Articles
For The Kingdom Of Heaven’s Sake
What would you give up in your life so you could spend eternity in heaven? What about giving up a wife or husband? What about remaining unmarried if necessary? Would you be willing to make that kind of sacrifice? Many today refuse to do so, even “for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.”
But Jesus tells us that some are willing to do so. “For there are 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” (Matt. 19:12).
In this immediate context, the Lord had been addressing the subject of marriage and divorce. He taught that from the very beginning God made them male and female. God joins a man and woman together in the marriage relationship. And this union is to be permanent (Matt. 19:4-6).
The Lord gave one exception for a marriage to end. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matt. 19:9). Marriage is for life with only ONE exception! And even then, only the innocent spouse has the right to put away the adulterer and remarry.
If a person cannot abide by that marriage law, then do not get married “for the kingdom of heaven’s sake” (Matt. 19:11-12). If after learning and understanding the Lord’s teaching concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage – you recognize your marriage is unscriptural (adulterous), then end the marriage “for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.” If you have been married, but unscripturally divorced, and were considering remarriage, then be willing to make yourself a eunuch “for the kingdom of heaven’s sake” (i.e., remain unmarried).
How sad it is that many today, just like God’s people in the days of Moses, harden their hearts towards the divine law on marriage (Matt. 19:7-8). They divorce and remarry at will, refusing to hear God’s words, following the dictates of their evil hearts (Jer. 7:24).
How sad that they do not soberly consider the brevity of this life, in view of eternity in heaven or hell. How sad that they do not consider that if they continue to sow to the flesh, they will reap corruption (Gal. 6:7-8). Trust the Lord. Giving up a spouse or whatever else, is well worth it “for the kingdom of heaven’s sake”!
