matthew 19

Read Matthew 19 at Bible Gateway.

Mat 19 outline:

Mat 19:1-2, Great multitudes followed Him and He healed them
Mat 19:3-12, Jesus teaches on divorce and marriage
Mat 19:13-15, Jesus blesses the little children
Mat 19:16-22, Jesus and the rich young ruler
Mat 19:23-26, All things are possible with God
Mat 19:27-30, The reward of His disciples who have followed Him

Mat 19 chiastic structure:

1a) Mat 19:1-2, Great multitudes followed Him;

1b) Mat 19:3-12, Marriage and the kingdom;

1) Mat 19:3-9, Jesus’ hard teaching on marriage;
2) Mat 19:10, Who then can marry?
3) Mat 19:11-12, Those to whom it is given can accept it;

central axis) Mat 19:13-15, Jesus blesses the little children;

2b) Mat 19:16-26, Riches and the kingdom;

1) Mat 19:16-24, Jesus’ hard teaching on riches;
2) Mat 19:25, Who then can be saved?
3) Mat 19:26, With God it is possible (those to whom it is given can accept it);

2a) Mat 19:27-30, His disciples who have followed Him.

There is a larger structure with Mat 18:

Mat 18:1-19:17 chiastic structure:

1a) Mat 18:1-14, Entering the kingdom: become as little children + lost and found;

1) Mat 18:1-10, Become as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven/ do not despise them;
2) Mat 18:11-14, The Son of man has come to save that which was lost/ parable of the lost sheep;

1b) Mat 18:15-35, Hard teaching on forgiveness/ parable of the unforgiving servant;

central axis) Mat 19:1-2, Great multitudes followed Him and He healed them;

2b) Mat 19:3-12, Hard teaching on marriage and divorce;

2a) Mat 19:13-17, Entering the kingdom: of little children + keep the commandments;

1) Mat 19:13-15, Jesus blesses the little children/ of such is the kingdom of heaven;
2) Mat 19:16-17, What good thing may be done to gain eternal life/ keep the commandments;

1a) Mat 19:16a, What good thing may be done;
1b) Mat 19:16b, To gain eternal life;
central axis) Mat 19:17a, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God;”
2b) Mat 19:17b, To gain eternal life;
2a) Mat 19:17c, Keep the commandments.

The repeating theme of this one seems to center around the concept of the hardness of the heart of man.

Hardness of heart causes a man to seek his own greatness and despise the small, weak, and humble (Mat 18:1-10).

Hardness of heart causes us to look at the lost with revulsion rather than compassion (Mat 18:11-14).

Hardness of heart compels one to reject his brother rather than going to his brother when he has sinned and gaining him (Mat 18:15-17).

Hardness of heart prevents one from coming into agreement with the brethren (Mat 18:18-20).

Hardness of heart compels one to keep count of sins so that there is a limit to forgiveness (Mat 18:21-22).

Hardness of heart caused the unforgiving servant to demand payment when he himself had been forgiven (Mat 18:23-35).

Hardness of heart causes men to send their wives away (Mat 19:3-12).

Hardness of heart causes men to rebuke children seeking Jesus (Mat 19:13-15).

Does hardness of heart compel a man to seek eternal life by commandment keeping? (Mat 19:16-20).

Hardness of heart compels a man to love his riches more than the poor (Mat 19:21-22).

O, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!