Mark 10:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When they replied that Moses instructed to permit the divorce of a woman, Christ clarified the essence of that law to them.

Following a series of probing inquiries, the Pharisees sought His permission to pose yet another debated question: Is divorce permitted? The two primary rabbinical factions, Hillel and Shammai, approached this issue differently. Hillel allowed divorce for virtually any minor transgression, while Shammai imposed stricter guidelines against such leniency. The Lord presented a different perspective, grounded in the original, divine intention for marriage. Divorce should not occur, except in cases of infidelity. What God has united, humanity must not divide. When they challenged Him by asking how Moses permitted it, He explained that this concession was due to the people's inability to uphold the original law.

The inquiry posed by the Pharisees, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause?” was a challenge. This arose partly because at that time, Christ was under the authority of Herod Antipas, who had been criticized by John the Baptist for living unlawfully with his brother's spouse, leading the Pharisees to anticipate a nuanced reply, rather than a straightforward rejection of divorce's legitimacy. If He did deny it, He would contradict His own teachings (Matt. 5:31-32). Additionally, the rabbinical schools had differing views on this matter: some permitted divorce for any reason, while others allowed it solely in instances of infidelity. Thus, regardless of how Christ responded—which the Pharisees no doubt anticipated—He would run the risk of inconsistency (Matt. 5:31-32).

The Pharisees approached Him with a challenge, asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" In His discourse on marriage, divorce, and celibacy, this inquiry from the Pharisees, along with a following question from His disciples, prompted Jesus to clarify His teachings on the permanence of marriage and the nature of celibacy. He emphasized the unbreakable bond of marriage, noting that divorce is only permissible in cases of infidelity, a point discussed in earlier teachings (Mt. 5:31-32). Additionally, it is important to highlight Christ's perspective on celibacy: He firmly dismissed the Jewish practice that allowed men to send their wives away at their discretion. Instead, He affirmed the sanctity of marriage as a lifelong commitment and permitted divorce solely in instances of adultery.

The dialogue between Christ and the Pharisees regarding the sanctity of marriage closely resembles that found in Matthew, although the manner of expression differs somewhat. Certain phrases have been reordered, yet this does not diminish the core message (cf. Matt. 19:1-12). The inquiry posed—"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife for any reason?" (Matthew 19:3)—is significant because the phrase "for any reason" indicates that the Law of Moses allowed divorce under specific circumstances. Thus, the Pharisees’ simple question regarding the lawfulness of divorce lacked genuine meaning.

Moses permitted (the husband) to create a certificate of divorce and to separate.