How does Matthew 19:4 affirm the creation of male and female? Key Verse Matthew 19:4: “Jesus answered, ‘Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,”’ ” What Jesus Is Doing Here • Pointing His listeners back to the written Word (“Have you not read…”) • Citing Genesis 1:27 verbatim, treating it as factual history • Establishing God’s original design before addressing marriage and divorce How the Verse Affirms the Creation of Male and Female • “From the beginning” places the creation of humanity at the very start of history—no long process, no gradual emergence, but an immediate act of God • “The Creator made” underscores that male and female were intentional divine craftsmanship, not human social constructs • “Them” shows both sexes share equal origin and worth, while “male and female” highlights distinct, complementary identities laid down by God Supporting Passages • Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” • Genesis 5:2: “He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them ‘Man’ in the day they were created.” • Mark 10:6: “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’” (Jesus reiterating the same truth) • 1 Corinthians 11:11–12—affirming interdependence yet distinctiveness of man and woman in the Lord Theological Implications • Historicity: Jesus treats Genesis as literal, confirming the creation narrative’s reliability • Image-bearing: Both sexes equally reflect God’s image, granting inherent dignity to every person • Complementarity: Distinct roles and capacities are woven into God’s design for family and society • Foundation for Marriage: Matthew 19:5 flows naturally—because God made two complementary sexes, a man and a woman cleave to form one flesh • Continuity: New Testament truth harmonizes perfectly with Old Testament revelation Practical Takeaways • Identity: Our maleness or femaleness is a gift, not an accident • Value: Because God personally created both sexes, each life—male or female—carries sacred worth • Boundaries: Human ideas cannot redefine what God has clearly established • Relationships: Embracing our God-given design fosters healthy marriages, families, and communities • Witness: Holding to this truth testifies to the Creator’s wisdom and goodness in a confused world Summary When Jesus quotes Genesis in Matthew 19:4, He reinforces that the creation of humanity as male and female is a historical, intentional, and foundational act of God—a truth that shapes every aspect of human identity and relationships. |
    |