Matthew 19:1-10

1 When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the territory of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River.
2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
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
10 His disciples said to him, "If this is how it is between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry."

Cross References 4

  • 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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.