Matthew 19:3-9

3 Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him by asking, "Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?"

4 Jesus answered, "Haven't you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female? ¹

5 And God said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.' ²

6 So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together."

7 The Pharisees asked him, "Why, then, did Moses give the law for a man to hand his wife a divorce notice and send her away?" ³

8 Jesus answered, "Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to teach. But it was not like that at the time of creation.

9 I tell you, then, that any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman." ⁴

Cross References

• 1. 19.4Genesis 1.27; 5.2.
• 2. 19.5Genesis 2.24.
• 3. 19.7Deuteronomy 24.1-4;Matthew 5.31.
• 4. 19.9Matthew 5.32;1 Corinthians 7.10, 11.