Matthew 19 Commentary
“You cannot serve both God and money,” said Jesus. Chapter 6 verse 24.
Today, we learn about a man who wants to do the impossible: serve both God and money.
We cannot question his desire to serve God any more than we can question his desire to serve money. But he cannot do that; it is impossible. As Jesus put it, in Chapter 6 and verse 24, again, “Either you will hate the one and love the other or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” He chooses money.
There is more we can learn from the rich man. Right in front of a rich man is a huge mountain of pride. The richer you are the bigger the mountain of pride. You think you can buy anything, including salvation! Many have found comfort in charity works, hoping that these works of righteousness would get them a ticket to Heaven.
We would not be totally wrong to suspect the rich young man had these thoughts behind his question.
He departs the presence of the Savior sad, probably because of the thought of losing his money rather than the sadness of having lost out on God!
Here is great news for gold diggers! Jesus is more than everything a man can ever own, real or otherwise imagined! Some have tasted a bit of it while here on earth and have gone on to despise everything, including their own lives!
Little children are a good model for the kingdom of heaven partly because they are easily and cheaply satisfied. Basic things in life make them happy and content.
The teaching on divorce follows yet another question from the Pharisees. “Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes for?” The Pharisees are wicked lawyers who find even the tiniest of holes to escape a deserved punishment at law. They never mind the spirit of the document!
Aren’t we happy that they asked? Now we can know for certainty that marriage is between a male and a female! Divorce should be a very difficult decision to arrive at. Let the saint be guided by the thought that God hates divorce. It should never be a happy-go-to solution! And let this thought become a prayer point to the LORD for a peaceful and delightful marriage!
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