Matthew 19:7

7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

Matthew 19:7 in Other Translations

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?"

7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.

7 They shot back in rebuttal, "If that's so, why did Moses give instructions for divorce papers and divorce procedures?"

7 "Why then," they asked Him, "did Moses command [us] to give divorce papers and to send her away?"

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 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

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

9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 5:31