Note 9 at Mt. 19:12: A "eunuch" was an impotent man (not capable of sexual relations) who usually had been castrated before puberty. Jesus said in this verse, however, that some men are born this way, some are made impotent by men (to serve as chamberlains and to care for harems--Est. 2:15), and some make themselves impotent to better serve the kingdom of God. In both the Old and New Covenants, eunuchs had the same standing in God's eyes as anyone else (Isa. 56:3-5; Acts 8:26-39). Because they often served in the courts of kings, there are many Old Testament and New Testament examples of eunuchs with a high position and authority (Dan. 1:3-18; Acts 8:27).

The Hebrew word translated "eunuch" in the Old Testament is the word "caric" which means "to castrate." This same word is translated as "officer(s)" 12 times in the Old Testament (as in Gen. 37:36; 39:1; 40:2,7) and "chamberlain(s)" 13 times (as in Est. 1:10-15; 2:21; 4:4-5). The Greek word translated as "eunuch" in the New Testament is the word "eunouchos" which means "a castrated person" and by extension "an impotent or unmarried man."

On the basis of these definitions, those which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake were simply men who remained unmarried to spend more time seeking the Lord and spreading the gospel. Paul referred to this as a "gift" (1 Cor. 7:7-9,17,20,25-26,32,35,37) and said those called to it should walk in that call (1 Cor. 7:17,20). Jesus said the only men who could receive this saying are those "to whom it is given" (cp. with note 8 at Mt. 19:11, p. 324). It is a doctrine of devils to forbid anyone to marry (1 Tim. 4:1-3).