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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The beginning of the last journey to Jerusalem . The question concerning divorce . ( Mark 10:1-12 .) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The sanctity of marriage. I. CONVERSATION WITH THE PHARISEES . 1 . Work in Peraea . The Lord hath now finally left Galilee; the restless hostility of the Pharisees had driven him from the province in which at first he had met with such great success, and which was regarded as his own country. Judaea, too, was now unsafe for him. His hour was almost come; he would work while it was day; but he would not expose himself to unnecessary danger before the time appointed. Peraea... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

The ethics of marriage. Note here a contrast: multitudes following Christ for healing, Pharisees pursuing him for mischief. Satan will be among the sons of God. Jesus turns the contradiction of sinners into instructions for his disciples. Let us consider— I. THE PHARISEE 'S QUESTION RELATING TO CAPRICIOUS DIVORCE . 1 . The occasion . 2 . The reply . II. THEIR CITATION OF THE MOSAIC CONCESSION OF DIVORCEMENT . 1 . The con cession ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:3-9

Divorce. The readiness with which the marriage tie is dissolved in some countries, and the daring questions on the subject that have been raised in England, make it important for us to see clearly how divorce should be regarded in the light of the teachings of Christ. Plainly he sets his face against any divorce except in the most extreme case. Let us consider some of the pleas for a laxer rule, and then look at the duty of resisting them. I. PLEAS FOR A GREATER FREEDOM OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:8

Moses because of ( προ Ì ς , with a view to, to meet) the hardness of your hearts; your obstinacy, perverseness. You were not honest and pure enough to obey the primitive law. There was danger that you would ill treat your wives in order to get rid of them, or even murder them. The lesser evil was regular divorce. But the enactment is really a shame and reproach to you, and was occasioned by grave defects in your character and conduct. And it is not true to say that Moses ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:9

And I say unto you. Our Lord here enunciates the law which was to obtain in his kingdom, which, indeed, was simply the reintroduction and enforcement of the primitive and natural ordinance. Except it be for fornication; εἰ μη Ì ἐπι Ì πορνει ì ᾳ : nisi ob fornicationem (Vulgate). This is the received reading. Tregelles, Tischendort; Westcott and Hort omit ει ). The parallel passage in St. Mark (where Christ is stated to have made the remark to his disciples "in the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 19:8

He saith unto them ... - Jesus admits that this was allowed, but still he contends that this was not the original design of marriage. It was only a temporary expedient growing out of a special state of things, and not designed to be perpetual. It was on account of the hardness of their hearts. Moses found the custom in use. He found a hard-hearted and rebellious people. In this state of things he did not deem it prudent to forbid a practice so universal; but it might be regulated; and, instead... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 19:9

And I say unto you - Emphasis should be laid here on the word “I.” This was the opinion of Jesus - this he proclaimed to be the law of his kingdom this the command of God ever afterward. Indulgence had been given by the laws of Moses; but that indulgence was to cease, and the marriage relation to be brought back to its original intention. Only one offence was to make divorce lawful. This is the law of God; and by the same law, all marriages which take place after divorce, where adultery is not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 19:7-9

Matthew 19:7-9. They say, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, &c. “If divorce be contrary to the original institution of marriage, as you affirm, how came it that Moses has commanded us to give a bill of divorce? &c. The Pharisees, by calling the law concerning divorce a command, insinuated that Moses had been so tender of their happiness that he would not suffer them to live with bad wives, though they themselves had been willing; but peremptorily... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:1-12

108. Questions about divorce (Matthew 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Luke 16:18)Again the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus into saying something that would give them grounds to accuse him of error. This time they chose the subject of divorce, where different viewpoints among Jewish teachers often caused arguments. Jesus referred them back to God’s original standard, which was that a man and a woman live together, independent of parents, in a permanent union (Matthew 19:1-6). Moses set out laws to limit... read more

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