Matthew 19:1-9

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.”