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Matthew 19:9
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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:  
12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and athere are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”  

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13 aThen little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.  
14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for aof such is the kingdom of heaven.”  
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Matthew 19:8   Matthew 19:10 >>

What Does Matthew 19:9 Mean?



Matthew 19:8-9

Notice what Jesus did in this instance: He leap-frogged over Deuteronomy 24, which covers divorce and remarriage and sets a foundation of principles from which divorce-and-remarriage decisions can be made. Jesus skipped right over this passage in the midst of Israel's civil law. In fact, He skipped over the whole Old Covenant, reaching all the way back to Genesis 2 for His authority for a judgment regarding marriage and divorce.

There is instruction here. Even though God permitted them to divorce and remarry because of their unconversion (hardness of heart), the higher and greater authority—the standard—where God originally established His intention. This is a clear example from Christ: The higher and greater authority lies in God's originally established intention.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Nineteen)

Related Topics: Divorce | Divorce and Remarriage Decisions | Hardness of Hearts | Marriage | Marriage Covenant




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Matthew 19:9:

Genesis 2:21-24


 
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