⁸ Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

¹³ Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears.^(A) You weep and wail^(B) because he no longer looks with favor^(C) on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.^{(D) 14} You ask,^(E) “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness^(F) between you and the wife of your youth.^(G) You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.^(H)

²⁴ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united^(A) to his wife, and they become one flesh.^(B)

⁵ “It was because your hearts were hard^(A) that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied.

¹² They made their hearts as hard as flint^(A) and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.^(B) So the Lord Almighty was very angry.^(C)

⁶ I say this as a concession, not as a command.^(A)

³¹ The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ This is what the Lord says: