But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus highlights that the real issue with divorce isn't just the act itself, but the devastating ripple effect it has. When a husband divorces his wife (outside of sexual immorality), he's not just ending a marriage; he's essentially pushing her into adultery by allowing, and even facilitating, her remarriage into sin. This shows that Jesus is deeply concerned with the practical consequences of our actions, even those that might seem legally permissible.
But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is contrasting His teaching with the common understanding of the Law given to Moses, which the Jewish leaders had distorted with their own traditions. He has already addressed anger and lust, and now He moves to the topic of divorce, explaining that the Mosaic Law's allowance for divorce was a concession to human "hardness of heart," not God's ideal.
Ever feel like rules are just guidelines? Jesus pushes back hard on this idea, especially when it comes to marriage. He challenges the way people were using Moses' law to justify easy divorces.
God's Higher Standard
Jesus declares, "But I say to you..." (Matthew 5:32). This isn't a minor tweak to the law; it's a radical redefinition of marriage's sanctity. The Old Testament, through Moses, allowed for divorce with a certificate (Deuteronomy 24:1), often interpreted as a way to manage messy situations and provide legal protection for the woman.
From Civil Law to Sacred Vow
Commentators like Calvin point out that the Jews of Jesus' day had reduced this regulation to a mere civil formality, believing that if they followed the procedure, they were in the clear with God. Jesus corrects this, explaining that the law was given for a righteous life, not just external order. He emphasizes that the marital bond, initiated by God, is profoundly sacred and not to be dissolved lightly.
The Exception's True Meaning
The exception for "sexual immorality" (or "fornication" in older translations) wasn't a loophole for personal preference. It pointed to a fundamental betrayal that fractured the very essence of the marriage covenant, effectively breaking the bond from the offending party's side. Any divorce without this grave cause, Jesus argues, makes both the one who divorces and the one who remarries guilty of adultery.
Jesus doesn't just talk about the couple; he exposes the devastating consequences of wrongful divorce, affecting not only the individuals but also the community.
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Making Others Adulterers
Jesus powerfully states that divorcing a wife without the specified cause 'makes her commit adultery.' This is a profound statement. It implies that when a husband unjustly puts away his wife, he is, in effect, pushing her into a situation where any subsequent marriage she enters would be considered adulterous. The act of divorce, in this context, creates the very condition for further sin.
The New Spouse's Guilt
The consequence extends to the person who marries a divorced woman. Jesus declares, 'and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.' This highlights that the sin isn't solely on the person initiating the divorce but also on anyone who enters into a union that, according to Jesus' teaching, remains bound by the original covenant. It underscores the sanctity of the marriage bond and the serious implications of disregarding it.
Restoring a Vision of Fidelity
As commentators like Wesley note, the phrase 'makes her commit adultery' specifically applies 'if she marry again.' Jesus is painting a stark picture of the cascading effects of unfaithfulness and improper divorce, aiming to restore a vision of unwavering marital fidelity.
Understand the original words
porneia · Greek Noun
A broad term for sexual sin and unchastity, encompassing any sexual activity outside the biblical marriage covenant between a man and a woman.
moicheuō · Greek Verb
The violation of the marriage covenant through sexual relations with someone other than one's spouse, breaking the 'one flesh' union.
Jesus is directly confronting the widely accepted, yet ethically compromised, divorce practices prevalent in Jewish society under the influence of the Hillel school of thought. By referencing the Mosaic Law's 'certificate of divorce,' He pushes back against interpretations that allowed for easy dissolution of marriage for almost any reason, grounding His teaching in the sanctity of the marriage covenant as established by God from creation.
~900 BC
Early Development of Divorce Laws
During the early period of Israel's history, divorce customs were likely influenced by surrounding cultures, with husbands having significant power to divorce wives. The Old Testament begins to regulate this practice.
c. 1400 BC
Deuteronomy Regulates Divorce
The Book of Deuteronomy (24:1-4) outlines a procedure for divorce, requiring a husband to give his wife a 'certificate of divorce' if he finds 'something indecent' about her. This was intended to offer some protection to the woman, preventing arbitrary rejection and allowing her to remarry.
c. 50 BC - AD 10
Pharisaic Schools Debate Divorce
Two major schools of interpretation within Pharisaic Judaism emerged: the school of Shammai, which held a stricter view on divorce, and the school of Hillel, which allowed divorce for a much wider range of reasons, often based on the husband's personal preference. This led to significant laxity in divorce practices.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus Teaches on Divorce
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus directly addresses the common understanding and practice of divorce, challenging the lax interpretations that had become prevalent. He reiterates a stricter view, based on the original intent of creation, allowing divorce only on the grounds of sexual immorality.
c. AD 50-60
Paul Addresses Divorce
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, also touches on the issue of divorce, generally reinforcing Jesus' teaching and advising that wives should not separate from their husbands, but if they do, they should remain unmarried or be reconciled.
This verse establishes the foundational concept of marriage as a sacred, unbreakable union ('one flesh'), providing the divine context against which Jesus' stricter interpretation in Matthew 5:32 is understood.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4This passage from the Old Testament law permitted divorce and remarriage under certain circumstances, highlighting the 'looser' interpretation Jesus is directly correcting and raising the standard beyond Mosaic allowance.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11Paul echoes Jesus' teaching on marital separation, reinforcing the idea that if a separation occurs, the parties are to remain unmarried or be reconciled, showing the enduring relevance of Jesus' commands.
Romans 7:2-3This passage uses the analogy of marriage law to explain how being 'bound to the law' ends when one spouse dies, but being 'released from the law of her husband' by death or divorce (except for adultery, as per Matthew) allows remarriage, directly paralleling the adultery consequence.
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 real issue with divorce isn't just the act itself, but the devastating ripple effect it has. When a husband divorces his wife (outside of sexual immorality), he's not just ending a marriage; he's essentially pushing her into adultery by allowing, and even facilitating, her remarriage into sin. This shows that Jesus is deeply concerned with the practical consequences of our actions, even those that might seem legally permissible.
Jesus is contrasting His teaching with the common understanding of the Law given to Moses, which the Jewish leaders had distorted with their own traditions. He has already addressed anger and lust, and now He moves to the topic of divorce, explaining that the Mosaic Law's allowance for divorce was a concession to human "hardness of heart," not God's ideal.
Jesus is contrasting His teaching with the common understanding of the Law given to Moses, which the Jewish leaders had distorted with their own traditions. He has already addressed anger and lust, and now He moves to the topic of divorce, explaining that the Mosaic Law's allowance for divorce was a concession to human "hardness of heart," not God's ideal.
"But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." — Jesus highlights that the real issue with divorce isn't just the act itself, but the devastating ripple effect it has. When a husband divorces his wife (outside of sexual immorality), he's not just e…
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Last reviewed October 2026