Love, Commitment, and Sacrifice: The Teachings of Matthew 19

Matthew 19 invites us to reevaluate our understanding of commitment, wealth, and sacrifice. Jesus highlights the sacredness of marriage, celebrates childlike faith, and cautions against the spiritual danger of wealth. His teachings remind us that earthly sacrifices made for His sake result in heavenly rewards, challenging us to cultivate a mindset of eternal perspective, humility, and sacrificial love.

Verses 1-12: Teaching about Divorce

In this section, Jesus teaches about the sacredness and permanence of marriage. The Pharisees test Jesus with a question about divorce, to which He responds by reinforcing God's original design for marriage. He explains that Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of people's hearts, but from the beginning, God intended marriage to be a lifelong commitment.

Verses 13-15: Blessing the Little Children

Children are brought to Jesus for His blessing. The disciples initially rebuke those who bring the children, but Jesus corrects them, affirming that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those with childlike faith.

Verses 16-22: The Rich Young Ruler

A rich young man asks Jesus what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus advises him to keep the commandments. When the man claims he has kept all these, Jesus then tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man leaves in sorrow, unable to part with his riches.

Verses 23-30: Wealth and the Kingdom of God & The Rewards of Sacrifice

Jesus comments on the difficulty for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, likening it to a camel passing through the eye of a needle. The disciples, confused, ask who then can be saved, to which Jesus responds that with God all things are possible. Peter asks about their reward for leaving everything to follow Him. Jesus promises that those who have left homes, families, or fields for His sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.

Matthew 19 delves into Jesus' teachings about commitment, love, sacrifice, and faith. As He journeys towards Jerusalem, He provides profound insights into marriage and divorce, the importance of childlike faith, the dangers of riches, and the rewards for those who sacrifice for His sake.

Marriage and Divorce
Childlike Faith
Wealth and the Kingdom of God
The Rewards of SacrificeTeaching about Divorce
Blessing the Little Children
The Rich Young Ruler
The Parable of the Workers in the VineyardJesus
Pharisees
Disciples
Little Children
A Rich Young ManRegion of Judea across the Jordan
The Road to Jerusalem

1. How does Jesus' teaching on divorce challenge societal norms around marriage and divorce?

2. What does Jesus' interaction with the little children teach us about faith and entering the Kingdom of Heaven?

3. What can we learn from the rich young ruler's reaction to Jesus' instruction to sell all he has?

4. How does Jesus' assurance of rewards for those who sacrifice for His sake impact your understanding of discipleship?

5. Why do you think Jesus focused on the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

6. How can we apply Jesus' teachings on marriage and divorce in a contemporary context?

7. How does the faith of a child differ from adult faith, and how can we foster this type of faith in our lives?

8. In what ways does the story of the rich young ruler challenge our values and priorities?

9. How can Jesus' promise of rewards for sacrifices made in His name influence our life decisions?

10. How does Jesus' response to the Pharisees' question about divorce uphold the sanctity of marriage?

11. How can we maintain a childlike faith in a world that often values cynicism and skepticism?

12. How do you reconcile the call to give up everything to follow Jesus with practical life needs and responsibilities?

13. How can we navigate the tension between living in the world and not being overly attached to worldly riches?

14. How does Jesus' assurance of rewards affect your willingness to make sacrifices for His sake?

15. How does the concept of a rich person struggling to enter the Kingdom of Heaven challenge societal success metrics?

16. In what ways can we reflect Jesus' welcoming attitude towards children in our communities?

17. How can we ensure our wealth and possessions don't become barriers to our relationship with God?

18. How can the teachings of this chapter shape our understanding of eternal life?

19. In what ways can Jesus' discussion about rewards influence our perspective on giving and sacrifice?

20. How can we uphold the sanctity of marriage in a culture with differing views on commitment and divorce?