Matthew 5:31

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

Matthew 5:31 (KJV)

Context

Jesus speaks here within the Sermon on the Mount, addressing a subject that was intensely debated in His day: the laws and practices surrounding divorce. By referencing the Old Testament regulation found in Deuteronomy 24, Christ brings attention to the prevailing attitudes toward the sacred covenant of marriage and sets the stage for a higher, more faithful standard.

During the time of Jesus, religious leaders were sharply divided on how to interpret the Mosaic law regarding the “writing of divorcement.” The more conservative Shammaite school believed that divorce was permissible only in cases of severe moral failure or sexual sin. In contrast, the liberal Hillelite school interpreted the law so broadly that a man could put away his wife for the most trivial of reasons, effectively treating marriage as a disposable contract subject to human whim.

When Jesus says, “It hath been said,” He is challenging this casual, legalistic approach. The surrounding culture had become focused on the technicalities of how to execute a divorce rather than honoring the profound commitment that marriage was always intended to be.

Meaning

The requirement to provide a legal certificate was originally instituted by Moses as a necessary protection, particularly for the vulnerable, dismissed woman. It allowed her to prove she was legally free from her former husband and protected her from false accusations if she remarried. However, this Mosaic provision was a concession made because of the hardness of human hearts in a fallen world. It was legislation giving permission in tragic circumstances; it was never intended as a command to divorce, nor did it reflect God’s perfect, original design.

Jesus is not endorsing this practice but is setting the stage to correct a misunderstanding and reveal the deeper intent of God’s law. In the preceding verses, Jesus emphasized purity and fidelity in marriage, teaching that even lustful thoughts violate the sanctity of marriage. Here He references the divorce certificate to show how the law was being misused to justify easy divorce. The verse is a quotation, not a command from Jesus, and it sets up His correction in the following verse, where He clarifies that divorce is only permissible in cases of sexual immorality.

Biblical connections

Marriage was instituted by God in the beginning as a sacred, lifelong covenant—a profound “one flesh” union between a man and a woman. The biblical ideal always points toward permanence, fidelity, and steadfast commitment. Even in the face of deep moral failure, the overarching scriptural pattern encourages forgiveness and reconciliation as the primary path, mirroring God’s own unwavering faithfulness to His people.

Application

By quoting this well-known tradition, Jesus redirects our focus away from looking for acceptable ways to dissolve a marriage. He calls His followers back to the high moral standard ordained by God, reminding us that the breakdown of this sacred covenant is a tragedy with profound consequences. While acknowledging the realities of a broken world, Christ’s teaching affirms that God’s intention for marriage remains a beautiful, living testimony of enduring love and unbreakable commitment.

Reflection

The focus is on the heart and the sanctity of the marriage covenant, not on legal loopholes. Jesus consistently elevates the standard from external compliance to internal righteousness. His words challenge us to examine not only our actions but also the attitudes and intentions of the heart, calling us to a higher standard of faithfulness and commitment in every relationship.