Matthew 19:1-12

Contemporary English Version

Teaching about Divorce

(Mark 10.1-12)

19 When Jesus finished teaching, he left Galilee and went to the part of Judea east of the Jordan River. ² Large crowds followed him, and he healed their sick.

³ Some Pharisees wanted to test Jesus. They came up to him and asked, “Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

^4 (A) Jesus answered, “Don't you know in the beginning the Creator made a man and a woman? ^5 (B) That's why a man leaves his father and mother and gets married. He becomes like one person with his wife. ⁶ Then they are no longer two people, but one. And no one should separate a couple God has joined together.”

^7 (C) The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why did Moses say a man could write out divorce papers and send his wife away?”

⁸ Jesus replied, “You are so heartless! That's why Moses allowed you to divorce your wife. But from the beginning God did not intend it to be that way. ^9 (D) I say if your wife has not committed some terrible sexual sin,^[a] you must not divorce her to marry someone else. If you do, you are unfaithful.”

¹⁰ The disciples said, “If that's how it is between a man and a woman, it's better not to get married.”

¹¹ Jesus told them, “Only those people who have been given the gift of staying single can accept this teaching. ¹² Some people are unable to marry because of birth defects or because of what someone has done to their bodies. Others stay single in order to serve God better. Anyone who can accept this teaching should do so.”