The scripture has been posted countless times...Yet you apparently ignore it...Jerome even says the same thing...
Jesus wasn't married. Paul wasn't married.
Jesus wasn't providing teaching to his church (yet to be revealed)...And in view of the requirements for the church, likely Paul was widowed and had grown children...And what is obvious is that Paul was speaking to those out in the pews since there are instructions separately for the clergy...
So many people ignore that!
No one ignores that...They just look at it in context...Pauls says few will be able to follow Paul's idea...And of course Paul says it is not instruction from the Lord but Paul's own personal opinion...
1 Corinthians 7:38
So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
? You're right that it was not just spoken for the clergy. It was directed to everyone. Celibacy is a good way of life for the laity too ---- not all, of course, but those who are called to it as their vocation. Jesus speaks of those who live like eunuchs--- live single --- for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. And He honors it: He says, "Those who can accept this should accept it. (Matthew 19:12)