Matthew 19:8

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

He saith {G3004} unto them {G846},{G3754} Moses {G3475} because of {G4314} the hardness {G4641} of your {G5216} hearts {G4641} suffered {G2010} you {G5213} to put away {G630} your {G5216} wives {G1135}: but {G1161} from {G575} the beginning {G746} it was {G1096} not {G3756} so {G3779}.

He answered, "Moshe allowed you to divorce your wives because your hearts are so hardened. But this is not how it was at the beginning.

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart; but it was not this way from the beginning.

He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.

Commentary

Matthew 19:8 features Jesus' profound response to the Pharisees regarding divorce, revealing God's original design for marriage and the impact of human sinfulness. This verse is central to understanding the biblical perspective on lifelong commitment versus the concessions made due to human frailty.

Context of Matthew 19:8

This verse is part of Jesus' discussion with the Pharisees on the topic of divorce. In the preceding verses, the Pharisees had approached Jesus, testing Him by asking if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. Jesus initially points them to the creation account, emphasizing the unity of male and female as "one flesh" (Matthew 19:5-6). When they then question why Moses permitted a certificate of divorce, Jesus delivers this pivotal verse, clarifying the difference between divine ideal and human concession.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Original Intent for Marriage: Jesus explicitly states, "from the beginning it was not so." This refers to the creation narrative in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24, where God instituted marriage as a permanent, exclusive union between a man and a woman. This theme underscores marriage as a sacred covenant designed by God, not merely a social contract.
  • The Hardness of Hearts: The phrase "hardness of your hearts" (Greek: sklerokardia) is the core reason Jesus gives for Moses' allowance of divorce. It signifies spiritual insensitivity, stubbornness, and an unwillingness to adhere to God's perfect will. This human failing, rooted in sin, necessitated a concession in the Law to prevent greater evils, such as abuse or neglect, rather than to endorse divorce as an ideal.
  • Concession Versus Command: Jesus differentiates between God's original, perfect command and the Mosaic law, which was a concession. The law of divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 was not a divine endorsement of divorce but a regulation of a practice that was already occurring due to human sin, offering some protection for the woman. Jesus restores the higher standard of God's original design.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek term for "hardness of hearts" is sklerokardia (σκληροκαρδία), a compound word meaning literally "hard-heartedness." This concept appears elsewhere in scripture to describe spiritual resistance to God's will and truth, as seen in the Israelites' wilderness wanderings or Pharaoh's refusal to let the people go. It highlights a deep-seated human condition that opposes divine principles, forcing God's law (through Moses) to address fallen humanity's realities rather than solely His perfect design.

Practical Application

Matthew 19:8 challenges believers to pursue God's ideal for marriage, which is a lifelong, covenantal union. While acknowledging the reality of human sin and its devastating effects on relationships, Jesus' teaching calls for repentance and a turning away from the "hardness of heart" that leads to relational breakdown. It emphasizes that grace allows for restoration and forgiveness, but the ultimate goal is to align with God's original, beautiful design for marriage. This verse encourages Christians to seek God's grace to overcome personal failings and to uphold the sanctity of marriage in a world often characterized by easy dissolution.

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Cross-References

  • Malachi 2:13 (5 votes)

    And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth [it] with good will at your hand.

  • Malachi 2:14 (5 votes)

    Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet [is] she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

  • Genesis 2:24 (4 votes)

    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

  • Mark 10:5 (2 votes)

    And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

  • Zechariah 7:12 (1 votes)

    Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

  • Matthew 3:15 (0 votes)

    And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

  • Jeremiah 6:16 (0 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].