Matthew 5:31-32

Context

This passage belongs to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7. It is the third of six antitheses, paragraphs in which Jesus cites what "was said by them of old time" and then gives new teaching introduced by "But I say unto you." His hearers are the disciples and the crowds. The passage follows directly on the teaching about lust and adultery in the preceding paragraph (5:27-30).

The "writing of divorcement" mentioned in verse 31 refers to the provision in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Judaism of the period was divided over how to interpret "some uncleanness" in that text. The school of Shammai is reported to have read it narrowly as sexual unfaithfulness, while the school of Hillel read it broadly. The Pharisees' question in Matthew 19:3-9 is also read against the background of this debate.

Interpretation

• The exception clause as a ground for divorce: Many Protestant traditions understand "the cause of fornication" as sexual unfaithfulness by a spouse and hold that divorce is permitted in such a case. Chapter 24 of the Westminster Confession of Faith names adultery and willful desertion that cannot be remedied as grounds for divorce and allows the innocent party to remarry.
• Emphasis on the indissolubility of marriage: The Catholic Church teaches that a validly contracted marriage cannot be dissolved. One interpretation holds that "fornication" (Greek porneia) in the exception clause refers to unions that were invalid from the outset, such as marriages within degrees of kinship forbidden by the Law.
• Separation permitted but remarriage prohibited: Many of the early Church Fathers are understood to have held that spouses may separate on the ground of fornication but may not remarry. Some Protestant scholars also hold this position.
• Unfaithfulness during betrothal: Some evangelical scholars hold that the exception clause refers to unfaithfulness during the betrothal period. They point to Matthew 1:19, where Joseph intends to break off his relationship with Mary.

Debates and Issues

The parallel teaching in Mark 10:2-12 and Luke 16:18 contains no exception clause. Scholars are therefore divided over whether the clause reflects the circumstances of Matthew's readers or belongs to the original teaching of Jesus. Another point of debate is whether porneia means adultery only or sexual immorality more broadly. The expression "causeth her to commit adultery" is also read as holding the husband responsible for casually sending his wife away, in a setting where a woman who had been put away had little choice but to remarry in order to support herself. Denominations also differ on how to read this passage together with Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 7:10-15.

In the Korean Church

This passage serves as a principal text in sermons and Bible studies on divorce and remarriage. Denominations and individual congregations reach differing judgments on whether divorced or remarried members may be ordained to church office and on how to handle officiating at remarriages.

Related Passages

• Deuteronomy 24:1-4
• Matthew 19:3-9
• Mark 10:2-12
• 1 Corinthians 7:10-15
• Malachi 2:14-16