Mark 10:2

2 Presently a party of Pharisees come to Him with the question--seeking to entrap Him, "May a man divorce his wife?"

Mark 10:2 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 10:2

And the: Pharisees came unto him
As they every where did; not to be instructed by him, but to ensnare him;

and asked him, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?
that is, as Matthew adds, "for every cause", (See Gill on Matthew 19:3): for, a divorce might be lawfully made for a cause, or reason, namely, adultery, but not for any, or every cause; which is the sense of this question of the Pharisees; and, which they put, not for information, but

tempting him;
trying to entangle him by opposing the authority of Moses, should he deny the lawfulness of divorces, or by objecting his former doctrine, ( Matthew 5:32 ) , and so expose him as an inconsistent preacher, should he allow them to be lawful for every reason. This clause is placed in the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions before the question.

Mark 10:2 In-Context

1 Soon on His feet once more, He enters the district of Judaea and crosses the Jordan: again the people flock to Him, and ere long, as was usual with Him, He was teaching them once more.

2 Presently a party of Pharisees come to Him with the question--seeking to entrap Him, "May a man divorce his wife?"

3 "What rule did Moses lay down for you?" He answered.

4 "Moses," they said, "permitted a man to draw up a written notice of divorce, and to send his wife away."

5 "It was in consideration of your stubborn hearts," said Jesus, "that Moses enacted this law for you;