Radical Inclusion

Eunuchs & Children...come on in.

This is one of those “that escalated quickly” conversations. And it’s Jesus who speeds it up.

We begin with a question about divorce and marriage and end up hearing (from Jesus) about eunuchs.

An explanation about eunuchs in the Bible is longer than we can exhaustively cover here. And it’s certainly not the usual fodder for an inspirational devotional. But this is in the gospel, so we’re covering it.

In short, a eunuch was a male whose genitals were modified, usually through the removal of the testicles, but sometimes the penis as well. This was often done to men serving in royal courts, so as not to be a threat to a female official or member of the royal family. The Jewish Torah (Law) excluded eunuchs from the assembly, though later the prophet Isaiah promised a place within God’s people for them.

There have been plenty of debates over what exactly Jesus means here. Suffice it to say, contemporary society hasn’t solved these questions either.

For now, it’s enough to see that Jesus includes eunuchs. Whatever else you want to say about them, this was a decisive moment for Jesus in front of the Pharisees and all watching. They basically ask, “Hey…is divorce cool?” and Jesus responds, “Not really…but because of your hardness the Law allowed it in certain circumstances. But also - and I know this will be hard for you - welcome eunuchs, too.”

Woah…where did that come from? And then Matthew again includes this little snippet about children. Bad timing or intentional?

Eunuchs and children - this is the vastness of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 19:1-15

When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee and came to the area of Judea on the east side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them. Some Pharisees came to him. In order to test him, they said, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the creator made them male and female? And God said, ‘Because of this a man should leave his father and mother and be joined together with his wife, and the two will be one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, humans must not pull apart what God has put together.”

The Pharisees said to him, “Then why did Moses command us to give a divorce certificate and divorce her?”

Jesus replied, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because your hearts are unyielding. But it wasn’t that way from the beginning. I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

His disciples said to him, “If that’s the way things are between a man and his wife, then it’s better not to marry.”

He replied, “Not everybody can accept this teaching, but only those who have received the ability to accept it. For there are eunuchs who have been eunuchs from birth. And there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by other people. And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs because of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept it should accept it.”

Some people brought children to Jesus so that he would place his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded them. “Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said. “Don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children.” Then he blessed the children and went away from there.

Psalm 113

Praise the Lord! You who serve the Lord—praise! Praise the Lord’s name! Let the Lord’s name be blessed from now until forever from now! From sunrise to sunset, let the Lord’s name be praised! The Lord is high over all the nations; God’s glory is higher than the skies!

Who could possibly compare to the Lord our God? God rules from on high; he has to come down to even see heaven and earth! God lifts up the poor from the dirt and raises up the needy from the garbage pile to seat them with leaders—with the leaders of his own people! God nests the once barren woman at home—now a joyful mother with children!

Praise the Lord!

Prayer

God,

Open my eyes to see your Kingdom as it really is. Enlarge my heart to match its wide embrace. Strip away the filters and screens through which I too often judge those who are not like me. Deaden the voices that have taught me to hate and fear. Let the voice of Jesus—gentle yet unshakably authoritative—rise above them all.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.