A
reflection on Matthew, Chapter 19
Before
we even start reflecting on the beginning of Matthew, chapter 19, I'd
like to remind everybody about the importance of knowing WHO Yeshua
is. A lot of people might object : « we already know, He
is our Lord and Savior, and this is all we need to know. »
Many people do have a very vague and distorted knowledge of Scriptures.
Does
it matter that Yeshua was born of a Jewish lady, in the town of
Bethlehem (Beth Lehem) , in Israel ?
In these times, a lot people think that, Yeshua being raised a Jew and in obedience of Torah are details of little importance... Let me tell you: yes, these elements DO matter-and
even more than you could think.
Yeshua's
whole sentences are the way of reasoning of a rabbi. Yeshua has
nothing to do with Christianity, Greek thinking and Western
philosophy. He is a Jewish man explaining the Torah. Once you fully
accept this mere evidence, it will be easy to do away with the
craziest theories circulating all over the internet about the
specific verse regarding eunuchs in Matthew 19:12.
Another
point that one needs to consider is that Yeshua our Messiah
encourages people to think pure thoughts and to keep purity in their
bodies. He is not complacent with sexual relations out of marriage.
His compassion is often mistaken for complacence towards fornication
and other sins.
Most
people have in mind that Yeshua is a teacher, because it says, in
most translations, « rabbi, which means teacher ».
The
translation is not wrong, it is very incomplete and taken out of
context, it can lead people to the greatest misunderstandings.
Not
only is Yeshua our Messiah a practicing Jew, He is a rabbi.
What
is a rabbi ? A maths or languages teacher ? Not at all. A
rabbi is a teacher of Torah. Yeshua's very field of specialization is
the Torah and one must understand that each statement that He made is
made in total adhesion and coherence with the Torah. None of Yeshua's
statements will ever nullify the Torah.
So
now we have a starting point to reflect on Matthew 19 in a proper
manner.
The
committment of marriage : a reminder of Sefer Bereshit, the Book
of Genesis.
The
discussion we are witnessing in Matthew 19 is, once again ( unlike
many opinions), a rabbinic discussion
between Yeshua and the P'rushim ( the Pharisees).
Starting
from Matthew 19:3 and ending on Matthew 19:12, Yeshua is giving His
disciples ( talmidim) very precise directions to follow. These
precisions are not based on new principles. Yeshua is making clear
references to the Torah.
(
Anybody arguing that Yeshua started a new religion called
« Christianity » based on new, revolutionary principles
is fooling himself. This is untrue. Stay away from such statements,
because they are based on lies from ignorant people.)
During
this discussion, marriage and celibacy will be opposed as two
different ways of serving the Kingdom of Heaven. Both require
committment from the disciple.
In
verse 4, Yeshua responds to the Pharisees : « Haven't you
read that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and
that He said, « for this reason a man should leave his father
and mother and be united with his wife, and the two are to become one
flesh ? » (Genesis 2:24)
Yeshua
quotes Sefer Bereshit (Genesis), chapter 2, verse 24, then adds :
« Thus they are no longer two, but one. So no one should split
apart what God has joined together. »
This
statement shows how much Yeshua takes the bond of marriage between a
man and a woman very seriously.
The
Pharisees are trying to trap our rabbi with the act of divorce
instituted by Moshe, but Yeshua proves them that it is only because
of their heardened hearts that the act of divorce actually exists.
Our Lord is making a
logical exception for prostitution cases.
Yeshua's
statements are not always making His disciples feeling comfortable.
Actually, this is not their purpose.
Once
two people are getting married, their engagement is permanent. The
talmidim are reacting to Yeshua's words : « If that is how
things are between husband and wife, it would be better not to
marry. »
Therefore,
people should know exactly about their calling. This is also why
people should ask Yeshua to show them about His plan for their lives
and the mission they should be involved in : some people are
meant to work for the Lord with a partner, while some others are kept
in a purity and committed to celibacy.
Eunuchs
for the Kingdom of God : walking in purity
In
front of His disciples reaction, Yeshua symbolically speaks about
eunuchs. One has to understand that even when spoken literally of
them eunuchs (סָרִיס
)
are castrate males, not homosexuals. In no way, Yeshua's
argumentation is an advocacy of homosexual relationships or
homosexual marriage.
Let
us examine Yeshua's statements at the light of the Complete Jewish
Bible which renders Yeshua's argumentation in the following words :
"For
there are different reasons why men do not marry — some because
they were born without the desire, some because they have been
castrated, and some because they have renounced marriage for the sake
of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever can grasp this, let him do so."
The
first category of men were born without the desire ( in no way they
are homosexuals, they are defined as deprived of desire). The second
category refers to the persons who had become castrates, often to
serve kings at foreign courts. The Bible makes frequent mentions of
castrates.
The
third category is a clear allusion to people who made themselves (
some person had the nerve to write an article in order to prove that
Yeshua wanted people to emasculate themselves, totally missing out
the very meaning of this verse.) genderless for the superiority of
the Kingdom.
If
Yeshua's calling is very strong, one will understand that his/her
degree of committment to the affairs of the kingdom of Heaven are
much higher than married life.
I
do believe that some females also belong into this category. Some
people have been chosen since their mother's womb to walk in purity.
Yeshua
walked the earth as a rabbi. However, unlike most rabbis, He did not
marry. He was consecrated to our Father and led a whole life of
purity. Nowadays, people are so much corrupt into sin that they
barely picture a person living without having intercourse with
another person. Our Messiah has kept pure, all His life. He is our
model by excellence on how we should behave if we are called to a
life of celibacy.
May
Yeshua our Messiah guide us all according our specific calling. May
He enlighten our paths and help us to walk righteousness, no matter
if we are married or single. Amen.
Copyright©
by Isabelle Esling