What Jesus said about Singleness & Faithfulness

Jesus on singleness and faithfulness: those who stay unmarried for the kingdom of heaven’s sake, and why He said not all can receive this saying.

1. What God has joined together in marriage, humans should not separate.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9

   King James Version

   Matthew 19:6

   ⁶Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

   Mark 10:9

   ⁹What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

2. Lustful looking can constitute adultery of the heart.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 5:27–28

   King James Version

   Matthew 5:27–28

   ²⁷Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

   ²⁸But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

3. Divorce is not a morally neutral escape from marital fidelity.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 5:31–32; 19:3–9; Mark 10:2–12; Luke 16:18

   King James Version

   Matthew 5:31–32

   ³¹It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

   ³²But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

   Matthew 19:3–9

   ³The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

   ⁴And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

   ⁵And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

   ⁶Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

   ⁷They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

   ⁸He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

   ⁹And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

   Mark 10:2–12

   ²And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

   ³And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

   ⁴And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

   ⁵And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

   ⁶But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

   ⁷For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

   ⁸And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

   ⁹What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

   ¹⁰And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.

   ¹¹And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

   ¹²And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

   Luke 16:18

   ¹⁸Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

4. Some remain unmarried for the sake of the kingdom.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 19:10–12

   King James Version

   Matthew 19:10–12

   ¹⁰His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

   ¹¹But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

   ¹²For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

5. Celibacy for the kingdom is a calling for those able to receive it.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 19:11–12

   King James Version

   Matthew 19:11–12

   ¹¹But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

   ¹²For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.