Read & explore together
Jesus Teaches about Marriage
Jesus is asked about divorce while teaching in Judea beyond the Jordan. In Matthew and Mark, he answers by going back to the beginning of creation and by speaking plainly about marriage, separation, and adultery.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
Jesus has left Galilee and is among the crowds in Judea beyond the Jordan. Matthew says he healed there, and Mark says he taught there as usual. Pharisees test him with a question about divorce. Jesus answers with words about creation, Moses, hardness of heart, and the seriousness of breaking a marriage union.
Matthew 19:1–12; Mark 10:1–12Main takeaway
Jesus teaches that marriage is a union God joins, people must not separate, and divorcing to marry another brings a serious adultery warning, with Matthew also stating an exception for sexual immorality.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A testing question among the crowdsJesus comes into Judea beyond the Jordan. Matthew notes that great multitudes followed him and he healed them there, while Mark says multitudes gathered and he taught them again as he usually did.
Explanation
Jesus comes into Judea beyond the Jordan. Matthew notes that great multitudes followed him and he healed them there, while Mark says multitudes gathered and he taught them again as he usually did. In that setting, Pharisees came to test him by asking whether it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.
02Jesus answers from the beginningJesus replies by pointing back to the beginning. He says the Creator made them male and female, and that a man leaves father and mother and is joined to his wife.
Explanation
Jesus replies by pointing back to the beginning. He says the Creator made them male and female, and that a man leaves father and mother and is joined to his wife. Because the two become one flesh, they are no longer two. Jesus then says people must not separate what God has joined together.
03Moses, hardness of heart, and adulteryWhen asked about Moses and a certificate of divorce, Jesus says this was allowed because of hardness of heart, and that it was not so from the beginning.
Explanation
When asked about Moses and a certificate of divorce, Jesus says this was allowed because of hardness of heart, and that it was not so from the beginning. Matthew records a specific exception, ‘except for sexual immorality’, and also says that the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Mark states that divorcing and marrying another is adultery, and includes the same warning for a woman divorcing her husband.
04Matthew’s further discussion and Mark’s private follow-upMatthew continues with the disciples saying that if this is the case, it may be better not to marry.
Explanation
Matthew continues with the disciples saying that if this is the case, it may be better not to marry. Jesus says not everyone can receive this saying, then speaks about eunuchs in different circumstances and about those able to receive this teaching. Mark instead notes that in the house the disciples asked him again about the same matter before his further warning.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Matthew 19:1–12 | A testing question among the crowds Jesus answers from the beginning Moses, hardness of heart, and adultery Matthew’s further discussion and Mark’s private follow-up |
| Mark | Mark 10:1–12 | A testing question among the crowds Jesus answers from the beginning Moses, hardness of heart, and adultery Matthew’s further discussion and Mark’s private follow-up |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Jesus answer the divorce question by going back to ‘the beginning’?
Trace how he connects marriage with God making male and female, the two becoming one flesh, and God joining them together.
02What does Jesus say about Moses’ allowance for divorce?
Notice that Jesus explains it by hardness of heart and contrasts it with what was true from the beginning.
03How do Matthew and Mark continue the conversation differently after Jesus’ main answer?
Matthew records the disciples’ reaction and Jesus’ words about receiving this teaching and eunuchs, while Mark records a further question in the house and includes the warning about a woman divorcing her husband.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 19:1–12
1When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
4He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
5and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh’?
6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
7They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”
8He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
9I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”
10His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.”
11But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
Mark 10:1–12
1He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them.
2Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3He answered, “What did Moses command you?”
4They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.”
5But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
6But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.
7For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife,
8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
10In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter.
11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12If a woman herself divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”