Marriage, Divorce, Singleness & Inheriting the Kingdom — August 6 [Description]Overview of the Passages (Matthew 19:3-15, Mark 10:2-16, Luke 18:15-17):These three Gospel accounts center around two main interactions:Jesus on Marriage and Divorce, andJesus Welcoming Children.1. Marriage and Divorce (Matthew 19:3-9, Mark 10:2-12):The Pharisees test Jesus by asking if it’s lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. Jesus responds by pointing back to God’s original design for marriage in Genesis: one man and one woman joined as one flesh for life. He emphasizes that divorce was permitted by Moses only because of people’s hard hearts, not because it was God’s will. Jesus raises the bar, making it clear that faithfulness in marriage reflects God’s covenant love.2. Singleness and Devotion (Matthew 19:10-12):Jesus then mentions that some choose not to marry ("eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom"), highlighting that singleness can also be a high calling for those devoted to God’s mission.3. Jesus Blesses the Children (Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17):People bring children to Jesus, but the disciples push them away. Jesus corrects them sharply, saying the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children. He embraces the kids, blesses them, and says that unless someone receives God’s Kingdom like a child—with trust, humility, and openness—they won’t enter it at all.Big Picture Takeaway:Jesus isn’t just giving rules—He’s revealing God’s heart. Whether you’re navigating relationships, singleness, or just trying to find your place in faith, Jesus invites us to pursue commitment, reject cynicism, and embrace a childlike trust in God’s love.

Bible discovery

Matthew 19:3-15365D 218.1

3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”365D 218.2

4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who ^{[a]NU created} made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’365D 218.3

5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?365D 218.4

6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”365D 218.5

7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”365D 218.6

8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.365D 218.7

9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for ^{[b]Or fornication} sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”365D 218.8

10 His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”365D 218.9

11 But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:365D 218.10

12 For there are ^{[c]Emasculated men} eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”365D 218.11

13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.365D 218.12

14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”365D 218.13

15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.365D 218.14

Mark 10:2-16365D 218.15

2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him.365D 218.16

3 And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”365D 218.17

4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her. ”365D 218.18

5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this ^[a]command precept.365D 218.19

6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’365D 218.20

7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,365D 218.21

8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.365D 218.22

9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”365D 218.23

10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter.365D 218.24

11 So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.365D 218.25

12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”365D 218.26

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.365D 218.27

14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.365D 218.28

15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”365D 218.29

16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.365D 218.30

Luke 18:15-17365D 218.31

15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.365D 218.32

16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.365D 218.33

17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”365D 218.34