10 Then said his disciples to him, If the [a]matter be so between man and wife, it is not good to marry.

11 [b]But he said unto them, All men cannot [c]receive this thing, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some [d]eunuchs, which were so born of their mother’s belly: and there be some eunuchs, which be gelded by men: and there be some eunuchs, which have [e]gelded themselves for the kingdom of heaven. He that is able to receive this, let him receive it.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 19:10 If the matter stands so between man and wife, or in marriage.
  2. Matthew 19:11 The gift of continency is peculiar, and therefore no man can set a Law to himself of perpetual continency.
  3. Matthew 19:11 Receive and admit, as by translation we say, that a straight and narrow place is not able to receive many things.
  4. Matthew 19:12 The word Eunuch is a general word, and hath divers kinds under it, as gelded men and barren men.
  5. Matthew 19:12 Which abstain from marriage, and live continently through the gift of God.

10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.(A) 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

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