Matthew 19:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Conversely, the latter only grow more obstinate as a result, approaching Him with temptation. Unable to trap Jesus Christ through His actions, they present Him with difficult questions to answer. It is noted that they approached Him, and the tempters inquired, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” (v. 3) Such foolishness! They attempted to silence Him with their queries, despite having already witnessed His authority! When the Pharisees engaged in lengthy discussions with Jesus regarding the Sabbath (Matt. 12), accused Him of blasphemy (Matt. 9:3), claimed He was possessed (John 10:20), criticized His disciples for plucking grain on the Sabbath, and condemned them for not washing their hands (Matt.

Oh, the folly of the Pharisees! They believed they could silence Christ with their inquiries. If He had declared, ‘It is permissible to divorce one’s spouse for any reason,’ they might have retorted, ‘How could You have previously stated that no one should divorce except for the cause of unfaithfulness?’ And if He had proclaimed, ‘It is not permissible to divorce one’s spouse at all,’ they would have sought to accuse Him of opposing Moses, who allowed for the dismissal of an undesired wife without sufficient grounds. Yet what does Christ reveal? He demonstrates that celibacy was ordained by our Creator from the very beginning.

Once more, the Pharisees are put to the test; once again, those who study the Law fail to grasp its true meaning; and once more, the interpreters of the Law find themselves in need of new teachers. The Sadducees, who inquired about the resurrection, the lawyers, who sought answers concerning perfection, the Herodians, who questioned matters of lineage, and others who challenged issues of authority, were all left wanting. Meanwhile, someone approaches the Incomprehensible One to ask about marriage, questioning the very Creator of marriage Himself, who is the origin of all humanity.

From Galilee He journeyed to Judea, where a group of Pharisees and Sadducees approached Him to inquire if it was permissible for a husband to divorce his wife for any reason. Their intent was to trap Him through a form of logical reasoning, knowing that whatever He responded could be used against Him. If He had asserted that a wife could be sent away for any cause and then marry another, He would have been deemed as teaching something that contradicted modesty. Conversely, if He declared that divorce was not permissible for every offense, He would have been viewed as violating sacred law and considered an adversary to Moses, thereby opposing God Himself.

When they witnessed His miracles and divine authority, their hearts were hardened. Unable to criticize His deeds, they resorted to trying to trap Him with His words, a strategy they had employed multiple times before, only to end up speechless each time. Yet their jealousy was unrestrained and bold. Pay attention to their deceit; although He had previously taught on this matter, specifically in the fifth chapter, stating, ‘Whosoever letteth his wife go, except for the word of an adulterer, doth she commit adultery’ (Matthew 5:32), they presumed He had overlooked this teaching.

Once more, the Holy Spirit has provided us with great gifts and profound beauty in this tangible feast. However, I focused on the Pharisees—those who engage in empty chatter and seek to ensnare others—and felt deep compassion for their corrupt attitudes. They aimed to outsmart the very Source of wisdom with their inquiries but were ultimately unsuccessful, as the Divinity of the Only Begotten effortlessly uses their questions against them. This seems to echo the prophetic words of Isaiah: "the Lord turneth back the wise, and curtails their counsels, and setteth the tongue of His servant" (Isaiah 44:25-26), followed by David's lament: "their tongues flatter them: judge them, O God, that they depart from their thoughts" (Psalm 5:10-11).

Every good husband will appreciate a worthy wife, for true love is free from wrongdoing. A man who truly cherishes his spouse has no need for a decree of separation. When such a decree becomes necessary, it reveals an underlying animosity; and where animosity exists, there is infidelity. Consider this: if you observe someone seeking a physician, it is reasonable to conclude that they are unwell. Similarly, when someone begins to inquire about the laws surrounding divorce, it is evident that they are lacking in moral integrity.

The Pharisees approached Him with the intent of trapping Him in His words, asking, "Is it permissible for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" St. Chrysostom notes the irritation inherent in their inquiry; they questioned Him as if He had forgotten His teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. They sought to catch Him by suggesting that if He advocated for divorce for any cause, they could retort, "How then do You explain that no one should divorce except for the sake of marital unfaithfulness?" Conversely, if He argued against all divorces, He could be accused of contradicting Moses, who permitted a man to divorce a disliked wife without a valid reason, as explained by Blessed Theophylact.

Jesus discusses topics of marriage, divorce, and celibacy, specifically virginity. The inquiry posed by the Pharisees and the follow-up question from the disciples prompted Jesus to clarify the permanence of marriage and the calling to celibacy. He affirms the inherent nature of marriage's indissolubility and addresses the notion of divorce in cases of infidelity, as elaborated in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:31-32).

The Pharisees approached Him with the intent to test Him. Their inquiries were not driven by a desire for understanding but rather by a wish to catch Him saying something that contradicted the law. This is why the term “tempting” is significant here. Is it permissible for a man to divorce his wife for any reason? The use of ‘man’ instead of ‘husband’ indicates that within the marriage covenant, the husband holds a dominant position as dictated by natural law, a position that has warped into a harsh authority, characterized by absolute power.

He departed from Galilee and arrived at the boundaries of Judea. He was alongside the Jordan, on the eastern bank, likely traversing Perea or the ancient region of Gilead. On the western side of the Jordan, situated between Galilee and Judea, lay Samaria, which was the usual route to Judea; however, on this occasion, the Savior opted not to take that path, although He had done so previously. Instead, after crossing the Jordan from Galilee, He journeyed along the river’s edge, and subsequently crossed the river again, most likely near Jericho, before entering the heart of Judea.