Matthew 19:7-9

Expanded Bible

⁷ The Pharisees asked, “Why then did Moses give a command for a man to divorce his wife by giving her ·divorce papers [a certificate of divorce/dismissal; Deut. 24:1]?”

⁸ Jesus answered, “Moses ·allowed [permitted] you to divorce your wives because ·you refused to accept God’s teaching [^Lof your hard-heartedness], but ·divorce was not allowed in the beginning [or this was not God’s intention at creation; ^Lfrom the beginning it was not like this]. ⁹ I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman ·is guilty of [commits] adultery.^[a] ·The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if his wife has sexual relations with another man [^L …except in the case of sexual immorality].”