What is the difference between those who are eunuchs from birth, those made eunuchs by men, and those who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven?
Jesus says that some are born as eunuchs, in the sense of never experiencing sexual desire. Others became this way because of, for example, castration. In the ancient Near East these people were a special class of citizens (like the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26–40). Both cases refer to unusual situations, but there are also some who are spiritual
eunuchs, made that way by God: being called to subordinate sexual desire completely to their spiritual lives, perhaps even forgoing married life to devote themselves to the kingdom (like Paul, for example, in 1 Corinthians 7:7). It is thus clear that the term eunuch
in Matthew 19:11–12 does not just mean one who refrains from marriage. Some eunuchs did marry, even though such marriages remained incomplete. The reference is not to one’s civil status but to giving up sexual relations with a woman and the begetting of children. Thus it may be that, in stressing the sanctity of marriage and the abolition of the certificate of divorce, Jesus used a proverb to show that eunuchs also play a role. This proverb about eunuchs also links to the ban on divorce (Matthew 19:9), even when a marriage does not lead to earthly fulfilment, but it can also link to the call not to remarry after a divorce, even if that causes an unfulfilled earthly life. And finally, it may show that it is better to stay unmarried for the kingdom.
Jesus says that some are born as eunuchs in the sense of being handicapped from birth to such an extent that they never experience any sexual desire. Others became this way because of human interventions, for example, by means of castration. In the ancient Near East these people constituted a special class of citizens (see, for example, the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26–40). Both these cases refer to exceptional circumstances. In the third place there are also people who are eunuchs in the spiritual sense. These are people who have not been made eunuchs by men but by the Lord himself in the sense that they have been called by the Lord to subordinate sexual desire completely to their spiritual lives, and in some cases even have to forgo married life completely so as to devote themselves to the kingdom of God (like Paul, for example, in 1 Corinthians 7:7).1
It is therefore clear that the term eunuch
here in Matthew 19:11–12 does not refer exclusively to someone who refrains from marriage. Eunuchs sometimes did marry, even though such marriages remained incomplete. The reference here is not to one’s civil status but to abstaining from sexual relations with a woman and the begetting of children. It is therefore quite possible that, in summarizing the sanctity of marriage and the abolition of the certificate of divorce, Jesus expressed a proverb to show that eunuchs also play a role.
In this way the proverb about eunuchs can also be linked to the preceding command not to divorce (Matthew 19:9)—even when a marriage does not lead to earthly fulfilment. But it can equally be connected to the call not to remarry following a divorce—even if that results in an unfulfilled life on earth. And finally, it may serve to support the idea that it is better to remain unmarried for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.2
11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.