Matthew 5:32 - Exposition

(For full notes, cf. Matthew 19:9 .) Parallel passages: Mark 10:12 ; Luke 16:18 ; apparently the context of Mark represents Matthew 19:1-8 , and the context of Luke rather represents Matthew 5:18 . Notice here:

Their theory, indeed, sounds good, viz. that there should be perfect unity in the marriage state; but starting from this premiss they affirmed that if in any single respect the unity was not attained, divorce might follow. For examples, see Lightfoot ('Hor. Hebr.'). Our Lord upholds the school of Shammai. It is said that shameful laxity in divorce still exists among Oriental Jews. Fornication . The reference is to sin after marriage. Contrast Deuteronomy 22:20 , Deuteronomy 22:21 , where the husband's action is not thought of as divorce. The more general word ( πορνεία ) is used, because it lays more stress on the physical character of the sin than μοιχεία would have laid. Causeth her to commit adultery ; Revised Version, maketh her an adulteress , since the right reading, μοιχευθῆναι , connotes being sinned against rather than sinning (Received Text, μοιχᾶσθαι ). (For the thought, cf. Romans 7:3 .) And whosoever shall marry , etc. Bracketed by Westcott and Hort, as omitted by certain 'Western' authorities (especially D and Old Latin manuscripts). The clause closely resembles Luke 16:18 . Her that is divorced ; i.e. under these wrong conditions, as Revised Version, her when put away. even though αὐτήν is not expressed. This interpretation, notwithstanding Weiss's stigma of it as "ganz willkurlich," is surely only a plain deduction from the preceding clause. The fact that no such limitation is to be found in Luke 16:18 must not prejudice our judgment here.