Matthew 19:1-9

Matthew 19:1-9

Scripture

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.

Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: ā€œShould a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?ā€

ā€œHaven’t you read the Scriptures?ā€ Jesus replied. ā€œThey record that from the beginning ā€˜God made them male and female.ā€™ā€ And he said, ā€œā€˜This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.ā€

ā€œThen why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?ā€ they asked.

Jesus replied, ā€œMoses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.ā€

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