Matthew 19:7

7 They say to him, Why then did Moses give orders that a husband might give her a statement in writing and be free from her?

Matthew 19:7 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 19:7

They say unto him
That is the Pharisees, who object the law of Moses to him, hoping hereby to ensnare him, and expose him to the resentment of the people, should he reject that, as they supposed he would;

why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and
put her away?
referring to ( Deuteronomy 24:1 ) which they thought to be a contradiction, and what they knew not how to reconcile to the doctrine Christ had delivered, concerning the original institution of marriage, and the close union there is between a man and his wife, by virtue of it, and which is not to be dissolved by men. Concerning a writing of divorcement and the form, and manner of it, (See Gill on Matthew 5:31)

Matthew 19:7 In-Context

5 For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and the two will become one flesh?

6 So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Then let not that which has been joined by God be parted by man.

7 They say to him, Why then did Moses give orders that a husband might give her a statement in writing and be free from her?

8 He says to them, Moses, because of your hard hearts, let you put away your wives: but it has not been so from the first.

9 And I say to you, Whoever puts away his wife for any other cause than the loss of her virtue, and takes another, is a false husband: and he who takes her as his wife when she is put away, is no true husband to her.