Matthew 19:9 ESV

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 19:9

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 19:9

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 19:9

And = But. for. Greek. epi. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 19:9

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.Christ's exception does no violence to God's word. Divorce is still an evil; but, in the case of adultery of one of the partners, it is a lesser evil than living with an unfaithful spouse. Permitted in such a case? Yes, but the dissolution of marriage is contrary to God's law. Paul's exception in 1... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 19:9

Matthew 19:9. Whoever shall put away his wife, &c.— From our Lord's answer it appears, that the school of Sammai taught the best morality on the subject of divorce, but that the opinion of the school of Hillel was more agreeable to the law of Moses on that point. See on ch. Matthew 5:31. The present verse seems to be parallel to Mar 10:11 having been spoken to the disciples in the house, as is probable from the unusual change of persons observable in this part of the discourse. The practice... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 19:9

9. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except, &c.—See on :-. read more