Matthew 19:7 - They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?”
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What does "Matthew 19:7" mean?
This verse, Matthew 19:7, is part of a larger conversation Jesus is having with the Pharisees about divorce. To understand its meaning, we need some context:
The Setup: The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus, as they often did. They asked him if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause (Matthew 19:3). Their aim was to see if Jesus would contradict either Moses or prevailing rabbinic interpretations.
Moses' Law: Deuteronomy 24:1-4 allowed a man to divorce his wife if he found "some indecency" in her. This was a very broad and vague justification, leading to much debate among rabbis about what constituted "indecency." Some schools of thought, like that of Shammai, took a stricter view, interpreting it as serious sexual misconduct. Others, like Hillel, had a much more lenient interpretation, allowing divorce for even minor offenses, like burning the husband's food.
The Pharisees' Question: In Matthew 19:7, the Pharisees are essentially saying, "If divorce is wrong, why did Moses command it? Moses gave us the allowance for a bill of divorce, implying a command, didn't he?"
What the verse means within the context of the passage:
The Pharisees weren't genuinely seeking truth. They were trying to create a dilemma for Jesus:
1. If Jesus said divorce was never permissible: He would seem to be contradicting Moses, which would undermine his authority as a teacher of the Law.
2. If Jesus agreed that divorce was permissible for any cause: He would be seen as contradicting his own teachings on the sanctity of marriage and opening the door to moral laxity.
Jesus' Response:
Jesus doesn't deny that Moses allowed divorce. Instead, he explains why Moses allowed it: "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so." (Matthew 19:8)
Hardness of Heart: Jesus is saying that the permission for divorce wasn't God's ideal. It was a concession to the stubborn and sinful nature of humanity. Because people were unwilling to live peaceably and justly within marriage, Moses made provision for divorce as a way to protect individuals from abuse or unbearable situations.
Original Intent: Jesus points back to God's original design for marriage as described in Genesis (Matthew 19:4-6). Marriage was intended to be a permanent, unbreakable union between one man and one woman.
In essence, Matthew 19:7 is a challenge rooted in the Pharisees' misinterpretation of Mosaic Law, which Jesus uses as a springboard to reaffirm the original, sacred, and permanent nature of marriage. He's emphasizing that divorce was a consequence of sin, not God's initial plan. His teachings challenge the prevailing cultural norms of his time.
Matthew 19:7 - They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?”
What does "Matthew 19:7" mean?
This verse, Matthew 19:7, is part of a larger conversation Jesus is having with the Pharisees about divorce. To understand its meaning, we need some context:
The Setup: The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus, as they often did. They asked him if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause (Matthew 19:3). Their aim was to see if Jesus would contradict either Moses or prevailing rabbinic interpretations.
Moses' Law: Deuteronomy 24:1-4 allowed a man to divorce his wife if he found "some indecency" in her. This was a very broad and vague justification, leading to much debate among rabbis about what constituted "indecency." Some schools of thought, like that of Shammai, took a stricter view, interpreting it as serious sexual misconduct. Others, like Hillel, had a much more lenient interpretation, allowing divorce for even minor offenses, like burning the husband's food.
The Pharisees' Question: In Matthew 19:7, the Pharisees are essentially saying, "If divorce is wrong, why did Moses command it? Moses gave us the allowance for a bill of divorce, implying a command, didn't he?"
What the verse means within the context of the passage:
The Pharisees weren't genuinely seeking truth. They were trying to create a dilemma for Jesus:
1. If Jesus said divorce was never permissible: He would seem to be contradicting Moses, which would undermine his authority as a teacher of the Law.
2. If Jesus agreed that divorce was permissible for any cause: He would be seen as contradicting his own teachings on the sanctity of marriage and opening the door to moral laxity.
Jesus' Response:
Jesus doesn't deny that Moses allowed divorce. Instead, he explains why Moses allowed it: "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so." (Matthew 19:8)
Hardness of Heart: Jesus is saying that the permission for divorce wasn't God's ideal. It was a concession to the stubborn and sinful nature of humanity. Because people were unwilling to live peaceably and justly within marriage, Moses made provision for divorce as a way to protect individuals from abuse or unbearable situations.
Original Intent: Jesus points back to God's original design for marriage as described in Genesis (Matthew 19:4-6). Marriage was intended to be a permanent, unbreakable union between one man and one woman.
In essence, Matthew 19:7 is a challenge rooted in the Pharisees' misinterpretation of Mosaic Law, which Jesus uses as a springboard to reaffirm the original, sacred, and permanent nature of marriage. He's emphasizing that divorce was a consequence of sin, not God's initial plan. His teachings challenge the prevailing cultural norms of his time.