Geneva Study Bible And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he {a} departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
(a) Passed over the water out of Galilee into the borders of Judea. And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? {1} The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to {b} put away his wife for every cause?
(1) The band of marriage ought not to be broken, unless it is because of fornication. (b) To send her a bill of divorce; see Mt 1:19. And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall {c} cleave to his wife: and they {d} twain shall be one flesh?
(c) The Greek word conveys to be glued unto, by which it signifies the union by marriage, which is between man and wife, as though they were glued together. (d) They who were two become one as it were: and this word flesh is figuratively taken for the whole man, or the body, after the manner of the Hebrews. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath {e} joined together, let not man put asunder.
(e) Has made them yokefellows, as the marriage itself is called a yoke, by a borrowed kind of speech. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? {2} They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
(2) Because political laws are adjusted to allow some things, it does not follow that God therefore approves of them. He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. He saith unto them, Moses {f} because of the hardness of your hearts {g} suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
(f) Being brought about because of the hardness of your hearts. (g) By a political law, not by the moral law: for the moral law is a perpetual law of God's justice; the other bows and bends as the carpenter's bevel. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be {h} for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
(h) Therefore in these days the laws that were made against adulterers were not regarded: for they would have no need of divorce, if the marriage had been severed by punishment of death. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. His disciples say unto him, If the {i} case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
(i) If the matter stands in this way between man and wife, or in marriage. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. {3} But he said unto them, All men cannot {k} receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
(3) The gift of celibacy is peculiar, and therefore no man can set a law to himself of perpetual celibacy. (k) Receive and admit, as by translation we say, that a straight and narrow place is not able to receive many things. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. For there are some {l} eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have {m} made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
(l) A man can become a eunuch in one of two ways: the first is by castration or emasculation, and the other by natural causes, such as a rupture. (m) Who abstain from marriage, and live as celibates through the gift of God. Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. {4} Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
(4) The elect infants and little children are contained in the free covenant of God. (Ed.) But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? {5} And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
(5) Those who seek to be saved by the law do not even know the law themselves. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. Jesus said unto him, If {n} thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
(n) The young man did not answer truly in saying that he had kept all the commandments: and therefore Christ sets forth an example of true charity before him, to show the disease that lay lurking in his mind. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. {6} Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(6) Rich men have need of a singular gift of God to escape out of the snares of Satan. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And again I say unto you, It is {o} easier for a {p} camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
(o) Literally, it is of less labour. (p) Theophylact notes, that by this word is meant a cable rope, but Caninius alleges out of the Talmuds that it is a proverb, and the word Camel signifies the beast itself. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. {7} And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the {q} regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(7) It is not lost, that is neglected for God's sake. (q) The regeneration is understood to mean that day when the elect will begin to live a new life, that is to say, when they will enjoy the heavenly inheritance, both in body and soul. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. {8} But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (8) To have begun well, and not to continue unto the end, is not only unprofitable, but also hurts very much. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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