Matthew 19:3-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:8

He saith unto them ,.... In answer to their objection; Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives : in which may be observed, that, though it was by direction that Moses, in his system of laws, allowed of divorces; yet not God, but he is said to do it, because it was a branch of the political and judicial laws, by which the people of the Jews were governed under Moses, and whilst the Mosaic economy continued, and did not concern other people, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:9

And I say unto you ,.... To his disciples, when they were with him alone in the house, and asked him more particularly about the subject, concerning which he had been discoursing with the Pharisees, as Mark observes, Mark 10:10 when he said to them much the same things, he had delivered before in Matthew 5:32 whosoever shall put away in his wife ; separate her from his person, house and bed, and dismiss her as his wife, no more to be considered in that relation to him, except it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:3

Tempting him - Trying what answer he would give to a question, which, however decided by him, would expose him to censure. Is it lawful - for every cause? - Instead of αιτιαν , fault, cause, reason, three MSS. and the Coptic version read αμαρτιαν , sin or transgression: this was probably the original reading - the first syllable being lost, αρτιαν alone would remain, which a subsequent transcriber would suppose to be a mistake for αιτιαν , and so wrote it; hence this various... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:4

He which made them at the beginning - When Adam and Eve were the first of human kind. Made them male and female - Merely through the design of matrimonial union, that the earth might be thus peopled. To answer a case of conscience, a man should act as Christ does here; pay no regard to that which the corruption of manners has introduced into Divine ordinances, but go back to the original will, purpose, and institution of God. Christ will never accommodate his morality to the times, nor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:5

For this cause - Being created for this very purpose; that they might glorify their Maker in a matrimonial connection. A man shall leave ( καταλειψαι , wholly give up) both father and mother - the matrimonial union being more intimate and binding than even paternal or filial affection; - and shall be closely united, προσκολληθησεται , shall be firmly cemented to his wife. A beautiful metaphor, which most forcibly intimates that nothing but death can separate them: as a well-glued board... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:6

What therefore God hath joined together - Συνεζευξεν , yoked together, as oxen in the plough, where each must pull equally, in order to bring it on. Among the ancients, when persons were newly married, they put a yoke upon their necks, or chains upon their arms, to show that they were to be one, closely united, and pulling equally together in all the concerns of life. See Kypke in loco. The finest allegorical representation of the marriage union I have met with, is that antique gem... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:7

Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement? - It is not an unusual case for the impure and unholy to seek for a justification of their conduct from the law of God itself, and to wrest Scripture to their own destruction. I knew a gentleman, so called, who professed deep reverence for the sacred writings, and, strange as it may appear, was outwardly irreproachable in every respect but one; that was, he kept more women than his wife. This man frequently read the Bible, and was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:8

Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts - It is dangerous to tolerate the least evil, though prudence itself may require it: because toleration, in this case, raises itself insensibly into permission, and permission soon sets up for command. Moses perceived that if divorce were not permitted, in many cases, the women would be exposed to great hardships through the cruelty of their husbands: for so the word σκληροκαρδια , is understood in this place by some learned men. From the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:9

Except it be for fornication - See on Matthew 5:32 ; (note). The decision of our Lord must be very unpleasant to these men: the reason why they wished to put away their wives was, that they might take others whom they liked better; but our Lord here declares that they could not be remarried while the divorced person was alive, and that those who did marry, during the life of the divorced, were adulterers; and heavy judgments were, denounced, in their law, against such: and as the question... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 19:3

Verse 3 Matthew 19:3.And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him. Though the Pharisees lay snares for Christ, and cunningly endeavor to impose upon him, yet their malice proves to be highly useful to us; as the Lord knows how to turn, in a wonderful manner, to the advantage of his people all the contrivances of wicked men to overthrow sound doctrine. For, by means of this occurrence, a question arising out of the liberty of divorce was settled, and a fixed law was laid down as to the sacred and... read more

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