Matthew 19:12

For 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.

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb - persons constitutionally either incapable of or indisposed to marriage.

And there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men - persons rendered incapable by others.

And there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake - persons who, to do God's work better, deliberately choose this state. Such was Paul (). He that is able to receive it, let him receive it - `He who feels this to be his proper vocation, let him embrace it;' which, of course, is as much as to say-`he only.' Thus, all is left free in this matter.

Remarks:

(1) If the sanctity of the marriage-tie, as the fountain of all social well-being, is to be upheld among men, it must be by basing it on the original divine institution of it; nor will those relaxations of it which corrupt ingenuity introduces and defends be effectually checked but by reverting, as our Lord here does, to the great primary character and design of it as established at the beginning.

(2) Let those who reverence the authority of Christ mark the divine authority which He ascribes to the Old Testament in general, and to the books of Moses in particular, in the settlement of all questions of divine truth and human duty (Matthew 19:4); nor let us fail to observe the important distinction which He draws between things commanded and things permitted-between things tolerated for a time, and regulated by civil enactment, to keep the barriers of social morality from being quite broken down, and the enduring sanctities of the great moral law (Matthew 19:8).

(3) When our Lord holds forth the single life as designed for and suited to certain specific classes, let Christians understand that, while their own plan and condition of life should be regulated by higher considerations than mere inclination or personal advantage, they are not to lay down rules for others, but let each decide for himself, as to his own Master he standeth or falleth. For he that in these thins serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men.