Matthew 19:8

6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

7 They said to Him, ^a“Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”

8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the ^ahardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your ^bwives, but from the beginning it was not so.

9 ^aAnd I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for¹ sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

10 His disciples said to Him, ^a“If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

Jesus Teaches on Celibacy

11 But He said to them, ^a“All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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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 , is understood in this place by some learned men.

From the beginning it was not so - The Jews named the books of the law from the first word in each. Genesis they always term Bereshith , , which is the first word in it, and signifies, In the beginning. It is probable that our Lord speaks in this way here, In Bereshith it was not so, intimating that the account given in Genesis is widely different. There was no divorce between Eve and Adam; nor did he or his family practice polygamy. But our Lord, by the beginning, may mean the original intention or design.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Matthew 19:8:**

Deuteronomy 21:15
Matthew 19:9
Mark 10:2

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Matthew 19:9 >>

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