Matthew 19:8 NIV

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

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

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 19:8

because of = in view of, or having regard to. Greek. pros. App-104 . suffered = allowed. was not so: i.e. from the first constitution down to Moses. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 19:8

He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.There was, in the case before them, no conflict with Moses. Christ set the record straight, correcting their false statement that Moses had "commanded" divorce. On the contrary, he only permitted it, or "suffered it," as an unwelcome choice between two evils. This is still the only possible justification of divorce, there being cases in which it must appear as the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 19:8

Matthew 19:8. Because of the hardness of your hearts— He meant their passionate, stubborn, perverse temper, which was such, that had they not been permitted to divorce their wives, some would not have scrupled to murder them; others would have got rid of them by suborning witnesses to prove the crime of adultery against them. Others would have reckoned it great mildness, if they had contented themselves with separating from their wives, and living unmarried. Moses therefore acted as a prudent... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 19:8

8. He saith unto them, Moses—as a civil lawgiver. because of—or "having respect to." the hardness of your hearts—looking to your low moral state, and your inability to endure the strictness of the original law. suffered you to put away your wives—tolerated a relaxation of the strictness of the marriage bond—not as approving of it, but to prevent still greater evils. But from the beginning it was not so—This is repeated, in order to impress upon His audience the temporary and purely civil... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 19:3-12

1. Instruction about marriage 19:3-12 (cf. Mark 10:2-12)Matthew evidently included this instruction because the marriage relationships of Jesus’ disciples were important factors in their effective ministries. Jesus clarified God’s will for His disciples, which was different from the common perception of His day. He dealt with the single state as well as the essence of marriage and the subjects of divorce and remarriage. read more