Matthew 19:8 - He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
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What does "Matthew 19:8" mean?
This verse from Matthew 19:8 is part of a larger conversation Jesus has with the Pharisees about divorce. Let's break it down:
"He said to them..." This indicates Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, a Jewish sect known for their strict adherence to the law.
"...Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts..." This is a key statement. Jesus is acknowledging that Moses, in the Old Testament Law (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), permitted divorce. However, Jesus is not saying that Moses wanted divorce. Instead, he attributes this permission to the people's "hardness of heart." This means that the people were so stubborn, unwilling to reconcile, and prone to treating their wives poorly, that Moses saw divorce as a necessary concession to prevent even greater injustice or violence. It was a pragmatic allowance, not an ideal situation.
"...allowed you to divorce your wives..." This is a direct reference to the Mosaic Law that permitted divorce, albeit with conditions.
"...but from the beginning it has not been so." This is the crux of Jesus' argument. He's contrasting the Mosaic Law's permission for divorce with God's original intention for marriage, as seen in creation (Genesis 2:24). "From the beginning" refers to the original design and purpose of marriage, before sin and human failings entered the picture. He is saying that marriage was intended to be a lifelong, unbreakable union.
In essence, Jesus is arguing:
1. Divorce was a concession to human sinfulness, not God's ideal. Moses allowed it because of the people's inability to live up to God's higher standard.
2. God's original intent for marriage is one of permanence and unity. Marriage is meant to be a covenant relationship that mirrors God's relationship with His people.
3. He is setting a higher standard for marriage for His followers. He is calling them to live out God's original intention for marriage, a standard that requires forgiveness, commitment, and a willingness to work through difficulties.
Interpretations and Implications:
Various Christian Denominations: This verse is a source of much debate and varying interpretations among Christian denominations. Some denominations take a very strict view, believing that divorce is never permissible except perhaps in cases of adultery (as mentioned in some other related verses). Others have a more lenient view, recognizing that divorce is sometimes unavoidable due to abuse, abandonment, or other extreme circumstances.
Emphasis on Reconciliation: Regardless of the specific interpretation, the verse generally emphasizes the importance of working to reconcile in marriage, rather than resorting to divorce. It highlights the seriousness of the marriage commitment and the need to strive for God's ideal.
Grace and Forgiveness: The verse also indirectly points to the need for grace and forgiveness. While Jesus upholds the ideal of marriage, he also understands human weakness and the brokenness of the world. Christians are called to offer grace and support to those who have gone through divorce, recognizing that it is often a painful and complex situation.
In summary, Matthew 19:8 is a powerful statement about the nature of marriage. It challenges the idea that divorce is a simple matter and calls people to consider God's original intention for marriage as a lifelong, unbreakable union. It also acknowledges the reality of human sinfulness and the need for grace and forgiveness in a broken world.
Matthew 19:8 - He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
What does "Matthew 19:8" mean?
This verse from Matthew 19:8 is part of a larger conversation Jesus has with the Pharisees about divorce. Let's break it down:
"He said to them..." This indicates Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, a Jewish sect known for their strict adherence to the law.
"...Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts..." This is a key statement. Jesus is acknowledging that Moses, in the Old Testament Law (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), permitted divorce. However, Jesus is not saying that Moses wanted divorce. Instead, he attributes this permission to the people's "hardness of heart." This means that the people were so stubborn, unwilling to reconcile, and prone to treating their wives poorly, that Moses saw divorce as a necessary concession to prevent even greater injustice or violence. It was a pragmatic allowance, not an ideal situation.
"...allowed you to divorce your wives..." This is a direct reference to the Mosaic Law that permitted divorce, albeit with conditions.
"...but from the beginning it has not been so." This is the crux of Jesus' argument. He's contrasting the Mosaic Law's permission for divorce with God's original intention for marriage, as seen in creation (Genesis 2:24). "From the beginning" refers to the original design and purpose of marriage, before sin and human failings entered the picture. He is saying that marriage was intended to be a lifelong, unbreakable union.
In essence, Jesus is arguing:
1. Divorce was a concession to human sinfulness, not God's ideal. Moses allowed it because of the people's inability to live up to God's higher standard.
2. God's original intent for marriage is one of permanence and unity. Marriage is meant to be a covenant relationship that mirrors God's relationship with His people.
3. He is setting a higher standard for marriage for His followers. He is calling them to live out God's original intention for marriage, a standard that requires forgiveness, commitment, and a willingness to work through difficulties.
Interpretations and Implications:
Various Christian Denominations: This verse is a source of much debate and varying interpretations among Christian denominations. Some denominations take a very strict view, believing that divorce is never permissible except perhaps in cases of adultery (as mentioned in some other related verses). Others have a more lenient view, recognizing that divorce is sometimes unavoidable due to abuse, abandonment, or other extreme circumstances.
Emphasis on Reconciliation: Regardless of the specific interpretation, the verse generally emphasizes the importance of working to reconcile in marriage, rather than resorting to divorce. It highlights the seriousness of the marriage commitment and the need to strive for God's ideal.
Grace and Forgiveness: The verse also indirectly points to the need for grace and forgiveness. While Jesus upholds the ideal of marriage, he also understands human weakness and the brokenness of the world. Christians are called to offer grace and support to those who have gone through divorce, recognizing that it is often a painful and complex situation.
In summary, Matthew 19:8 is a powerful statement about the nature of marriage. It challenges the idea that divorce is a simple matter and calls people to consider God's original intention for marriage as a lifelong, unbreakable union. It also acknowledges the reality of human sinfulness and the need for grace and forgiveness in a broken world.