1 When Jesusfinished teaching, he left Galileeand went to the part of Judeaeast of the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed their sick.
3 Some Pharisees wanted to test Jesus. They came up to him and asked, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"
4 Gn 1.27;5.1,2.Jesus answered, "Don’t you know in the beginning the Creator made a man and a woman? 5 Gn 2.24.That’s why a man leaves his father and mother and gets married. He becomes like one person with his wife. 6 Then they are no longer two people, but one. And no one should separate a couple God has joined together."
7 Dt 24.1-4;Mt 5.31.The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why did Mosessay a man could write out divorce papers and send his wife away?"
8 Jesus replied, "You are so heartless! That’s why Mosesallowed you to divorce your wife. But from the beginning God did not intend it to be that way. 9 Mt 5.32;1 Co 7.10,11.I say if your wife has not committed some terrible sexual sin,19.9 some terrible sexual sin: See the note at 5.32.you must not divorce her to marry someone else. If you do, you are unfaithful."
10 The disciples said, "If that’s how it is between a man and a woman, it’s better not to get married."
11 Jesus told them, "Only those people who have been given the gift of staying single can accept this teaching. 12 Some people are unable to marry because of birth defects or because of what someone has done to their bodies. Others stay single in order to serve God better. Anyone who can accept this teaching should do so."
Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, was born of Mary in Bethlehem, proclaimed the kingdom of God, died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, and was raised on the third day (Matthew 1:16).
Galilee is the land of Nazareth and Cana, from where Jesus came to be baptized by John in the Jordan and from where crowds and women followed him (Mark 1:9).
Judea is the land where Bethlehem is located, the town where Jesus was born during the time of King Herod. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and there the Jews sought to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:1).
The Jordan is the river in the middle of which Joshua set up twelve stones, where the priests carrying the ark of the covenant had stood. The boundary of the land went down along the river to the Salt Sea (Joshua 4:9).
Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, was born of Mary in Bethlehem, proclaimed the kingdom of God, died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, and was raised on the third day (Matthew 1:16).
Moses, a Levite raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, was called by God at the burning bush, brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt, and received the law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:4).
Moses, a Levite raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, was called by God at the burning bush, brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt, and received the law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:4).