ST MATTHEW
CHAPTER 19
Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce—Eternal life is for those who keep the commandments—The Twelve Apostles shall judge the house of Israel.
1 AND it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
3 ¶ 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?
[ Notice how they have set this up without any context, so it is a purposeful question designed to trap the Savior. He doesn't just chase their story, he goes right to the beginning. ]
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,
[ Notice where the Savior goes. He goes back to the beginning. To Genesis. He goes right to the doctrine, and to the beginning of the doctrine. ]
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
[ We need to take account of who the Savior is talking to. It's a group of people who most likely see divorce as not only condoned, but as proper. As if to say when you're done with one partner, you just give them a writing of divorcement, and go get another. So in Jesus' rebuke to them, he left no ground whatsoever for divorce. They were by the very definition of the word - adulterers, for there were no proper grounds for divorce. Even a legal writ of divorcement did not in God's eye annul their marriages. Further, they contributed to the corruption of the time by setting the precedent for others to divorce, and committed adultery as well. ]
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: [ "During the time of the Savior's Mortal Ministry, divorce was a vexing issue debated without resolution among the rabbis. For many people, divorce was justified, even for trivial reasons. The Pharisees sought to involve Jesus in the controversy by asking his opinion about divorce. In response, the Savior emphasized the sanctity of marriage by referring to Adam and Eve, who provided the ideal of marital unity and permanence." LDS Institute Manual (Religion 211). ] but from the beginning it was not so.
[ Gods command to you was that once the two of you were joined together, no one should separate. However; Moses provided a way to separate from each other when there was hardness in your hearts. So he's teaching a doctrine, and he's teaching a doctrine of eternal marriage. It's an eternal covenant which God puts together, and when God seals it together, God intends it to be forever. ]
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, [ "The Pharisees asked Jesus, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause. In other words, when am I justified to divorce my spouse? The Jewish law, as these leaders interpreted it, required that a man had to only obtain a letter of divorcement from a legal official, the reason was not really necessary. So how does Jesus answer them he talks about justifiable reasons for divorce? No. He focused on marriage, and the sanctity of marriage. Jesus was reminding these leaders to focus on the principle, and then do the best you can in those circumstances. We can spend too much time talking about exceptions rather than the principle, which confuses the real question. In the church we are taught to deal with the rule not the exception. President James Faust, he made a really interesting comment about divorce.
He said, "Divorce in my opinion," and he got into just cause for divorce, "Should be nothing less serious than a prolonged and apparently irredeemable relationship, which is destructive of a person's dignity as a human being. At the same time, I have strong feelings about what is not provocation for breaking the sacred covenants of marriage. Surely it is not simply mental distress, nor personality differences, nor having grown apart nor fallen out of love. This is especially so where there are children. So it's about learning to become one with a partner. And as we righteously learn to become one with a partner, we can learn to become one with our God, and learn to become one with a family. And create that family environment on earth that we created and experienced in heaven." The reality of our existence paradoxically, is a lot of marriages don't work, for a variety of reasons, and because they don't work, it leaves us in the middle of a paradox. Am I supposed to stay and be hurt emotionally or whatever? Or am I supposed to divorce and move on? And that is a decision that has to be between you and the Lord. ] except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 ¶ His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
[ What Christ is witnessing and testifying of is marriage is a Godly invention. It is the combination of and bringing together of two people. Now, Moses was allowed to write the divorcement, and would allow people to divorce, and the Savior will too. It's the living of a lower law. And President Dallin Oaks taught that heavenly Father intends for the marriage relationship to be eternal. However, God also understands that divorce is sometimes necessary. President Oaks explained that the Lord permits divorced persons to marry again without the stain of immorality specified in the higher law. Unless a divorced member has committed serious transgressions, he or she can become eligible for a temple recommend under the same worthiness standards that apply to other members. so, of course, you can divorce. And the ideal is eternal, and an eternal marriage. ]
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
13 ¶ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
16 ¶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, a [ It was not that the Lord needed this man's money to take care of the poor. The Lord could feed and care for the poor in many various ways. The Lord however was concerned for the welfare of this man. He knew that as long as he had his wealth he would be more focused on not loosing his wealth. So If his wealth was gone then he would or could focus on more important things. ] and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
23 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
27 ¶ Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.