To get a full understanding of these two verses, let us read Matthew 19:9-12, “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 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.”

The Lord Jesus is speaking of the solemnity and permanence of marriage.  May we all understand the seriousness of entering into matrimony.  A vow is a vow. Marriage should not be entered into lightly because God takes vows very seriously and we should do the same.  In this portion, the Lord is saying that it is only in the case of fornication that a man can divorce his wife and marry another woman.  The Apostle Paul was later led to write in 1 Corinthians 7:15, “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”  These two are the only two reasons that divorce and remarriage would be acceptable in the Lord’s sight.  In the case of fornication or abandonment, it appears the Lord would accept divorce.  Notice that in neither one of these portions does the Lord demand divorce, but He does allow for it.

The disciples’ response to the Lord was that it was probably best just to remain single…remain a bachelor for the rest of their lives.  The Lord explains that while that may sound like a reasonable reaction, most people long for marriage.  Not everyone can ‘receive’ their suggestion.  Only those who are ‘called’ to a life of celibacy should determine to live the single life. 

Who are those people who are called to such a life?  The Lord made that clear in verse 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.”

• Some were eunuchs from birth.  These are men who were born with a defect that would render them incapable of entering into an intimate relationship with a woman. 
• Some were made eunuchs by men.  Some leaders or emperors had harems with men appointed to look after them.  In order to be able to trust these men the leader would have them castrated so that they could be assigned to be among the women of the harem.
• Some made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.  This would not include any physical alterations, but these are men who felt ‘called’ to live a celibate life in order to use all their time and energy in service to the Lord.  The Apostle Paul was such a man.  He never married but lived his life in service to the Lord.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:7-9, “For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”

I believe those who have the urge to marry and to have a family do not have this gift of celibacy.  Paul also wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:28, “But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.”  Paul was not anti-marriage.  He just realized that marriage was not for him.  (462.4)