Thematic Bible: Interprets the law concerning marriage and divorce (in peraea)


Thematic Bible



The Pharisees likewise came to him, and maliciously propos'd this question, may a man lawfully put away his wife at discretion? and he answered them, have ye not read, that when the creator, at the beginning, made male and female, he said, "for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and be attach'd to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?" read more.
so that they are not now two, but one. what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. why then, said they, did Moses permit to give a writ of divorce to repudiate the wife? he answer'd them, 'twas because of your perverse temper that Moses suffered you to repudiate your wives: but from the beginning this was not in practice. and I tell you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except it be for adultery, and shall marry another, he committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her that is put away, causeth her to commit adultery. thereupon his disciples said, if the case between man and wife be such, it is best not to marry. but he reply'd, 'tis not everyman can live single, but only such as have the gift of continency. as there are some eunuchs, who were such from their very birth: and others who were made such by men: so there are some who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of religion. he that can bear the state of celibacy, let him bear it.

then the Pharisees came and propos'd to him this insnaring question, is it lawful for a man to repudiate his wife? to which he answered, what direction did Moses give you? Moses, said they, allowed a bill of divorce, and so to dismiss her. read more.
but Jesus answered them, it was out of regard to your untractable temper, that Moses gave you this permission. for in the beginning of the world God formed them male and female. "wherefore, 'tis said, a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." consequently they are no longer two, but one person. let no man therefore separate what God has designed to be one. When they were in the house, the disciples asked him again concerning this matter, and he said to them, whoever repudiates his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her: and if a woman quits her husband and is married to another, she committeth adultery.