arose between husbands and wives. Divorce was reluctantly permitted in Old Testament times, but was not commanded (Deut. 24:1–4). The New Testament teaching concerning divorce is much more explicit than was that of the Old Testament. In answer to the question, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” Jesus cited Scripture to prove that marriage was originally and ideally indissoluble. His reply made it clear that marriage was intended to be not merely a social contract of temporary