Matthew 19:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

NIV: Jesus replied, 'Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

NASB: He *said to them, 'Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.

CSB: 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.

NLT: Jesus replied, 'Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.

KJV: He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

NKJV: He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

When asked about divorce by the Pharisees, Jesus has revealed to them the heart of God. Marriage without divorce is the plan of God. It's how He designed the creation to work. He made humans as male and female to be united in marriage by Himself. Jesus has shown them that God's will is that what He has joined should not be separated (Matthew 19:1–6).

The Pharisees have pointed out, though, that divorce was a reality in Israel under Moses. It is not forbidden in the law. In fact, the law pictures a scenario in which a husband gives his wife a certificate of divorce because he finds something "indecent" in her (Matthew 19:7). The Pharisees were divided amongst themselves about what qualified as indecent enough to divorce one's wife. Was it only marital infidelity or was it anything the husband simply did not like about her?

Jesus now answers that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of the Israelites' hearts. This means that God created a set of rules limiting the damage which divorce might cause. Jesus adds that it was not so from the beginning. In other words, God's intention in creation was that all human marriage between man and woman should be lifelong. To separate what God had joined was a violation of God's design. Under Moses, however, Israel was allowed to break the design because of the sin-hardened hearts of the people—providing limits and restraints on the practice.

Jesus will finally answer the question the Pharisees are really asking in the following verse.

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.