Divorce

(Matthew 19.9; Mark 10.11,12; Luke 16.18)

^31 (A) You have been taught that a man who divorces his wife must write out divorce papers for her.^{[a] 32 (B)} But I tell you not to divorce your wife unless she has committed some terrible sexual sin.^[b] If you divorce her, you will cause her to be unfaithful, just as any man who marries her is guilty of taking another man's wife.

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.”