Matthew 19:10-12
His disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
I think it’s fascinating that the disciples, upon hearing of God’s great regard for marriage, find it hard to imagine sustaining such a relationship! Marriage, as it turns out, isn’t for sissies.
And, indeed, Jesus recognizes that as well. Not everyone is cut out for marriage. Notice, however, that Jesus doesn’t hold married couples as the ideal to which all people are compared and therefore criticize the ones he mentions. Rather, he simply recognizes that there are all kinds of people in this world. Some are made for marriage. Some are made to be single. Some are born different from others. Some have had difficult things done to them. Some have chosen to make sacrifices based on their beliefs.
Essentially, even as we look to Jesus to grant normative status to what seems most regular or “natural” to us, he recognizes that people come in all varieties even and including their disposition toward marriage. And yet he accepts them all.
Would that we could do the same.
Prayer: Dear God, let us be emboldened by your love and acceptance for us to love and accept others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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