Jesus teaches again on Marriage and Divorce

Matthew 19:1-12

Verse 1:

He leaves Galilee and heads to Judea beyond but takes the route around Samaria on the eastern side of the river Jordan.

Verse 2:

Again, great multitudes followed him. For now, the crowds had not yet forsaken him (John 6:53-66.)

Verse 3:

The Pharisees again come to him tempting him or testing him. (Matt. 16:1-4, 21:23-27, 22:15-22, 22:34-40, Mark 8:11-12, John 8:3-6.)

The question, “is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?”

Was divorce lawful? Deuteronomy 24:1–4 “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”

So yes divorce is lawful.

But divorce for any reason is still not what is in view in the law.

The Pharisees and the Jewish leaders as a whole, took liberty with the term “uncleanness” in Deuteronomy to mean for any reason. They took to much liberty and made ambiguous a term that is not that ambiguous. The word for uncleanness literally means nudity, literally the genitals and figuratively disgrace, blemish, nakedness, shame, uncleanness. This seems to be speaking of sexual impurity.

Verse 4:

Jesus begins his response with a grounding of what marriage is according to the scriptures.

He also teaches on divorce in Matthew 5:31-32.

Verse 5:

Marriage:

one Male,

one Female

The man leaves father and mother

Cleaves = to join, glue, adhere to

The two become one flesh.

Verse 6:

This is how God desires it to be and let no man change it!

Verse 7:

Why then did Moses give the command for divorce and putting away a wife?

They sought all the more to test Jesus and catch him in an error. Yet Jesus will expose their false intentions for wanting divorce.

Verse 8:

First he sights their hard hearts as to why Moses permitted divorce.

God does not desire this, it was not this way from the beginning.

Verse 9:

Jesus now challenges their interpretation of the law of Moses.

Jesus here agrees with the law in Deuteronomy, divorce is permitted in the case of fornication (harlotry including adultery and incest).

Deuteronomy spoke of uncleanness, sexual uncleanness.

Yet the Pharisees wanted divorce for “every” cause, or “any” cause.

So any divorce that is not the result of fornication/uncleanness is not lawful according to Christ.

This effectively silenced the Pharisees and they do not press the matter further and had no answer for him.

Verse 10:

The disciples however had questions.

If this is true for a man who marries it is better not to marry right?

It seems that the disciples themselves did not want to give up the convenient view of divorce. Like children who could not get what they wanted were ready to do away with marriage altogether.

Verse 11:

Christ seems to agree that not all will be able to receive this teaching. But those who can receive it should know God’s mind on the matter of marriage and divorce.

Verse 12:

He then gives advice or a challenge to those who cannot receive this teaching on marriage and divorce.

Those who cannot receive it would do better to practice abstinence and become as a eunuch for the kingdom of God.

This is also Paul’s consensus in 1 Corinthians 7.

Application

Honor God's Design for Marriage Jesus didn’t begin the conversation with what’s permissible—He started with what’s intended. I encourage you to view marriage not through the lens of modern convenience or culture, but through the lens of God’s creation purpose: covenant, unity, and permanence. Marriage is not just a contract—it’s a sacred covenant to reflect Christ’s unwavering love for His people.

Guard Against Hardened Hearts When Jesus cites the “hardness of heart,” He’s not only diagnosing ancient Israel—He’s diagnosing us. Whether in marriage, ministry, or community, we must examine our own hearts. Am I willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of love, or am I looking for a loophole? A soft heart resists self-centered exits and embraces God’s truth, even when it’s costly.

Embrace the Kingdom Call with Undivided Devotion Jesus doesn’t only affirm marriage—He honors those who, for the sake of the kingdom, choose singleness. This is not loss, but liberation for focused devotion. Whether married or single, each believer is called to steward their season for the glory of God.