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Wednesday, July 16th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Matthew 19:11

But Jesus said, "Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn't for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you're capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Celibacy;   Divorce;   Jesus, the Christ;   Scofield Reference Index - Kingdom;   The Topic Concordance - Eunuchs;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Divorce;   Homosexuality;   Marriage;   Woman;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Essenes;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abstinence;   Celibacy (2);   Discourse;   Divorce (2);   Gospel (2);   Marriage;   Poet;   Wealth (2);   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Pharisees;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Divorce in New Testament;   Family;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ascetics;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He responded, “Not everyone can accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given.
King James Version (1611)
But hee said vnto them, All men cannot receiue this saying, saue they to whom it is giuen.
King James Version
But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
English Standard Version
But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
New American Standard Bible
But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given.
New Century Version
Jesus answered, "Not everyone can accept this teaching, but God has made some able to accept it.
Amplified Bible
But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom [the capacity to receive] it has been given.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But he sayd vnto them, All men cannot receiue this thing, saue they to whom it is giuen.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given.
Legacy Standard Bible
But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given.
Berean Standard Bible
"Not everyone can accept this word," He replied, "but only those to whom it has been given.
Contemporary English Version
Jesus told them, "Only those people who have been given the gift of staying single can accept this teaching.
Complete Jewish Bible
He said to them, "Not everyone grasps this teaching, only those for whom it is meant.
Darby Translation
And he said to them, All cannot receive this word, but those to whom it has been given;
Easy-to-Read Version
He answered, "This statement is true for some, but not for everyone—only for those who have been given this gift.
George Lamsa Translation
He said to them, This saying does not apply to every man, but to whom it is needed.
Good News Translation
Jesus answered, "This teaching does not apply to everyone, but only to those to whom God has given it.
Lexham English Bible
But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this saying but those to whom it has been given.
Literal Translation
But He said to them, Not all make room for this Word, but those to whom it is given.
American Standard Version
But he said unto them, Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.
Bible in Basic English
But he said to them, Not all men are able to take in this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
Hebrew Names Version
But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
International Standard Version
But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this saying, except those to whom celibacyit
">[fn] has been granted.1 Corinthians 7:2,7, 9,17;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But he said to them, Not every man is sufficient for this doctrine, but he to whom it is given.
Murdock Translation
But he said to them: Not every one is capable of that thing, but he only to whom it is given.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He sayde vnto them: all men can not receaue this saying, saue they to whom it is geuen.
English Revised Version
But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.
World English Bible
But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But he said to them, All men cannot receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.
Weymouth's New Testament
"It is not every man," He replied, "who can receive this teaching, but only those on whom the grace has been bestowed.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to hem, Not alle men taken this word; but to whiche it is youun.
Update Bible Version
But he said to them, Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.
Webster's Bible Translation
But he said to them, All [men] cannot receive this saying, save [they] to whom it is given.
New English Translation
He said to them, "Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given.
New King James Version
But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:
New Living Translation
"Not everyone can accept this statement," Jesus said. "Only those whom God helps.
New Life Bible
But Jesus said to them, "Not all men are able to do this, but only those to whom it has been given.
New Revised Standard
But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, he, said unto them - Not all, find room for he word, save they to whom it hath been given;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given.
Revised Standard Version
But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He sayde vnto them: all me can not awaye with that sayinge save they to whom it is geve.
Young's Literal Translation
And he said to them, `All do not receive this word, but those to whom it hath been given;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But he sayde vnto them: All me can not coprehende yt sayenge, saue they to who it is geue.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but he reply'd, 'tis not everyman can live single, but only such as have the gift of continency.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus replied, "Not every cowboy can live up to the Boss's standards on marriage.

Contextual Overview

3 One day the Pharisees were badgering him: "Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" 4He answered, "Haven't you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father and mother and is firmly bonded to his wife, becoming one flesh—no longer two bodies but one. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart." 7 They shot back in rebuttal, "If that's so, why did Moses give instructions for divorce papers and divorce procedures?" 8Jesus said, "Moses provided for divorce as a concession to your hard heartedness, but it is not part of God's original plan. I'm holding you to the original plan, and holding you liable for adultery if you divorce your faithful wife and then marry someone else. I make an exception in cases where the spouse has committed adultery." 10 Jesus' disciples objected, "If those are the terms of marriage, we're stuck. Why get married?" 11But Jesus said, "Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn't for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you're capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Corinthians 7:7, 1 Corinthians 7:9, 1 Corinthians 7:17, 1 Corinthians 7:35

Reciprocal: 1 Corinthians 7:5 - that Satan

Cross-References

Genesis 19:29
And that's the story: When God destroyed the Cities of the Plain, he was mindful of Abraham and first got Lot out of there before he blasted those cities off the face of the Earth.
2 Kings 6:18
When the Arameans attacked, Elisha prayed to God , "Strike these people blind!" And God struck them blind, just as Elisha said.
Ecclesiastes 10:15
A decent day's work so fatigues fools That they can't find their way back to town.
Jeremiah 2:36
"You think it's just a small thing, don't you, to try out another sin-project when the first one fails? But Egypt will leave you in the lurch the same way that Assyria did. You're going to walk away from there wringing your hands. I, God , have blacklisted those you trusted. You'll get not a lick of help from them."
Acts 13:11
Barnabas, Saul, and Doctor Know-It-All The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers: Barnabas, Simon, nicknamed Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod, Saul. One day as they were worshiping God—they were also fasting as they waited for guidance—the Holy Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do." So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off. Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus. The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God's Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed. They traveled the length of the island, and at Paphos came upon a Jewish wizard who had worked himself into the confidence of the governor, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man not easily taken in by charlatans. The wizard's name was Bar-Jesus. He was as crooked as a corkscrew. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul in, wanting to hear God's Word firsthand from them. But Dr. Know-It-All (that's the wizard's name in plain English) stirred up a ruckus, trying to divert the governor from becoming a believer. But Saul (or Paul), full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye, said, "You bag of wind, you parody of a devil—why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God. But now you've come up against God himself, and your game is up. You're about to go blind—no sunlight for you for a good long stretch." He was plunged immediately into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand and show him the way.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But he said unto them,.... With respect to the inference or conclusion, the disciples formed from what he had asserted:

all men cannot receive this saying; of their's, that it is not good to marry, but it is more proper and expedient to live a single life! every man, as the Syriac version renders it, is not ספק לה, "sufficient", or "fit", for this thing; everyone has not the gift of continency, and indeed very few; and therefore it is expedient for such to marry; for what the disciples said, though it might be true in part, yet not in the whole; and though the saying might be proper and pertinent enough to some persons, yet not to all, and indeed to none,

save they to whom it is given; to receive such a saying, to live unmarried with content, having the gift of chastity; for this is not of nature, but of grace: it is the gift of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

All men cannot receive this saying - The minds of people are not prepared for this. This saying evidently means what the disciples had just said that it was good for a man not to marry. It might be good in certain circumstances - in times of persecution and trial, or for the sake of laboring in the cause of religion without the care and burden of a family. It might be good for many to live, as some of the apostles did, without marriage, but it was not given to all people, 1Co 7:1, 1 Corinthians 7:7,1 Corinthians 7:9. To be married, or unmarried, might be lawful, according to circumstances, 1 Corinthians 7:26.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 19:11. All - cannot receive this saying — A very wise answer, and well suited to the present circumstances of the disciples. Neither of the states is condemned. If thou marry, thou dost well-this is according to the order, will, and commandment of God. But if thou do not marry, (because of the present necessity, persecution, worldly embarrassments, or bodily infirmity,) thou dost better. See 1 Corinthians 7:25.


 
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