Matthew 19:1–10

The Question of Divorce

19 When Jesus had finished this instruction, x He departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea across the Jordan. y 2 Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. z 3 Some * Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?” a

4 “Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that He who created b them in the beginning made them male and female,” c d 5 and He also said:

“For this reason a man will leave

his father and mother

and be joined to his wife,

and the two will become one flesh? e f

6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.”

7 “Why then,” they asked Him, “did Moses command us to give divorce papers g and to send her away?”

8 He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts. But it was not like that from the beginning. 9 And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” h i

10 His disciples j said to Him, “If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it’s better not to marry!”