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Can someone help expain to me Matthew 19:11-12

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Baptist boy, Feb 20, 2012.

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  1. Baptist boy

    Baptist boy New Member

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    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.

    I mainly don't get the part about being a eunch since their's mothers wombs?
     
    #1 Baptist boy, Feb 20, 2012
  2. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    A birth 'defect'.

    Contrast Leviticus 21:16-24
    And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, saying: ‘No man of your descendants in succeeding generations, who has any defect, may approach to offer the bread of his God. For any man who has a defect shall not approach: a man blind or lame, who has a marred face or any limb too long, a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, or is a hunchback or a dwarf, or a man who has a defect in his eye, or eczema or scab, or is a eunuch. No man of the descendants of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, shall come near to offer the offerings made by fire to the Lord. He has a defect; he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. He may eat the bread of his God, both the most holy and the holy; only he shall not go near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a defect, lest he profane My sanctuaries; for I the Lord sanctify them.’” And Moses told it to Aaron and his sons, and to all the children of Israel.
     
    #2 Jerome, Feb 21, 2012
  3. 12strings

    12strings Active Member

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    Specifically, I think Jesus is refering to (1) people who cannot have children due to a birth defect, (2) People (usually slaves) who were castrated by their masters, and (3) People who have dedicated themselves to celibacy in order to serve God alone.

    In Context, Jesus has been teaching on marraige, saying that no one should separate a couple that God has joined together. His disciples then say "well, then it's better not to marry at all!!!" (Because in their time, like ours, the idea of entering a marraige that you cannot leave seemed much to restrictive).

    Jesus then speaks of eunichs. I believe his is saying that there are some "to whom it is given" to live a life of singleness devoted to God (like a eunich). But notice he does not say that everyone SHOULD do this... Those to whom marraige is given should be married and stay married. Those to whom singleness is given should devote themselves to God. I believe that Jesus is upholding both the goodness of marraige and the goodness of a life dedicated solely to God apart form marraige.
     
    #3 12strings, Feb 21, 2012
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