Matthew 19:1-12 - On Divorce

¹ It came about after Jesus had finished these teachings, that he removed from Galilee, and went to that part of Judea which lay across the Jordan. ² A great multitude followed him, and he healed them there. ³ Presently some of the Pharisees came up to him, and made test of him by asking, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?"

⁴ "Have you not read." he answered, "that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ⁵ "For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh?

⁶ "Thus they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

⁷ They answered, "Why then did Moses command the husband to give her 'a written bill of divorce,' and so to put her away?"

⁸ "Moses," said Jesus, "permitted you to divorce your wives on account of the hardness of your hearts, but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹ "And I tell you that any man who divorces his wife for any cause except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery."

¹⁰ "If that is the position of a man in relation to his wife," answered the disciples, "it is better not to marry."

¹¹ He answered them. "Not all are accepting this teaching, but only those to whom it has been granted. ¹² "For there are eunuchs who have been such from birth; others who have been made such by men; and others who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of God. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."

¹ On leaving that place Jesus came into the borders of Judea, on the other side of the Jordan, Once more the people flocked about him, and again, as usual, he began teaching them. ² Presently some Pharisees came up and tested him, by asking if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.

³ "What did Moses command you?" he replied,

⁴ "Moses," said they, "permitted a man to draw up a bill of separation and divorce her."

⁵ But Jesus said to them. "Moses gave you that command because of the hardness of your hearts; ⁶ but from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

⁷ "For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh; ⁸ so that they are no more two, but one flesh. ⁹ What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."

¹⁰ When indoors the disciples began to question Jesus again about this, and he said: ¹¹ "Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; ¹² and if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

¹⁸ "Every man who divorces his wife and marries some one else, commits adultery; and he who marries one who is put away by her husband commits adultery.