Matthew 19:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

NIV: So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

NASB: So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate.'

CSB: So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate."

NLT: Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.'

KJV: Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

NKJV: So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Pharisees have questioned Jesus about when it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife. The implied question is whether she needs to be guilty of infidelity to him or if he can simply decide that he does not like her anymore (Matthew 19:1–5).

Jesus, as He almost always does, replies to the Pharisees' question by pointing them to the Scriptures they know so well. He has declared, from Genesis, that marriage was God's design for humanity from the very beginning of creation. He made us male and female, after all (Genesis 1:27). God, before sin even entered the world, described the natural state of things as a man leaving his parents and holding fast to his wife, becoming one flesh with her (Genesis 2:24). Mysteriously, and as partly demonstrated through sex, marriage connects two people so closely together that they become one flesh, one person, in the eyes of God.

Now Jesus drives the point home. Marriage is not something humans have made for themselves by tradition and custom. God does this. He joins a man and woman together in this way. And what God has joined no mere human should dare to divide or separate. Jesus will explain an important exception to this in the following verses (Matthew 19:9), but He begins with the deepest and truest intent of the heart of God. Those God joins in marriage are not meant to be separated by divorce.

Matthew 19:1–12 is Jesus' response to a question from Pharisees about divorce. After establishing that marriage was designed to be lifelong by God at creation, Jesus insists that divorce is unlawful except in the case of sexual immorality. The disciples suggest it would be better not to marry, at all, in that case. Jesus says that is not true, and a life of celibacy is only for certain people, such as eunuchs of various kinds.

Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause. Jesus reminds them marriage was designed by God at creation. Divorce, then, is lawful only in the case of sexual immorality. A rich young man asks Jesus what good thing he must do to have eternal life. Jesus insists only God is good. He challenges the man's sincerity by asking him to give all his wealth to the poor and follow Him. The man's refusal demonstrates how easy it is to prefer wealth to dependence on God. In response to the disciples' question, Jesus says salvation is impossible with men but not with God.

Matthew 19 follows Jesus' teachings about temptation and forgiveness in chapter 18. This passage begins with Jesus leaving behind Galilee and heading toward Jerusalem the long way around. Jesus tells the Pharisees that divorce is legal only in cases of sexual immorality. Jesus blesses little children and then answers a rich young man who asks how to have eternal life. The man leaves sad after Jesus challenges him to give his money to the poor and follow Him. Jesus says salvation is impossible with men, but not with God. Chapter 20 contains additional parables and examples, and is the last before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem in the days just prior to His crucifixion.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.