Matthew 19:10-12 Celibacy

The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry." But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given.  For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it. " [Matthew 19:10‭-‬12 NASB]

The disciples are responding to Jesus' teaching that it wrong to divorce and remarry for any reason except immorality on the part of the spouse. Apparently, they felt the restriction was so harsh that it was better to not even marry, rather than to stay with the same woman for the rest of their lives.

Jesus didn't deny them the right to stay single if they so chose (and hadn't already married). Nor did He deny them the right to be married. Essentially, what He is saying is that the ability to be happily celibate for the entirety of one's life is gift that is give to only a few.

In fact, most of the apostles were married. We know from Matthew 8:14 that Peter was married. Paul makes this comment, "Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?" [1 Corinthians 9:5 NASB] According to tradition, John was the only apostle besides Paul to remain single.

The simple fact is that we are human, with desires and urges. Most people cannot remain celibate for their entire lives, which is why Paul wrote, "But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband." [1 Corinthians 7:2 NASB]

Sexual relations are good and pure within the bounds of marriage. And that is exactly where they should stay. Christians who live together like the people of the world are testing the grace of God. 

As for a lifestyle of celibacy, Paul had this to say, "Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." [1 Corinthians 7:7-9 NASB]

If you believe that you can be happy remaining celibate so that you can devote yourself more fully to the service of the Lord, then remain so. But if you are like most people who crave companionship and intimacy, the solution is not to sleep around, but to get married. Both choices are good choices.