Matthew 19:11

11 "It is not every man," He replied, "who can receive this teaching, but only those on whom the grace has been bestowed.

Matthew 19:11 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 19:11

But he said unto them
With respect to the inference or conclusion, the disciples formed from what he had asserted:

all men cannot receive this saying;
of their's, that it is not good to marry, but it is more proper and expedient to live a single life! every man, as the Syriac version renders it, is not (hl qpo) , "sufficient", or "fit", for this thing; everyone has not the gift of continency, and indeed very few; and therefore it is expedient for such to marry; for what the disciples said, though it might be true in part, yet not in the whole; and though the saying might be proper and pertinent enough to some persons, yet not to all, and indeed to none,

save they to whom it is given;
to receive such a saying, to live unmarried with content, having the gift of chastity; for this is not of nature, but of grace: it is the gift of God.

Matthew 19:11 In-Context

9 And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery."

10 "If this is the case with a man in relation to his wife," said the disciples to Him, "it is better not to marry."

11 "It is not every man," He replied, "who can receive this teaching, but only those on whom the grace has been bestowed.

12 There are men who from their birth have been disabled from marriage, others who have been so disabled by men, and others who have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of the Heavens. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."

13 Then young children were brought to Him for Him to put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples interfered.