Single lesson
Jesus Teaches about Marriage
Matthew 19:1–12; Mark 10:1–12
Jesus is tested with a question about divorce. In both Matthew and Mark, he answers by pointing back to the beginning, speaks seriously about divorce and remarriage, and then gives a careful reply to his disciples.
Before you teach
Jesus is in the region of Judea beyond the Jordan, with crowds around him. In Matthew, many follow him and he heals them there. In Mark, the crowds gather again and he teaches them. Pharisees test him with a question about divorce, and Jesus answers from what was so from the beginning.
Students will be able to explain that Jesus answers the divorce question by pointing to God joining husband and wife, distinguishing Moses’ allowance from the beginning, and repeating a serious warning about divorce and remarriage.
Welcome: Hear the tested question
5 minTell students this passage records Jesus answering a tested question about divorce. Explain that the reading includes mature terms, so the group will stay close to the wording of the passage and discuss it respectfully. Ask students to listen for what question is asked and where Jesus begins his answer.
Matthew 19:3, Mark 10:2
Read and explain: Jesus points to the beginning
10 minRead Matthew 19:3-6 and Mark 10:2-9. Note that Jesus answers by asking what they have read and by speaking about the beginning. He says God made them male and female, a man is joined to his wife, and the two become one flesh. Then he says people should not separate what God has joined.
Matthew 19:4, Matthew 19:5, Matthew 19:6, Mark 10:3, Mark 10:6, Mark 10:7, Mark 10:8, Mark 10:9
Discuss: Moses' allowance and Jesus' contrast
8 minRead Matthew 19:7-9 and Mark 10:4-5. Help students observe the contrast Jesus makes. He says Moses allowed divorce because of hardness of heart, yet from the beginning it was not so. As an application question, students may consider why Jesus answers by returning to the beginning rather than staying only with what was allowed.
Matthew 19:7, Matthew 19:8, Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:4, Mark 10:5
Respond with care: Text reminder card
10 minStudents make a small card with a phrase from the passage such as “What therefore God has joined together” or “from the beginning”. Then present one realistic scenario, such as hearing careless talk about marriage, and ask for a response that stays close to Jesus’ words. Make clear these responses are applications, not extra rules from the passage.
Matthew 19:6, Matthew 19:8, Mark 10:9
Closing: The disciples ask again
7 minRead Matthew 19:10-12 and Mark 10:10-12. Note that the disciples continue the conversation. In Matthew, Jesus says not all can receive this saying, then speaks about eunuchs in three ways and adds, “He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.” In Mark, he repeats the warning about divorcing and marrying another.
Matthew 19:10, Matthew 19:11, Matthew 19:12, Mark 10:10, Mark 10:11, Mark 10:12
Questions to explore
Where does Jesus begin his answer to the divorce question, and what does he say there?
Look for Jesus’ words about “the beginning” and list the phrases he uses about being made male and female, being joined, and becoming one flesh.
Matthew 19:4, Matthew 19:5, Matthew 19:6, Mark 10:6, Mark 10:7, Mark 10:8, Mark 10:9
What contrast does Jesus make between Moses' allowance and what was so from the beginning?
Use Jesus’ exact wording about hardness of heart and his statement that “from the beginning it has not been so”.
Matthew 19:8, Mark 10:5
How do Matthew and Mark together show that the disciples know this teaching is serious?
Notice the disciples’ reaction in Matthew and that they ask Jesus again in the house in Mark.
Matthew 19:10, Mark 10:10
Make, think or respond
Beginning and Joined Together Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pens or pencils
- markers
- Bibles or the passage written out
Try it together
- Read Matthew 19:6, Matthew 19:8 and Mark 10:9 aloud.
- Ask each student to choose one short phrase from the passage to write on a card, such as “from the beginning” or “What therefore God has joined together”.
- On the back, have them write one text-based sentence explaining why they chose it.
- Present one realistic example about speaking respectfully about marriage, and invite students to write one careful response grounded in the passage.
- Let volunteers read their phrase and explanation aloud.
The cards keep attention on Jesus’ own words and help students connect his main teaching with a respectful response.
Adapt for your group
- For ages 12-14, define key terms briefly, keep the scenario general, and focus discussion on Jesus’ contrast between “from the beginning” and “because of the hardness of your hearts”.
- For ages 15-17, compare Matthew 19:7-12 with Mark 10:10-12 and ask students to list what each account explicitly says without adding details from outside the passage.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “Lord Jesus, help us listen carefully to your words, speak respectfully about marriage and families, and respond to hard passages with honesty and care. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 19
1 When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2 Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3 Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
5 and 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’?
6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
7 They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”
8 He 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.
9 I 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.”
10 His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.”
11 But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
12 For 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 He 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.
2 Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?”
4 They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.”
5 But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
6 But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.
7 For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife,
8 and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
10 In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter.
11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12 If a woman herself divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.