Mattheüs 19

1 En het geschiedde, toen Jezus deze woorden geeindigd had, dat Hij vertrok van Galilea, en kwam over de Jordaan, in de landpalen van Judea.
2 En vele scharen volgden Hem, en Hij genas ze aldaar.
3 En de Farizeen kwamen tot Hem, verzoekende Hem, en zeggende tot Hem: Is het een mens geoorloofd zijn vrouw te verlaten, om allerlei oorzaak?
4 Doch Hij, antwoordende, zeide tot hen: Hebt gij niet gelezen, Die van den beginne den mens gemaakt heeft, dat Hij ze gemaakt heeft man en vrouw?
5 En gezegd heeft: Daarom zal een mens vader en moeder verlaten, en zal zijn vrouw aanhangen, en die twee zullen tot een vlees zijn;
6 Alzo dat zij niet meer twee zijn, maar een vlees. Hetgeen dan God samengevoegd heeft, scheide de mens niet.
7 Zij zeiden tot hem: Waarom heeft dan Mozes geboden een scheidbrief te geven en haar te verlaten?
8 Hij zeide tot hen: Mozes heeft vanwege de hardigheid uwer harten u toegelaten uw vrouwen te verlaten; maar van den beginne is het alzo niet geweest.
9 Maar Ik zeg u, dat zo wie zijn vrouw verlaat, anders dan om hoererij, en een andere trouwt, die doet overspel, en die de verlatene trouwt, doet ook overspel.
10 Zijn discipelen zeiden tot Hem: Indien de zaak des mensen met de vrouw alzo staat, zo is het niet oorbaar te trouwen.
11 Doch Hij zeide tot hen: Allen vatten dit woord niet, maar dien het gegeven is.
12 Want er zijn gesnedenen, die uit moeders lijf alzo geboren zijn; en er zijn gesnedenen, die van de mensen gesneden zijn; en er zijn gesnedenen, die zichzelven gesneden hebben, om het Koninkrijk der hemelen. Die dit vatten kan, vatte het.
13 Toen werden kinderkens tot Hem gebracht, opdat Hij de handen hun zou opleggen en bidden; en de discipelen bestraften dezelve.
14 Maar Jezus zeide: Laat af van de kinderkens, en verhindert hen niet tot Mij te komen; want derzulken is het Koninkrijk der hemelen.
15 En als Hij hun de handen opgelegd had, vertrok Hij van daar.
16 En ziet, er kwam een tot Hem, en zeide tot Hem: Goede Meester! wat zal ik goeds doen, opdat ik het eeuwige leven hebbe?
17 En Hij zeide tot hem: Wat noemt gij Mij goed? Niemand is goed dan Een, namelijk God. Doch wilt gij in het leven ingaan, onderhoud de geboden.
18 Hij zeide tot Hem: Welke? En Jezus zeide: Deze: Gij zult niet doden; gij zult geen overspel doen; gij zult niet stelen; gij zult geen valse getuigenis geven;
19 Eer uw vader en moeder; en: Gij zult uw naaste liefhebben als uzelven.
20 De jongeling zeide tot Hem: Al deze dingen heb ik onderhouden van mijn jonkheid af; wat ontbreekt mij nog?
21 Jezus zeide tot hem: Zo gij wilt volmaakt zijn, ga heen, verkoop wat gij hebt, en geef het den armen, en gij zult een schat hebben in de hemel; en kom herwaarts, volg Mij.
22 Als nu de jongeling dit woord hoorde, ging hij bedroefd weg; want hij had vele goederen.
23 En Jezus zeide tot Zijn discipelen: Voorwaar, Ik zeg u, dat een rijke bezwaarlijk in het Koninkrijk der hemelen zal ingaan.
24 En wederom zeg Ik u: Het is lichter, dat een kemel ga door het oog van een naald, dan dat een rijke inga in het Koninkrijk Gods.
25 Zijn discipelen nu, dit horende, werden zeer verslagen, zeggende: Wie kan dan zalig worden?
26 En Jezus, hen aanziende, zeide tot hen: Bij de mensen is dat onmogelijk, maar bij God zijn alle dingen mogelijk.
27 Toen antwoordde Petrus, en zeide tot Hem: Zie, wij hebben alles verlaten, en zijn U gevolgd, wat zal ons dan geworden?
28 En Jezus zeide tot hen: Voorwaar, Ik zeg u, dat gij, die Mij gevolgd zijt, in de wedergeboorte, wanneer de Zoon des mensen zal gezeten zijn op den troon Zijner heerlijkheid, dat gij ook zult zitten op twaalf tronen, oordelende de twaalf geslachten Israels.
29 En zo wie zal verlaten hebben, huizen, of broeders, of zusters, of vader, of moeder, of vrouw, of kinderen, of akkers, om Mijns Naams wil, die zal honderdvoud ontvangen, en het eeuwige leven beerven.
30 Maar vele eersten zullen de laatsten zijn, en vele laatsten de eersten.

