Mark 10:2

And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away [his] wife? tempting him.

And {G2532} the Pharisees {G5330} came to him {G4334}, and asked {G1905} him {G846}, Is it {G1487} lawful {G1832} for a man {G435} to put away {G630} his wife {G1135}? tempting {G3985} him {G846}.

Some P'rushim came up and tried to trap him by asking him, "Does the Torah permit a man to divorce his wife?"

Some Pharisees came to test Him. โ€œIs it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?โ€ they inquired.

And there came unto him Pharisees, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? trying him.

Commentary

In Mark 10:2, the Gospel of Mark introduces a pivotal encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees, setting the stage for Jesus' profound teachings on marriage and divorce. This verse highlights the confrontational nature of the Pharisees' approach, as they sought to trap Jesus with a divisive question.

Context

The Pharisees, a prominent religious and political group in first-century Judaism, frequently challenged Jesus, attempting to discredit Him in the eyes of the public and expose Him as a law-breaker or a false teacher. Their question, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?", was not born out of a genuine desire for truth, but rather to "tempt" or test Him. This specific issue of divorce was a highly debated topic among Jewish scholars, particularly between the schools of Hillel (who allowed divorce for almost any reason) and Shammai (who held a stricter view, primarily allowing it only for unchastity). By asking Jesus this, they aimed to force Him to take a side, thereby alienating either the more liberal or more conservative factions, or to contradict the Mosaic Law concerning divorce as found in Deuteronomy 24:1.

Key Themes

  • Testing and Temptation: The verse explicitly states the Pharisees' motive was "tempting him." This reveals their adversarial stance and their desire to find fault with Jesus' teachings.
  • The Sanctity of Marriage: Although the verse itself is a question, it introduces the broader theme of God's design for marriage, which Jesus goes on to elaborate upon in the subsequent verses. It sets up the discussion about the permanence and sacredness of the marital covenant.
  • Interpretation of Law: The debate reflects differing interpretations of the Mosaic Law, foreshadowing Jesus' emphasis on the original intent of God's law rather than human traditions or loopholes.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "tempting" is peirazo (ฯ€ฮตฮนฯฮฌฮถฯ‰), which means to test, try, or tempt. In this context, it carries the negative connotation of attempting to ensnare or trick someone, rather than a neutral inquiry. The phrase "put away" translates from apolyo (แผ€ฯ€ฮฟฮปฯฯ‰), meaning to release, dismiss, or divorce, directly addressing the legal act of ending a marriage.

Reflection and Application

Mark 10:2 serves as a reminder that not all questions are asked with pure motives. Like the Pharisees, people sometimes approach spiritual matters with cynicism or a desire to find fault. For believers today, this verse underscores the importance of understanding Jesus' teaching on the sacredness of marriage, which He grounds not in the concessions of the Mosaic Law, but in God's original creation design (see Genesis 2:24). It prompts us to seek genuine understanding of God's word rather than looking for ways to justify our own desires or traditions. This encounter also highlights Jesus' wisdom in navigating contentious issues, always pointing back to divine truth.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 7:10

    ยถ And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband:

  • 1 Corinthians 7:11

    But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife.

  • Luke 11:53

    And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge [him] vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

  • Luke 11:54

    Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

  • John 8:6

    This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with [his] finger wrote on the ground, [as though he heard them not].

  • Matthew 23:13

    ยถ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

  • John 7:32

    The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
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