Mat 19:1 | Clarke | STEP | Jesus leaves Galilee, and comes into the coasts of Judea, and is followed by great multitudes, whom he heals, , . The question of the Pharisees concerning divorce answered, and the doctrine of marriage explained, . The inquiry of the disciples on this subject, . Our Lord's answer, explaining the case of eunuchs, , . Little children brought to Christ for his blessing, . The case of the young man who wished to obtain eternal life, . Our Lords reflections on this case, in which he shows the difficulty of a rich man's salvation, . What they shall possess who have left all for Christ's sake and the Gospel. How many of the first shall be last, and the last first, . Verse 1 Beyond Jordan - Or, by the side of Jordan. Matthew begins here to give an account of Christ's journey (the only one he mentions) to Jerusalem, a little before the passover, at which he was crucified. See ; . Jesus came from Galilee (which lay to the north of Judea) into the coasts of Judea; and from thence, in his way to Jerusalem, he went through Jericho, ( , ), which lay at the distance of sixty furlongs, or seven miles and a half from Jordan, to the western side of it. See Joseph. War, book iv. chap. 8. sect. 3. It seems, therefore, most probable, that the course of Christ's journey led him by the side of the river Jordan, not beyond it. That the Greek word περαν, especially with a genitive case as here, has sometimes this signification, see on (note); see also Bp. Pearce.

Matthew 19:1

Introduction

Jesus leaves Galilee, and comes into the coasts of Judea, and is followed by great multitudes, whom he heals, Mat 19:1, Mat 19:2. The question of the Pharisees concerning divorce answered, and the doctrine of marriage explained, Mat 19:3-9. The inquiry of the disciples on this subject, Mat 19:10. Our Lord's answer, explaining the case of eunuchs, Mat 19:11, Mat 19:12. Little children brought to Christ for his blessing, Mat 19:13-15. The case of the young man who wished to obtain eternal life, Mat 19:16-22. Our Lords reflections on this case, in which he shows the difficulty of a rich man's salvation, Mat 19:23-26. What they shall possess who have left all for Christ's sake and the Gospel. Mat 19:27-29 How many of the first shall be last, and the last first, Mat 19:30.

Verse 1

Beyond Jordan - Or, by the side of Jordan. Matthew begins here to give an account of Christ's journey (the only one he mentions) to Jerusalem, a little before the passover, at which he was crucified. See Mar 10:1; Luk 9:51.

Jesus came from Galilee (which lay to the north of Judea) into the coasts of Judea; and from thence, in his way to Jerusalem, he went through Jericho, (Mat 20:17, Mat 20:29), which lay at the distance of sixty furlongs, or seven miles and a half from Jordan, to the western side of it. See Joseph. War, book iv. chap. 8. sect. 3. It seems, therefore, most probable, that the course of Christ's journey led him by the side of the river Jordan, not beyond it. That the Greek word περαν, especially with a genitive case as here, has sometimes this signification, see on Joh 6:22 (note); see also Bp. Pearce.