No, for Jesus’ command to Let the one who is able to receive this receive it
(Matthew 19:12) does not distinguish between those who are married and those who can stay unmarried. If it did, that would link Matthew 19:12 with Matthew 19:9 by way of the unmarried disciples. Then the unmarried would be an ideal example for those who are married and must stay married, even in a hard situation. A related expression appears in John 8:37, where Jesus says that his word finds no place in you
(ou chōrei en hymin). The verb in that verse (chōrein) is also in Matthew 19:11, also linked to Jesus’ teaching. Not all make room for his word, in either heart or life, but only those to whom it is given.
On his own, a person cannot live by Jesus’ teaching on divorce, but can only do so in confessing Jesus as greater than Moses. And no one accepts Jesus unless it has been given to him by the Father (see Matthew 11:25–27; Matthew 13:11–12). Matthew 19:12 shows that the ability to live out Jesus’ saying depends on devotion to the kingdom. Only for the sake of the kingdom of heaven
will people make room for his word in their lives. But when God grants the mysteries of the kingdom to someone’s heart, so that he can obey Jesus’ word by the Spirit’s power, then he is also obligated to do so, so Jesus says that whoever is able to make room for it must do so. Matthew 19:12 thus explains Matthew 19:11b: There are some to whom it has been given to make room for Jesus’ command in their lives, and through God’s grace they are thus obliged to do so. Matthew 19:12 thus does not distinguish between different groups within the circle of the disciples (married versus unmarried), but between believers and unbelievers. From an earthly perspective (Matthew 19:10), Jesus’ teaching concerning the certificate of divorce seems unrealistically demanding, but all who let themselves be called into God’s coming kingdom receive a new perspective, and with it, a new command. For those who believe in Christ, steadfast marital fidelity is no longer a hopeless cause.
No, for Jesus’ statement that the one who is able to receive this receive it
(Matthew 19:12) is not intended to distinguish between those who are married and those who can remain unmarried. If it did, then these words would link Matthew 19:12 with Matthew 19:9 by way of the unmarried disciples. In that case, the few unmarried ones would serve as an ideal, an example, and an encouragement for those who are married and must remain married, even in difficult circumstances.
A related expression also appears in John 8:37, where Jesus says that his word finds no place in you
(ou chōrei en hymin). The verb used in that verse—chōrein—also appears here in Matthew 19:11, and here too it stands in connection with a teaching by the Saviour. Not all make room for his word—in their hearts or in their lives—but only those to whom it is given.
On his own, a person cannot accept Jesus’ teaching on divorce as the guiding principle for his life. Doing so is only possible when one acknowledges Jesus as greater than Moses. And no one accepts Jesus unless it has been given to him by the Father (see Matthew 11:25–27; Matthew 13:11–12). Matthew 19:12 makes clear that the ability to receive and internalize Jesus’ saying depends entirely on devotion to the kingdom of heaven.
Only for the sake of the kingdom of heaven
will people make room for his word in their lives. But when God grants the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to someone’s heart—so that he can receive and obey Jesus’ word by the power of the Spirit—then he is also obligated to do so. Jesus therefore says that whoever is able to make room for it must do so. In this way, Matthew 19:12 supplies the explanation of Matthew 19:11b: There truly are people to whom it has been given to make room for Jesus’ command in their lives, and through God’s grace they are therefore obliged to do so.
Matthew 19:12 therefore does not distinguish between different groups within the circle of the disciples (married versus unmarried), but between believers and unbelievers. From an earthly perspective (Matthew 19:10), Jesus’ teaching concerning the certificate of divorce may appear hopeless and impossibly demanding, but those who allow themselves to be called into God’s coming kingdom receive a new perspective—and with it, a new command. For those who believe in Christ, steadfast marital fidelity is no longer a hopeless cause.1
11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.