Teaching About Divorce

Matthew 19

1 Now it came to pass, a when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 b And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" 4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who 1 made them at the beginning c 'made them male and female,' 2 5 "and said, d 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and e the two shall become one flesh'? 3 6 "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 7 They said to Him, f "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the g hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your h wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 i "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for 4 sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

10 His disciples said to Him, j "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to them, k "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 "For there are 5 eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and l there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 19:1 - 9
    Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
    Mark 10:1 - 12
    Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.
    John 10:40
    And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 12:15
    But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 1:27
    So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
    Genesis 5:2
    He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.
    Malachi 2:15
    But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 2:24
    Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
    Mark 10:5 - 9
    And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
    Ephesians 5:31
    "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
  5. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 6:16
    Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh.
    1 Corinthians 7:2
    Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
  6. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 24:1 - 4
    When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house.
    Matthew 5:31
    "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
  7. Cross References
    Hebrews 3:15
    While it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.
  8. Cross References
    Malachi 2:16
    "For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously."
  9. Cross References
    Matthew 5:32
    But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
    Mark 10:11
    So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
    Luke 16:18
    Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
    1 Corinthians 7:10
    Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
  10. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:19
    Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.
  11. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:2
    Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
    1 Corinthians 7:7
    For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
    1 Corinthians 7:9
    But if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
    1 Corinthians 7:17
    But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
  12. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:32
    But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord - how he may please the Lord.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Next Book Next Book