Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 19:3

"And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful [for a man] to put away his wife for every cause?" — Matthew 19:3 (ASV)

The Pharisees also came. (See Barnes' Notes on Matthew 3:7).

Tempting him. This means, to get him, if possible, to express an opinion that should involve him in difficulty. There was all the more cunning in this captious question they proposed, since at that time the people were very much divided on the subject. One part, following the opinions of Hillel, said that a man might divorce his wife for any offense, or any dislike he might have of her. (See Barnes' Notes on Matthew 5:31).

Others, of the school of Shammai, maintained that divorce was unlawful, except in case of adultery. Whatever opinion, therefore, Christ expressed, they expected that he would involve himself in difficulty with one of their parties.