New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 19:7

The Cost of Following

“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Matthew 19:7 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 19:7, in plain English

The Pharisees push back: 'Then why did Moses say to give a certificate of divorce?'

Why it's here

They think they've found a contradiction — if God hates divorce, why did Moses allow it?

Who's speaking

The Pharisees try to use the Bible against Jesus.

Where it sits in the story

They thought they had a gotcha moment. If marriage is so sacred, why does the Law of Moses have divorce procedures?

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The Pharisees counter with Deuteronomy 24:1-4, asking why Moses 'commanded' (eneteilato) a certificate of divorce, attempting to pit Torah against Jesus' teaching.

Language and setting

The Pharisees upgrade Moses' permission to a command, trying to create a contradiction between Jesus and the Law.

Voice

The Pharisees challenge Jesus by appealing to Mosaic legislation on divorce.

Significance

The Pharisees push back, citing Moses as an authority to undermine Jesus' appeal to creation.

In context

Matthew 19:5–9

5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

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

7“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.

9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Read all of Matthew 19 — A rich young man walks away sad, children are welcomed, and the disciples wonder who can possibly be saved. Jesus redefines what it costs to follow him.

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