Mark 10:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord replied to them, Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery with the second wife.

A wife is tied to her husband by divine law for as long as he lives. In the same way, her husband is also tied to her existence. This sacred bond renders other relationships unattainable without sin, as infidelity would lead to the creation of four sinful individuals from two married partners: should the wife choose to marry another man, and similarly if the husband remarries. Although a man who divorces his wife without grounds of infidelity, as highlighted in Matthew, and then takes another woman is seen as morally corrupt, this man is deemed an adulterer. Moreover, Mark indicates that a husband who separates from his wife and marries someone else commits adultery with her. If a wife leaves her husband and marries anew, she also engages in adultery.

The teaching of the Lord regarding the prohibition of separation except for reasons of immorality is understood to pertain to both husbands and wives alike. This is supported by passages such as Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18, Romans 7:2-3, and 1 Corinthians 7:10-11.

It is not the effort in logical reasoning that truly discloses our genuine nature, but rather the power of example and the commitment to action. Thus, one may choose to remain in the state of their birth or enter into a single marriage. However, to engage in remarriage is to partake in adultery, even if it is justified under seemingly acceptable circumstances.

Both the man who separates from his wife and the one who accepts her are culpable, as he provides her with an opportunity to sin.

After a series of probing inquiries, the Pharisees sought His permission to address a lingering question they had debated: Is divorce allowed? The two primary schools of rabbinic thought, Hillel and Shammai, approached this issue in contrasting ways. Hillel permitted divorce for virtually any reason, however minor, while Shammai limited it to more serious grounds. The Lord presented His own perspective, rooted in the original, divine design for marriage. He stated that divorce should not occur except in cases of marital unfaithfulness. What God has united, let no human separate. When challenged with the question, "Why then did Moses allow it?" He explained that this concession was made due to the hardness of hearts among the people of His time who struggled to uphold that divine standard.

The Evangelist Mark provides a more accurate account, indicating that these words were spoken by Jesus Christ, not in response to the Pharisees as noted by the Evangelist Matthew, but rather to certain disciples while Jesus was present in the house. However, Matthew captures the essence of Christ's statement more precisely. Unlike Matthew, Mark does not include any terms that would restrict the New Testament teaching regarding the permanence of marriage, apart from the term adulteress. In Mark’s account, Jesus not only prohibits a husband from divorcing his wife and marrying another but also states that "if a wife divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery" (v. 12). In Jewish culture, a woman did not have the legal right to leave her husband.

The Pharisees approached Him to test Him, asking, "Is it permissible for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" This inquiry concerning marriage, separation, and celibacy prompted Jesus to provide clarity on the enduring nature of marriage and the concept of celibacy. His teachings affirm the permanence of marital bonds, while noting that divorce is permissible solely in instances of infidelity, as previously explained in relation to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:31-32). Furthermore, Jesus firmly dismissed the prevailing Jewish practice of allowing husbands to discard wives who had fallen out of favor, affirming instead the sanctity of marriage. He only permitted the dissolution of marriages due to unfaithfulness.

The narrative of Christ's dialogue with the Pharisees regarding the holiness of marriage shares a fundamental resemblance with that found in Matthew. The differences lie primarily in the way the dialogue is articulated, as well as the rearrangement of certain sayings, which does not impact the core truth of the discussion (see Matt. 19:1-12).

Concerning the question of whether it is permissible for a husband and wife to separate, the challenge in the query arises from the phrase "for any reason" (Matthew 19:3). The Law of Moses allowed divorce under specific circumstances, making a general inquiry about the lawfulness of divorce meaningless to the Pharisees.

Upon reaching the residence, the disciples urged the Lord to continue their discussion. The Divine Teacher, who did not come to abolish the law or the prophets but to bring them to completion (Matt. 5:17), reiterated the principles of His spiritual kingdom—principles that uphold the sacredness and permanence of marriage, as long as these attributes are not undermined by the actions taken: If a man divorces his wife and marries another, he commits adultery against her; and if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.