Matthew 19:1-12 - On Divorce
1 And so when Jesus had finished speaking He left Galilee and came to the region of Judea, on the east side of the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed Him there and were healed by Him. 3 Some Pharisees came to Him, [attempting] to put Him to a test. They said, "Is it permissible by the law of Moses for a man to divorce his wife for any reason [he chooses]?"
4 And He answered them, "Have you not read [Gen. 1:27; 5:2] that when God created [mankind as] male and female, 5 He said [Gen. 2:24], 'For this reason [i.e., since He made one woman for one man], a man will leave [the home of] his father and mother and will cling to his wife, [so that] the two of them will [then] become one flesh [i.e., united in such a close relationship as to constitute one body]?'
6 So, [upon becoming husband and wife] they no longer function [entirely] as two persons, but [as] one body. Therefore, those whom God [so] joins together [in the marriage bond], no person must [ever] separate."
7 They replied, "Why then did Moses order [a man] to provide a legal divorce decree [Deut. 24:1], and then divorce his wife?"
8 Jesus said to them, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives [only] because of the rebellious spirits you [Jews] had. But this was not how it was [intended to be] from the beginning [i.e., when God created one woman for one man]. 9 And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits sexual unfaithfulness [toward her], unless the reason for the divorce was sexual unfaithfulness [on his wife's part]. And the person who marries a woman who has been divorced commits sexual sin with her [i.e., because she is still rightfully married to her first husband]."
10 His disciples [then] said to Jesus, "If this is the way it has to be between a man and his wife, it is not worth getting married."
11 But He replied, "Not all men can accept such an arrangement [i.e., not marrying], but it is [only] for those who have the capacity for accepting it. 12 For there are eunuchs [i.e., men who do not have normal sexual activity] who are born that way; then there are eunuchs who were made that way by undergoing a surgical operation; then there are [also] eunuchs who purposely chose to avoid normal sexual activity for the sake of [ministering in] the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept such an arrangement [i.e., of not marrying], should do so."
1 And Jesus left there and went to the region of Judea and east of the Jordan River. Again crowds gathered around Him and He continued teaching them, as was His custom. 2 Some Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion] came to Him [and attempted] to test Him by asking, "Is it permissible by the law of Moses for a man to divorce his wife?"
3 And He answered them, "What did Moses command you [to do]?"
4 They replied, "Moses allowed us to provide a legal divorce decree and [then] to divorce her."
5 But Jesus said to them, "He wrote you this commandment [only] because of the rebellious spirit of you [Jews]. 6 But from the beginning of creation God made mankind male and female.
7 For this reason [i.e., since he made one woman for one man] a man will leave [the home of] his father and mother and will cling to his wife 8 and the two of them will [then] become one flesh [i.e., united in such a close relationship as to constitute one body], so that [upon becoming husband and wife] they no longer function as two persons but as one body. 9 Therefore, those whom God so joins together [in the marriage bond], no person must ever separate."
10 And when they were in the house, His disciples asked Him about this matter again. 11 And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another [woman] commits sexual unfaithfulness [toward her]. 12 And if she herself divorces her husband and marries another [man], she commits sexual unfaithfulness [toward him]."
18 "Every person who divorces his wife and marries another woman becomes sexually unfaithful to her [i.e., because he is still regarded by God as married to his first wife. See Matt. 19:9]. And the person who marries someone who has been divorced by her husband commits sexual sin with her [i.e., because she is still rightfully married to her first husband].