Meaning of Matthew 19:3

This verse introduces a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry where religious authorities, the Pharisees, confront him with a question designed to trap him, concerning the permissibility of divorce. Their intent was not to seek genuine understanding, but rather to find fault with Jesus' teachings, potentially to accuse him of undermining established Mosaic Law or rabbinic interpretations. The question about divorcing "for any and every reason" highlights a prevalent laxity in divorce practices among some Jewish circles at the time, a situation Jesus would directly address by returning to a more stringent understanding of marriage as established at creation.

Context and Background

The Pharisees' question arises within the broader debate among Jewish scholars regarding the interpretation of Deuteronomy 24:1-4, which outlines the process for a man to divorce his wife by giving her a certificate of divorce. This passage was interpreted differently by two major rabbinic schools of thought:

• The School of Hillel: This more liberal school held that a man could divorce his wife for almost any reason, even if she merely burned his food or if he found another woman more attractive. Their interpretation emphasized the phrase "find some uncleanness" in Deuteronomy as broadly encompassing any marital dissatisfaction.
• The School of Shammai: This more conservative school interpreted "uncleanness" more narrowly, suggesting it referred only to acts of sexual immorality or serious marital misconduct.

The Pharisees, by asking if divorce is permissible "for any and every reason," were likely probing which interpretation Jesus would align himself with. Their objective was to elicit a response that could be used against him, either by appearing to contradict Moses (if he argued against divorce altogether) or by appearing to endorse a lax view of marriage (if he agreed with Hillel).

Key Themes and Messages

• The Nature of Marriage: Jesus uses this encounter to reassert the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage as intended by God from the beginning. He shifts the focus from the legality of divorce to the divine ideal of lifelong union.
• Testing and Deception: The Pharisees' approach exemplifies the dangers of approaching God's word with a spirit of contention and a desire to ensnare rather than to learn. Their "testing" is rooted in a lack of genuine faith and a desire to discredit Jesus.
• Jesus' Authority: By providing a definitive answer that referenced God's original design, Jesus demonstrated his authority over the Law and human tradition, positioning himself as the ultimate interpreter of God's will.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse challenges believers to consider the seriousness and permanence of the marital covenant. It calls for a commitment to understanding and upholding God's design for marriage, rather than succumbing to societal pressures or personal whims that might seek to legitimize easy divorce. For those not married, it underscores the importance of approaching relationships with integrity and a commitment to fidelity. For the church, it serves as a reminder to teach and uphold biblical principles regarding marriage and family, offering support and guidance to those struggling within these sacred bonds.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Jesus' response in Matthew 19 directly echoes the creation account in Genesis 1:27-28 and Genesis 2:24, where God establishes humanity in his image and declares that "a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." This foundational narrative of marriage as a unified, divinely ordained institution predates the Mosaic Law and serves as the ultimate standard against which all subsequent regulations, including those concerning divorce, must be measured. By appealing to Genesis, Jesus is not abolishing the Law but fulfilling its intended purpose, revealing God's perfect will for marriage.

Analogies

One analogy to understand the Pharisees' approach is like a student deliberately asking a professor a trick question in class, not to understand the subject better, but to expose a perceived flaw in the professor's knowledge or teaching. Another analogy is a lawyer trying to trap a witness on the stand with a question that has no good answer, aiming to discredit them rather than to uncover the truth.

Relation to Other Verses

• Genesis 1:27-28 & Genesis 2:24: As mentioned, these verses lay the foundation for Jesus' teaching, establishing marriage as a lifelong union of "one flesh" created by God.
• Deuteronomy 24:1-4: This is the specific passage the Pharisees were referencing. Jesus' interpretation here presents a higher standard than the allowances made in this Law, which was given, in part, due to the "hardness of hearts" (Matthew 19:8).
• Matthew 19:4-6: Jesus immediately follows up by quoting Genesis, explicitly stating God's original design: "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?"
• Matthew 19:9: Jesus provides his own interpretation of the Mosaic allowance for divorce, stating, "And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." This introduces a significant exception, demonstrating that while God's ideal is permanence, the Law acknowledged human sinfulness.
• 1 Corinthians 7:10-11: Paul echoes Jesus' teaching, urging married couples not to separate and, if they do separate, to remain unmarried or be reconciled.