Twice in the Book of Matthew, Jesus reinforced the Bible’s teaching on divorce. Divorce was only justified in cases of adultery (Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:3-12). Attitudes towards divorce were so lax that a man could divorce his wife for any reason.
The restriction on divorce was a protection for the woman. In that culture, a divorced woman would struggle both economically and socially. This was not a new problem.
Four hundred years earlier God rebuked the men, “let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. For I hate divorce” (Malachi 2:15). The disciples reflected the attitude of their day when they stated, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry” (Matthew 19:10).
Jesus gives an unusual response, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given” (Matthew 19:11). Jesus is saying that the laws of God were like His parables. They would only be understood, embraced and practiced only by those whose hearts were fully committed to God.
All will be judged by God’s laws - regardless their accepting or rejecting them. Next, Jesus states they are responding to his instruction as if He were asking them to become eunuchs! “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:12). Jesus is indicating that there are three types of people.
The first are blessed with a heart that is unusually responsive to receiving and obeying the instruction of God. They are as rare as men born as eunuchs. The second group are those who obey the law but only by it being imposed upon them by their family and religious institutions.
They do not have a heart for God, but they obligated to outwardly obey. These are the ones made eunuchs by men. The third group “made themselves eunuch for the kingdom of heaven.
” These people’s “delight is in the law of Yehovah and in his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). While the world sees them as eunuchs, they know that “in Jesus you have been made complete” both physically and spiritually (Colossians 2:10). Like Moses they choose to identify with and “endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25).
Believers’ ability to joyfully obey is because “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). There is a reward for obedience. “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). Most importantly, a believing spouse sanctifies the home and children and may be used to lead their unbelieving spouse to salvation (1 Corinthians 7:12-16)..