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Mattheüs 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Jesus enters Judea. (1,2) The Pharisees' question about divorces. (3-12) Young children brought to Jesus. (13-15) The rich young man's inquiry. (16-22) The recompence of Christ's followers. (23-30)

Verses 1-2 Great multitudes followed Christ. When Christ departs, it is best for us to follow him. They found him as able and ready to help elsewhere, as he had been in Galilee; wherever the Sun of Righteousness arose, it was with healing in his wings.

Verses 3-12 The Pharisees were desirous of drawing something from Jesus which they might represent as contrary to the law of Moses. Cases about marriage have been numerous, and sometimes perplexed; made so, not by the law of God, but by the lusts and follies of men; and often people fix what they will do, before they ask for advice. Jesus replied by asking whether they had not read the account of the creation, and the first example of marriage; thus pointing out that every departure therefrom was wrong. That condition is best for us, and to be chosen and kept to accordingly, which is best for our souls, and tends most to prepare us for, and preserve us to, the kingdom of heaven. When the gospel is really embraced, it makes men kind relatives and faithful friends; it teaches them to bear the burdens, and to bear with the infirmities of those with whom they are connected, to consider their peace and happiness more than their own. As to ungodly persons, it is proper that they should be restrained by laws, from breaking the peace of society. And we learn that the married state should be entered upon with great seriousness and earnest prayer.

Verses 13-15 It is well when we come to Christ ourselves, and bring our children. Little children may be brought to Christ as needing, and being capable of receiving blessings from him, and having an interest in his intercession. We can but beg a blessing for them: Christ only can command the blessing. It is well for us, that Christ has more love and tenderness in him than the best of his disciples have. And let us learn of him not to discountenance any willing, well-meaning souls, in their seeking after Christ, though they are but weak. Those who are given to Christ, as part of his purchase, he will in no wise cast out. Therefore he takes it ill of all who forbid, and try to shut out those whom he has received. And all Christians should bring their children to the Saviour that he may bless them with spiritual blessings.

Verses 16-22 Christ knew that covetousness was the sin which most easily beset this young man; though he had got honestly what he possessed, yet he could not cheerfully part with it, and by this his want of sincerity was shown. Christ's promises make his precepts easy, and his yoke pleasant and very comfortable; yet this promise was as much a trial of the young man's faith, as the precept was of his charity and contempt of the world. It is required of us in following Christ, that we duly attend his ordinances, strictly follow his pattern, and cheerfully submit to his disposals; and this from love to him, and in dependence on him. To sell all, and give to the poor, will not serve, but we are to follow Christ. The gospel is the only remedy for lost sinners. Many abstain from gross vices who do not attend to their obligations to God. Thousands of instances of disobedience in thought, word, and deed, are marked against them in the book of God. Thus numbers forsake Christ, loving this present world: they feel convictions and desires, but they depart sorrowful, perhaps trembling. It behoves us to try ourselves in these matters, for the Lord will try us.

Verses 23-30 Though Christ spoke so strongly, few that have riches do not trust in them. How few that are poor are not tempted to envy! But men's earnestness in this matter is like their toiling to build a high wall to shut themselves and their children out of heaven. It should be satisfaction to those who are in a low condition, that they are not exposed to the temptations of a high and prosperous condition. If they live more hardly in this world than the rich, yet, if they get more easily to a better world, they have no reason to complain. Christ's words show that it is hard for a rich man to be a good Christian, and to be saved. The way to heaven is a narrow way to all, and the gate that leads into it, a strait gate; particularly so to rich people. More duties are expected from them than from others, and more sins easily beset them. It is hard not to be charmed with a smiling world. Rich people have a great account to make up for their opportunities above others. It is utterly impossible for a man that sets his heart upon his riches, to get to heaven. Christ used an expression, denoting a difficulty altogether unconquerable by the power of man. Nothing less than the almighty grace of God will enable a rich man to get over this difficulty. Who then can be saved? If riches hinder rich people, are not pride and sinful lusts found in those not rich, and as dangerous to them? Who can be saved? say the disciples. None, saith Christ, by any created power. The beginning, progress, and perfecting the work of salvation, depend wholly on the almighty power of God, to which all things are possible. Not that rich people can be saved in their worldliness, but that they should be saved from it. Peter said, We have forsaken all. Alas! it was but a poor all, only a few boats and nets; yet observe how Peter speaks, as if it had been some mighty thing. We are too apt to make the most of our services and sufferings, our expenses and losses, for Christ. However, Christ does not upbraid them; though it was but little that they had forsaken, yet it was their all, and as dear to them as if it had been more. Christ took it kindly that they left it to follow him; he accepts according to what a man hath. Our Lord's promise to the apostles is, that when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, he will make all things new, and they shall sit with him in judgement on those who will be judged according to their doctrine. This sets forth the honour, dignity, and authority of their office and ministry. Our Lord added, that every one who had forsaken possessions or comforts, for his sake and the gospel, would be recompensed at last. May God give us faith to rest our hope on this his promise; then we shall be ready for every service or sacrifice. Our Saviour, in the last verse, does away a mistake of some. The heavenly inheritance is not given as earthly ones are, but according to God's pleasure. Let us not trust in promising appearances or outward profession. Others may, for aught we know, become eminent in faith and holiness.

Mattheüs 19 Commentaries

The Dutch Staten Vertaling translation is in the public domain.