God’s Design Is That We Fully Submit to His Will
Matthew 19 begins with the Pharisees testing Jesus by asking about divorce. Rather than starting with human opinions or cultural practices, Jesus takes them back to God’s original design in creation. He says:
“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’” — Matthew 19:4
Then He continues:
“‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’” — Matthew 19:5
Jesus concludes:
“Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” — Matthew 19:6
Rather than asking, “What is the minimum God allows?”, Jesus points His listeners to the beauty and permanence of God’s original intention. The discussion then broadens beyond marriage. Some would remain unmarried for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Whether married or single, the principle is the same:
God calls His people to submit their lives to His purposes.
This reminds us that God’s design is always wiser and better than human alternatives. Whether in marriage, singleness, family life, or any other area of life, true fulfilment is found not by lowering God’s standards but by trusting His wisdom. Our culture often asks what is permissible, but Jesus continually points us back to what is pleasing to the Father. As we submit ourselves to God’s design, even when it challenges us, we discover that His commands are given not to restrict our joy but to lead us into lives that reflect His goodness and bring Him glory.
The Kingdom Belongs to Those Who Depend Completely on God
People then began bringing little children to Jesus. The disciples tried to stop them. But Jesus said:
“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 19:14
Children brought nothing to impress Jesus. They simply came. Their dependence beautifully illustrates the attitude required to enter God’s Kingdom. Immediately afterwards, Matthew records the account of the rich young ruler. The young man asked:
“Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” — Matthew 19:16
Although he had outwardly kept many commandments, Jesus exposed the one thing still ruling his heart. He said:
“…go, sell what you have and give to the poor… and come, follow Me.” — Matthew 19:21
Matthew tells us:
“But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” — Matthew 19:22
His wealth was not the problem. His unwillingness to surrender it to Christ revealed where his true treasure lay.
This reminds us that entering God’s Kingdom requires humble dependence rather than self-confidence. Like little children, we come to God with empty hands, trusting entirely in His grace. The rich young ruler illustrates that even good morality and sincere religious interest cannot replace wholehearted surrender to Christ. Every one of us should regularly ask what occupies first place in their heart. Jesus lovingly calls us to release anything that competes with Him because He alone is worthy of our complete trust, affection, and obedience.
Following Jesus Always Leads to Eternal Reward
After the rich young ruler left, Jesus said:
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26
Salvation cannot be earned. It is entirely God’s work. Peter then asked:
“See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” — Matthew 19:27
Jesus did not rebuke the question. Instead, He promised that faithful disciples would share in His future Kingdom and receive eternal rewards. He also assured them:
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” — Matthew 19:29
Then Jesus ended with these memorable words:
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” — Matthew 19:30
God’s Kingdom often reverses the values of this world. Those who humbly sacrifice for Christ may appear to lose much now, but they gain infinitely more in eternity.
Here, we are reminded that nothing surrendered for Jesus is ever truly lost. The world often measures success by possessions, status, and personal achievement, but God measures life from the perspective of eternity. Every sacrifice made for Christ is seen by Him and will be rewarded according to His perfect wisdom. Following Jesus may sometimes require costly decisions, yet His promises far outweigh every earthly loss. When our eyes remain fixed upon eternity, we discover that knowing Christ is the greatest treasure we could ever possess and that His rewards are worth every act of faithful obedience.
Deeper Waters
Matthew 19 continues Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem while revealing the radical nature of Kingdom discipleship.
The discussion on marriage points beyond legal debates to God’s original intention in creation. By returning to Genesis, Jesus affirms that marriage is God’s covenant design, established before sin entered the world. Rather than relaxing God’s standard, He calls His followers back to the Creator’s purpose.
The blessing of the little children then provides a striking contrast to the rich young ruler. The children come with nothing to offer except simple trust. The rich young ruler comes with impressive morality and considerable wealth, yet struggles to surrender his heart completely. Together, these accounts reveal that entrance into God’s Kingdom depends not upon human achievement but upon humble dependence on God’s grace.
The encounter with the rich young ruler also exposes the danger of idols. Jesus does not teach that wealth itself is sinful; rather, He reveals that anything placed above Him becomes a barrier to wholehearted discipleship. The young man’s sorrow demonstrates that external obedience cannot compensate for a heart unwilling to yield fully to Christ.
Jesus’ statement:
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26
stands as one of the great declarations of salvation by grace. Human effort can never accomplish what only God can do. Entrance into His Kingdom is entirely the result of His gracious work.
Finally, Jesus’ promise of eternal reward reminds us that discipleship is never futile. While following Christ often involves sacrifice in the present age, those sacrifices must always be viewed in light of eternity. God’s Kingdom consistently overturns worldly definitions of greatness, success, and reward.
Matthew 19 encourages us to: embrace God’s design for every area of life, approach Him with childlike humility, surrender every competing idol to Christ, trust completely in God’s saving grace, and live with eternity as their constant perspective.
Ultimately, Matthew 19 points us to Jesus Christ as the perfect Bridegroom, the gracious Saviour, and the eternal King. He alone fulfilled God’s righteous standard, welcomed the humble, exposed the idols of the heart, and made salvation possible through His grace. He also promises that all who faithfully follow Him will one day share in His everlasting Kingdom. The chapter therefore calls every one of us to hold loosely the things of this world and cling tightly to Christ, for He alone is the treasure that satisfies now and forever.