Matthew 19:6 (KJV) - Forerunner Commentary (2024)

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Matthew 19:3-6

Jesus' teaching on marriage follows the pattern set in the first two chapters of Genesis. Matthew 19:4-6 appears in a passage on marriage and divorce in which Jesus answers a question posed by some Pharisees about divorce, specifically, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" (Matthew 19:3). At that time, divorce was quite rampant because of the general notion among Jews, taken from a misreading of Deuteronomy 24:1-4, that the law allowed a man to divorce his wife simply by giving his wife a certificate of divorce and sending her away.

Notice, however, how Jesus answers their cynical question: "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female' . . .?" (Matthew 19:4). He answered their question with Genesis 1:27! This gives us insight into what Jesus based His understanding of the institution of marriage on: God's original instruction just after creation. In the very next breath, He quotes from Genesis 2:24: "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Matthew 19:5).

So what did Jesus do in answering their question? He reached back to the very beginning of mankind and reminded them of God's intentions at that time, explaining that, in His judgment, nothing had changed. His purposes and instructions regarding marriage have not "evolved" over the millennia. He still considers marriage a God-plane union between a man and a woman with significant implications regarding being created in God's own image. In other words, God's reasons for the marriage institution have not been altered by mankind's inability to fulfill them.

Jesus continues in Matthew 19:6, "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." His answer can be paraphrased as, "Look, you have got things all wrong. Marriage is not just a physical relationship that one can make or break at any time and for any reason. Genesis shows what God intended when He created people male and female, and clearly, He made marriage a divinely ordained, lifelong institution." He explains in verse 8, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so." He then proceeds to give the biblical reasons for divorce.

In this New Testament context, Christ shows that God has endorsed the marriage relationship from the beginning as an excellent way to produce righteous character in His children. He is preparing children in His image—not just children who look like Him but also ones who live as He does. Thus, His creation of mankind was not complete with His physical creation in Genesis 1, but it continues to move forward spiritually within the conversion process. As can be seen in Jesus' comments, the marriage institution plays a prominent role in it. Divorce, sundering the union of man and wife, can be a great hindrance to the spiritual growth of both parties involved.

The first purpose of marriage, then, is that it provides a fitting environment for producing divine character.

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part Two)

Related Topics: Both Sexes Created in God's Image| Divorce| Divorce as a Hindrance to Spiritual Growth| God Created Male and Female| God Created Mankind in His Image| Institution of Marriage| Marriage -environment for Divine Character| Marriage and Divorce| Marriage as a God-Plane Relationship| Marriage as God Ordained Institution| Marriage as Lifelong Institution| Marriage Partners to Become One Flesh| Marriage- A God Plane Relationship| Spiritual Growth| Spiritual Growth through Marriage

What Does the Bible Teach Regarding Divorce?

God instituted marriage when He made a wife for Adam (Genesis 2:18). He instructed that a man should leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, becoming one flesh with her (verse 24). God's will is for marriage to last for life—with each partner loving, honoring, caring for, and cleaving to the other just as Christ loves and cares for His church (Ephesians 5:25). The Bible teaches the sacredness of marital vows (Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9; Romans 7:2-3; Hebrews 13:4).

However, we live in an imperfect world beset by human weakness, "hardness of heart," unfaithfulness, wickedness, irresponsibility, and all such things. People sin. Divorce occurs, even though God hates it, for it is a treacherous abandonment of the marriage covenant (Malachi 2:14-16).

What does one do if he or she has already been divorced? When a person repents and is converted, all his past sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38; Psalm 103:1-3, 10-12). Any past divorce would be included, and the person would be free to marry again but only to another within the church (II Corinthians 6:14; see Deuteronomy 7:1-4; 22:10).

What of those already converted? Paul wrote that those who have been divorced ("loosed") from an unbelieving mate do not sin if they marry (I Corinthians 7:27-28). Again, a converted person should marry within the church.

Paul was also inspired to write that a converted person must not leave or divorce a mate who is pleased to continue the marriage (verses 10-13). To divorce a faithful mate and marry another is adultery (Matthew 19:9). Divorce and remarriage is not sanctioned once God has entered the marriage and bound the couple for life (Matthew 5:32).

Although the unconverted world cannot receive God's teaching, all who are Christ's ought to obey Him implicitly, not only in refraining from divorce, but also in using all their resources to build a truly loving relationship (Ephesians 5:22-31; I Peter 3:1-7). Our earthly marriages ought to picture the great love relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32; see Revelation 19:7-9).

Additional Reading:
The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness
The Seventh Commandment (1997)
Choosing to Have a Good Relationship
Dating Outside the Church
Remembering Who We Are

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