ is correct.(Conte)

¹⁹ Honor your father and your mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

²⁰ The young man said to him: “All these I have kept from my childhood. What is still lacking for me?”

²¹ Jesus said to him: “If you are willing to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”

²² And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

²³ Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, that the wealthy shall enter with difficulty into the kingdom of heaven.

²⁴ And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for the wealthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

²⁵ And upon hearing this, the disciples wondered greatly, saying: “Then who will be able to be saved?”

²⁶ But Jesus, gazing at them, said to them: “With men, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.”¹

1. 19:26It is often said, by the foolish, that the camel in this saying is literally a camel, and that the ‘eye of a needle’ is a particular gate into the city of Jerusalem. They claim that Jesus was only referring to getting a camel through that small gateway, when he expressed how hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God. But even though that gateway is narrow, it is not too difficult to get a camel through it. Perhaps it happened on a near daily basis. If this was the meaning of the saying, then it would not seem too difficult for the wealthy to enter heaven, and the disciples would be foolish to say ‘Then who will be able to be saved?’ And again, if so, then Jesus would not have said that it was impossible for men. So the saying has another meaning. It is a literal expression of the miraculous power of God. For a wealthy person to be saved, apart from the infinite mercy of God is impossible, nearly as impossible as literally passing a camel through the eye of a needle. But both acts can be done by the power of God.(Conte)

²⁷ Then Peter responded by saying to him: “Behold, we have left behind all things, and we have followed you. So then, what will be for us?”

²⁸ And Jesus said to them: “Amen I say to you, that at the resurrection, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, those of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

²⁹ And anyone who has left behind home, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for the sake of my name, shall receive one hundred times more, and shall possess eternal life.

³⁰ But many of those who are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.”