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He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Concession, Not a Command
Jesus corrects the Pharisees by stating Moses never commanded divorce but merely “permitted” it. Commentators explain this was not a divine endorsement but a legal concession to regulate an existing, sinful practice. The law, such as requiring a written certificate, was intended to slow the process and prevent worse evils like spousal abuse or murder.
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Matthew
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
He says to them, and so on. Jesus admits that this was allowed, but still He contends that this was not the original design
For your hardness of heart (προς την σκληροκαρδιαν υμων). The word is apparently one of the few Biblical words (LXX and the N.T.).…
19th Century
Anglican
Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts... — The force of Jesus's answer lies in two key points.
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Baptist
Moses tolerated and restricted an evil custom that he knew such a people would not relinquish, once it had been established among them for so long.…
The Pharisees refer to Dt 24:1–4, which they interpret to mean something like this: “If a man takes a wife... and she does not find favor in his ey…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
He says to them In answer to their objection;
Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suff…
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The Pharisees were eager to draw something from Jesus that they could portray as contrary to the law of Moses. Cases about marriage have been numer…
13th Century
Catholic
In this passage, it was shown how one comes to eternal life by the common way. Here, He teaches how one comes by the way of perfection. This way of…
