Matthew 19:11
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: Matthew 19:11
“And He said to them, ‘Not all, they contain this word, but whom it has been given.’” (CG)
In the previous verse, the disciples responded to Jesus’ words about marriage and divorce, saying that because of what He said, it is better not to marry. Having heard that, Matthew records, “And He said to them, ‘Not all, they contain this word.’”
The question arises: Is Jesus referring to His own words concerning marriage, or is He referencing the response by the disciples? His continued words through the next verse will show that it is in response to what the disciples said –
Disciples: “If it is this, the case of the man with the wife, it conduces not to marry.”
Jesus: “Not all, they contain this word.”
Of this, the Pulpit Commentary rightly states that Jesus “endorses these words in a different signification from theirs. Their objection to marrying arose from the impossibility of putting away a wife for any cause. Christ passes over these ignoble scruples and enunciates the only principle which should lead a man to abstain from marriage.”
In other words, Jesus is going to explain that there is a certain condition where not getting married is to be expected. Beyond that, marriage is the standard which is set for human existence. Despite all of its baggage and many setbacks, it is the normal, anticipated, and expected path for humans to follow. Understanding this, the following words introduce the matter concerning who is anticipated not to get married, saying, “but whom it has been given.”
Said differently, “Marriage is God’s plan for humanity, but it must be adhered to according to God’s expectation for marriage. It is a difficult but proper path to follow. However, there is an exception to this expectation for a particular category, they are...” From this point, Jesus will explain those who are the exception.
Life application: The point of this interaction between Jesus and the disciples, and the substance behind it, is that marriage is the proper avenue for humanity. In Genesis 1, the six days of creation are detailed. At the end of day 6, it said –
“And He saw, God, all which He made. And behold! Good, vehemently. And it was, evening, and it was, morning – Day, the sixth.” Genesis 1:31
Everything was good at the end of the sixth day of creation. From there, Genesis 2:4-25 is given as an insert to the portion of the sixth day concerning the creation of man. The Lord created the man, he was then placed in the garden, and he was given a command not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Right after that, it said, “And He said, Yehovah God, ‘Not good, being the human to his separation. I will make to him ‘helper, according to counterpart’.’” Genesis 2:18 (CG). During the sixth day of creation, there was something not good, a lack, which needed to be rectified.
To reveal this, the animals and birds were brought forward to be named by Adam. With that accomplished, it said, “And to Adam, not he found ‘helper, according to counterpart’.” Genesis 2:20 (CG). Adam could see there were male and female creatures, but he was alone in his kind.
With that understanding, the Lord put the man into a deep sleep, fashioned the woman from his side, and she was presented to him. At that time, Adam made his proclamation concerning the woman. Genesis 2 says –
“‘And he said, the man –
“This the beat:
Bone, from my bones,
And flesh, from my flesh.
To this, it will be called ‘Woman.’
For from man, she was taken – this.”’
24Upon thus, he will relinquish, man, his father and his mother, and he impinged* in his wife. And they were to flesh – one.” Genesis 2:23, 24 (CG).
With this completed, the words of Genesis 1:31 are properly understood, “And He saw, God, all which He made. And behold! Good, vehemently.” Only after the creation of woman for man and the acknowledgement that they were fashioned for one another was the sixth day considered good. It is the expected norm for humanity since that time for humans to marry and continue the species accordingly. To not do so is considered the exception.
A logical question for those who insist on long-term creation arises from this thought. “If man is created, not having evolved, and if everything was good at the end of the sixth day, but it was not good during the sixth day, then how can that be reconciled with a long-term creation?” It cannot.
Either the record of man’s creation in one day is true, following the pattern from the other single days of creation, or 1) the account of man’s creation is false, or 2) the record of the Genesis 1 account (regardless of how long it actually was) is false, or 3) the entire Genesis creation account is false. Everything hinges on six literal days of creation, with man having been created in one day on the sixth day.
One cannot have things both ways. Either God’s word stands and is true and reliable, or it is not. If Genesis 1 and 2 are merely allegorical, then Jesus’ words about marriage hold no significance. If this is true, then the Christian message concerning moral issues has no validity at all.
Think things through! Don’t be so foolish as to think you can outsmart God. We all must stand before Him and give an account of our lives and doctrine. Accept the word as it is written. It is truth.
Lord God, thank You for the rite of marriage that has existed since the first man on earth. Thank You that even though we fail one another at times, this is the beautiful course of life You have set forth for us. Help us to be faithfully faithful to one another as we live in Your presence. Amen.
