Why does Jesus say "only those to whom it has been given" in Matthew 19:11? Immediate Context and Literary Flow Jesus has just reaffirmed the creational intent of lifelong, one-flesh marriage (Matthew 19:4-6) and has forbidden the casual divorce allowed by later rabbinic tradition (19:8-9). Shocked, the disciples respond, “If this is the situation between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry” (19:10). Jesus answers, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given” (19:11). The “word” (logos) to be “accepted” (chōrein—literally “make room for”) is the call either to embrace lifelong marital fidelity or, in certain cases, to embrace celibacy for the sake of the kingdom (19:12). Divine Gift and Human Response The statement reveals two concurrent realities: 1. God must grant the inner capacity to receive hard kingdom demands (Philippians 2:13). 2. Human beings remain morally responsible to obey once that capacity is granted (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus’ sentence structure mirrors Matthew 13:11 (“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom”) and John 6:65 (“No one can come to Me unless it has been granted him by the Father”), illustrating a consistent Matthean and Johannine theology of grace-enabled receptivity. Celibacy as Charisma Paul echoes the same concept: “Each has his own gift from God; one this, another that” (1 Corinthians 7:7). The ability to live unmarried for kingdom purposes is labeled a “charisma” (gift of grace). Jesus’ “only those to whom it has been given” thus anticipates Pauline teaching that celibacy is not a superior moral plane but a Spirit-bestowed capacity for those called to it. Sovereignty of God in Salvation and Sanctification Matthew consistently presents salvation as monergistic in origin yet synergistic in outworking. Election (Matthew 24:22,31) does not obliterate moral exhortation (Matthew 24:42-51). Here, divine sovereignty (“has been given”) grounds, rather than negates, exhortation to kingdom ethics. Parallel Passages in Scripture • Numbers 11:29: Moses acknowledges that prophetic ability is God’s sovereign bestowal. • Isaiah 54:17: “Their vindication is from Me,” says Yahweh—gift precedes standing. • 1 Peter 4:10: Spiritual gifts are bestowed “as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Old Testament Foundations Hebrew wisdom literature affirms that skill, wisdom, and even the power to enjoy life’s good gifts come “from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26). Jesus stands in this revelatory stream, identifying God as the source of every righteous capacity. Early Jewish and Rabbinic Background First-century Judaism esteemed marriage (m. Yebamoth 6:6) and regarded voluntary celibacy as rare. The Essenes were an exception, but they justified celibacy by sectarian purity, not kingdom mission. Jesus reframes celibacy as vocational and grace-enabled service, not ascetic self-merit. Witness of the Early Church Ignatius (c. A.D. 110, Letter to Polycarp 5) encourages virgins only if “they are willing to persevere, with the Lord’s approval.” Jerome (Against Jovinianus I.3) cites Matthew 19:11 to argue that continence is a gift, not a universal command. The patristic consensus treated the verse as upholding both marriage and celibacy, each empowered by grace. Theological Synthesis: Grace and Responsibility 1. Ontological inability: Post-Fall humanity lacks native capacity for kingdom ethics (Romans 8:7-8). 2. Special enablement: God grants spiritual capacities (Ezekiel 36:26-27). 3. Cooperative obedience: Recipients are called to exercise the gift (2 Corinthians 6:1). Thus Jesus’ clause safeguards against legalism (thinking all must practice celibacy) and against libertinism (excusing unfaithfulness by claiming inability). Pastoral and Practical Implications • Discern Calling: Individuals should seek God’s guidance and confirm communal affirmation before embracing lifelong singleness. • Honor Both States: Marriage and celibacy serve kingdom advance when pursued under grace. • Dependence on Grace: Spiritual disciplines, not willpower alone, sustain either vocation. Conclusion Jesus’ phrase “only those to whom it has been given” anchors His radical kingdom ethic in divine grace. The statement simultaneously protects personal freedom, affirms God’s sovereignty, and upholds human accountability, illustrating the seamless unity of biblical teaching from Genesis through the New Testament. |
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