Matthew 19:4-6
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just quote Genesis; He points to its profound implications for marriage. By emphasizing "He who created them from the beginning," Jesus reveals that the original design of creation, not later human interpretation or even Mosaic law, holds the ultimate authority on this sacred union. This is a call to look beyond what's permissible to what's purposed from the very start.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's permissible to divorce one's wife for any reason. Jesus responds by directing them back to the original design of creation, bypassing their legalistic debate to address the foundational purpose of marriage as instituted by God himself. He challenges their understanding by appealing to the Genesis account, shifting the focus from human interpretation to divine intent.
When faced with confusing questions, where do you look for answers? Jesus didn't consult popular opinions or even the Law of Moses first. He went straight to the ultimate source.
The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus with a question about divorce: 'Is it lawful to divorce your wife for any reason?' Jesus's response was brilliant. He didn't get sidetracked by their tricky wording or the current cultural debates.
Instead, He masterfully turned their attention back to the very beginning. 'Have you not read,' He asked, pointing them to Genesis, 'that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?'
This wasn't just a historical reference; it was a theological foundation. Jesus was saying that the original design, established by God at creation, holds the ultimate authority. Before any laws or human interpretations, God's initial plan for humanity revealed His timeless will. This sets a powerful precedent: for clarity on God's will, especially concerning His institutions, we must go back to His foundational Word.
Jesus highlights a simple, profound truth about creation. What does 'made them male and female' really mean for relationships today?
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When Jesus says God 'made them male and female,' He's not just stating biological fact. He's revealing God's intentional design for humanity and, specifically, for marriage.
This wasn't an accidental arrangement; it was a deliberate act of creation that established the complementary nature of man and woman for the purpose of union.
Understand the original words
ktisas · Greek Verb
The act of bringing something into existence out of nothing, specifically referring to God's creative work at the beginning of time.
arsen kai thēly · Greek Noun/Adjective phrase
The fundamental, God-ordained binary distinction of human gender as established by the Creator, carrying equal dignity and distinct roles under God's design.
proskollēthēsetai · Greek Verb
To stick, cling, or glue together. It denotes a permanent, committed bond of love and loyalty in a covenantal relationship, especially in marriage.
sarka mian · Greek Noun/Adjective phrase
A biblical metaphor for the radical unity of two individuals in marriage, where they cease to be two separate entities and become a single, unified whole before God.
sarx · Greek Noun
Used in Genesis and here to describe the marriage union, it signifies a profound, ontological unity between a man and a woman that transcends mere physical attraction or legal contract, creating a singular entity in God’s sight.
synezeuxen · Greek Verb
Refers to a legal or divine bond or yoking. In this context, it emphasizes that marriage is an institution established and sanctioned by God, rather than a purely human invention.
chorizeto · Greek Verb
To divide, dissolve, or break apart. Jesus uses this word to forbid human interference in the permanent bond that God has established in marriage.
Jesus' response to the Pharisees grounds the sanctity of marriage not in the complexities of the Law of Moses or differing rabbinical opinions, but in the very order of creation established by God from the beginning.
c. 4000 BC— this verse
Creation of Adam and Eve
God creates the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, establishing the foundational model for marriage as a union between one male and one female.
c. 1440 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites are led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses, receiving the Law, which included regulations for society, marriage, and divorce.
c. 1440 BC
The Law of Moses
The Mosaic Law is given, which, in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, permits a man to divorce his wife by giving her a certificate of divorce under specific, though broadly interpreted, circumstances.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The southern kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, leading to the exile of many Jews. This period and its aftermath likely influenced evolving views on marriage and divorce.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and debating religious and social issues with Jewish leaders and crowds.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Pharisees Challenge Jesus on Divorce
The Pharisees confront Jesus with a question about the legality of divorce, seeking to trap him into contradicting the Law of Moses or alienating followers.
This passage is the direct source for Jesus' teaching, stating 'So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.' It establishes the foundational creation ordinance for marriage.
Genesis 2:24Jesus' argument in Matthew 19 builds directly on this verse, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.' This highlights the intended unity and permanence of marriage.
Malachi 2:15This prophetic passage speaks against the dissolution of marriage, asking, 'Did he not make them one, with a portion of his spirit in their union? And what does the one want but godly offspring? You must therefore guard yourselves, and not be faithless to the wife of your youth.' It echoes Jesus' emphasis on God's design for marital faithfulness.
Romans 1:26-27Paul echoes the creation order by contrasting it with unnatural desires, showing that deviating from God's design for male and female leads to perversion. This passage reinforces the created order Jesus appeals to in Matthew 19.
1 Corinthians 6:16-17Here, Paul speaks of sexual immorality as a sin against one's own body and against God, stating that 'whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her.' This connects to Jesus' 'one flesh' concept, emphasizing the profound unity and commitment marriage signifies.
barnesMatthew 19:4: "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,"
And he answered and said ... - Instead of referring to the opinions of either party, Jesus called their attention to the original design of marriage, to the authority of Moses an authority acknowledged by them both. Have ye not read? - Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:21-22. "And said, For this cause," etc., Genesis 2:24. That is, God, at the beginning, made but one m…
calvinMatthew 19:3-9: "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"
- And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever? 4. Who answering said to them, Have you not read, that he who made them at first, [593] made them male and female? 5. And he said, Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and they…
Jesus doesn't just quote Genesis; He points to its profound implications for marriage. By emphasizing "He who created them from the beginning," Jesus reveals that the original design of creation, not later human interpretation or even Mosaic law, holds the ultimate authority on this sacred union. This is a call to look beyond what's permissible to what's purposed from the very start.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's permissible to divorce one's wife for any reason. Jesus responds by directing them back to the original design of creation, bypassing their legalistic debate to address the foundational purpose of marriage as instituted by God himself. He challenges their understanding by appealing to the Genesis account, shifting the focus from human interpretation to divine intent.
The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by asking if it's permissible to divorce one's wife for any reason. Jesus responds by directing them back to the original design of creation, bypassing their legalistic debate to address the foundational purpose of marriage as instituted by God himself. He challenges their understanding by appealing to the Genesis account, shifting the focus from human interpretation to divine intent.
"He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they…" — Jesus doesn't just quote Genesis; He points to its profound implications for marriage. By emphasizing "He who created them from the beginning," Jesus reveals that the original design of creation, n…
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