“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus highlights that the common understanding of divorce, simply giving a written notice, was a loophole, not God's original intent for marriage. This legalistic approach allowed people to casually dissolve marriages, sidestepping the deep commitment God intended.
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is continuing His sermon on the mount, directly addressing the Jewish understanding of the Law. He has just spoken about anger and lust, and now moves to divorce, directly quoting a common interpretation of Old Testament law regarding divorce. This passage sets the stage for Jesus to then elevate the standard, contrasting the common practice with God's original, more stringent intention for marriage.
The Old Testament law allowed divorce, but it wasn't a free-for-all. So why did the Jews think it was?
The Jewish Understanding of Divorce
The verse quotes a common understanding of Deuteronomy 24:1: 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' The Pharisees, and many Jews of Jesus' day, had twisted this into a license for easy divorce.
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Jesus flips the script on divorce, revealing a truth about marriage that shatters common assumptions.
God's Unbreakable Marriage Vow
Jesus’ teaching here isn't just about legal procedures; it’s about the very nature of marriage as God intended it.
Understand the original words
apolyō · Greek Verb
To dismiss, release, or send away; in a marital context, it refers to the legal dissolution of the marriage bond.
apostasion · Greek Noun
A legal document or writing of separation given to a wife to certify the termination of a marriage, providing her legal protection.
Jesus quotes the provision for a certificate of divorce found in Deuteronomy, not as an endorsement, but to highlight how the Jewish people had twisted this concession—originally intended to prevent worse abuses—into a license for casual divorce based on personal preference, ignoring God's original design for marriage.
~1400 BC
Mosaic Law Promulgated
The Law of Moses, including Deuteronomy 24:1-4 concerning divorce, is given to Israel. This law provided a procedure for divorce but was a concession to human weakness rather than God's original design.
c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Rise of Rabbinic Divorce Interpretations
Jewish rabbinic schools, particularly the followers of Hillel, develop increasingly lax interpretations of Deuteronomy 24:1, allowing divorce for virtually any reason a husband might dislike his wife.
c. 25 BC
Son of Sirach's Advice on Divorce
The apocryphal book Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) reflects the lax attitude toward divorce, advising a husband to 'cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce' if a wife displeases him.
c. AD 30
Pharisees Test Jesus on Divorce
The Pharisees, likely followers of the more liberal Hillel school, question Jesus about the lawfulness of divorce, seeking to trap him. Jesus points back to the original creation intent of marriage.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Quotes the Divorce Provision
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus directly quotes the provision from Deuteronomy 24:1 as it was commonly understood and practiced by his audience, setting the stage to correct their misunderstanding.
c. AD 60
Paul Addresses Divorce in Corinth
The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, addresses issues of marriage and divorce, reaffirming that divorce is permissible only in cases of sexual immorality or desertion by an unbeliever.
This is the Old Testament passage that Jesus is referencing, which allowed for divorce with a certificate. The commentary highlights how this was often misused by the people, which Jesus is addressing.
Matthew 19:3-9Here, Jesus directly addresses the Pharisees' question about divorce, elaborating on the 'hardness of hearts' that led to Moses' allowance and reaffirming marriage as a lifelong, indissoluble union except for sexual immorality.
1 Corinthians 7:10-16Paul addresses the issue of divorce and remarriage within the early church, affirming that a believing spouse should not seek divorce if married to an unbeliever who is willing to stay, but also acknowledging that if the unbeliever departs, the believing spouse is not bound.
Malachi 2:13-16This passage from the Old Testament speaks against divorce, with God stating that He 'hates' putting away a spouse, underscoring the sacredness of the marital covenant that Jesus is upholding.
calvinMatthew 5:31-32: "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:"
Again, it hath been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. [408] 32. But I say to you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, except on account of unchastity, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry a woman that is put away committeth adultery.
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth a…
henryMatthew 5:27-32: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:"
5:27-32 Victory over the desires of the heart, must be attended with painful exertions. But it must be done. Every thing is bestowed to save us from our sins, not in them. All our senses and powers must be kept from those things which lead to transgression. Those who lead others into temptation to sin, by dress or in other ways, or leave them in it, or expose them to it, make themselves guilty…
Jesus highlights that the common understanding of divorce, simply giving a written notice, was a loophole, not God's original intent for marriage. This legalistic approach allowed people to casually dissolve marriages, sidestepping the deep commitment God intended.
Jesus is continuing His sermon on the mount, directly addressing the Jewish understanding of the Law. He has just spoken about anger and lust, and now moves to divorce, directly quoting a common interpretation of Old Testament law regarding divorce. This passage sets the stage for Jesus to then elevate the standard, contrasting the common practice with God's original, more stringent intention for marriage.
Jesus is continuing His sermon on the mount, directly addressing the Jewish understanding of the Law. He has just spoken about anger and lust, and now moves to divorce, directly quoting a common interpretation of Old Testament law regarding divorce. This passage sets the stage for Jesus to then elevate the standard, contrasting the common practice with God's original, more stringent intention for marriage.
"“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’" — Jesus highlights that the common understanding of divorce, simply giving a written notice, was a loophole, not God's original intent for marriage. This legalistic approach allowed people to casually…
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Last reviewed October 2026