Jesus affirms the divine foundation for marriage, stressing that the union of husband and wife is meant to be holy and unbreakable by human decision.
Mark 10:2-9Mark 10:2-9 commentary begins with, Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife (v. 2). This encounter likely took place in the region east of the Jordan River, known historically as Perea, a territory that lay beyond the traditional boundaries of Judea. The Pharisees, a Jewish sect influential in the first century AD, approached Jesus with a question intended to trap Him rather than to gain honest instruction. Their concern about divorce touched on both the Mosaic Law and social debates of their day. Through this test, they hoped to expose what they believed might be a flaw or a controversial stance in His teachings.
And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” (v. 3). Jesus here directs them back to Scripture and to the authority of Moses, the revered leader of Israel traditionally dated around the 15th to 13th centuries BC. By asking the Pharisees to recall Moses’ command, Jesus deftly shifts the conversation to examine not only the tradition but also the hearts and motives behind it. He underscores that any debate concerning marriage and divorce must begin with what God has already spoken, rather than with human interpretations or social expediency.
They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” (v. 4). The Pharisees emphasize a provision found in the Law (see Deuteronomy 24:1Deuteronomy 24:1 commentary), which allowed the husband to issue a document declaring the end of the marriage. While the Law did incorporate such a provision, it was never intended to be the ideal. It aimed to regulate a fallen and imperfect situation in which divorce was already happening, rather than to encourage people to dissolve their marriages. This reveals that human sin and brokenness often dictated the environment into which God’s Law had to speak.
But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.” (v. 5). Jesus pinpoints the core issue: the condition of the human heart. Hardness of heart refers to stubbornness, pride, and unwillingness to yield to God’s ways. The law about a certificate of divorce was a concession to protect vulnerable spouses in a culture that often marginalized women. By saying this, Jesus shows that the primary reason for discord in marriage lies in people refusing to follow God’s original design rather than a flaw in God’s plan itself.
But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE (v. 6). Here Jesus cites the creation account in Genesis, reminding His listeners that humanity was made in a distinct and purposeful manner by God. Jesus points to the foundational principle that men and women share equal value and are meant to reflect the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27Genesis 1:26-27 commentary). By affirming this original blueprint, Jesus indicates that marriage was instituted as a complementary and sacred union, meant to display God’s creative power and loving design.
FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER (v. 7). Jesus echoes the scriptural mandate that marriage involves a deliberate choice to form a new family bond. Leaving father and mother demonstrates a break from previous allegiances and a step into an exclusive commitment with one’s spouse. Culturally and historically, this transition signified maturity, independence, and a publicly recognized union in ancient Israel. It remains a timeless principle that underscores the seriousness and exclusivity of the marital relationship.
AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh (v. 8). This description of marriage elevates it beyond a mere legal contract. In Scripture, becoming one flesh means a deep, whole-person unity between husband and wife: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Jesus affirms that in God’s design, marriage weaves together the hearts and lives of two individuals into a deeply personal bond that should not be lightly set aside or treated as disposable. This theme resonates further in the New Testament as the union of husband and wife foreshadows the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32Ephesians 5:31-32 commentary).
In first-century Judea the Pharisaic academies of Hillel and Shammai framed the public debate: Hillel’s disciples read Deuteronomy 24:1Deuteronomy 24:1 commentary so broadly that a husband could dismiss his wife for any matter, while Shammai’s school insisted adultery alone warranted divorce. It was into that controversy that the Pharisees wish to trap Jesus. .
What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate (v. 9). This statement highlights that the true union in marriage is orchestrated by God Himself, giving the marital bond a divine quality and purpose. Jesus places the responsibility upon humanity not to break apart what the Creator has solemnly joined. Rather than seeing divorce as a casual option, Jesus calls for a commitment that models God’s unending faithfulness and grace. His teaching confronts any culture or context that trivializes marriage and reminds believers to uphold the sacredness of this covenant.
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Mark 10:2-9 meaning
Mark 10:2-9Mark 10:2-9 commentary begins with, Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife (v. 2). This encounter likely took place in the region east of the Jordan River, known historically as Perea, a territory that lay beyond the traditional boundaries of Judea. The Pharisees, a Jewish sect influential in the first century AD, approached Jesus with a question intended to trap Him rather than to gain honest instruction. Their concern about divorce touched on both the Mosaic Law and social debates of their day. Through this test, they hoped to expose what they believed might be a flaw or a controversial stance in His teachings.
And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” (v. 3). Jesus here directs them back to Scripture and to the authority of Moses, the revered leader of Israel traditionally dated around the 15th to 13th centuries BC. By asking the Pharisees to recall Moses’ command, Jesus deftly shifts the conversation to examine not only the tradition but also the hearts and motives behind it. He underscores that any debate concerning marriage and divorce must begin with what God has already spoken, rather than with human interpretations or social expediency.
They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” (v. 4). The Pharisees emphasize a provision found in the Law (see Deuteronomy 24:1Deuteronomy 24:1 commentary), which allowed the husband to issue a document declaring the end of the marriage. While the Law did incorporate such a provision, it was never intended to be the ideal. It aimed to regulate a fallen and imperfect situation in which divorce was already happening, rather than to encourage people to dissolve their marriages. This reveals that human sin and brokenness often dictated the environment into which God’s Law had to speak.
But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.” (v. 5). Jesus pinpoints the core issue: the condition of the human heart. Hardness of heart refers to stubbornness, pride, and unwillingness to yield to God’s ways. The law about a certificate of divorce was a concession to protect vulnerable spouses in a culture that often marginalized women. By saying this, Jesus shows that the primary reason for discord in marriage lies in people refusing to follow God’s original design rather than a flaw in God’s plan itself.
But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE (v. 6). Here Jesus cites the creation account in Genesis, reminding His listeners that humanity was made in a distinct and purposeful manner by God. Jesus points to the foundational principle that men and women share equal value and are meant to reflect the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27Genesis 1:26-27 commentary). By affirming this original blueprint, Jesus indicates that marriage was instituted as a complementary and sacred union, meant to display God’s creative power and loving design.
FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER (v. 7). Jesus echoes the scriptural mandate that marriage involves a deliberate choice to form a new family bond. Leaving father and mother demonstrates a break from previous allegiances and a step into an exclusive commitment with one’s spouse. Culturally and historically, this transition signified maturity, independence, and a publicly recognized union in ancient Israel. It remains a timeless principle that underscores the seriousness and exclusivity of the marital relationship.
AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh (v. 8). This description of marriage elevates it beyond a mere legal contract. In Scripture, becoming one flesh means a deep, whole-person unity between husband and wife: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Jesus affirms that in God’s design, marriage weaves together the hearts and lives of two individuals into a deeply personal bond that should not be lightly set aside or treated as disposable. This theme resonates further in the New Testament as the union of husband and wife foreshadows the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32Ephesians 5:31-32 commentary).
In first-century Judea the Pharisaic academies of Hillel and Shammai framed the public debate: Hillel’s disciples read Deuteronomy 24:1Deuteronomy 24:1 commentary so broadly that a husband could dismiss his wife for any matter, while Shammai’s school insisted adultery alone warranted divorce. It was into that controversy that the Pharisees wish to trap Jesus. .
What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate (v. 9). This statement highlights that the true union in marriage is orchestrated by God Himself, giving the marital bond a divine quality and purpose. Jesus places the responsibility upon humanity not to break apart what the Creator has solemnly joined. Rather than seeing divorce as a casual option, Jesus calls for a commitment that models God’s unending faithfulness and grace. His teaching confronts any culture or context that trivializes marriage and reminds believers to uphold the sacredness of this covenant.