How does Matthew 19:8 address the hardness of human hearts regarding divorce? Setting the Conversation Jesus is responding to Pharisees who want to justify easy divorce (Matthew 19:3-7). He takes them straight back to Moses—and then even further back to creation. What Jesus Says in Matthew 19:8 “Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.’ ” Hardness of Heart—What Does It Mean? • It is a spiritual callousness: a stubborn resistance to God’s voice (Hebrews 3:7-8). • It dulls compassion, making covenant promises feel disposable (cf. Zechariah 7:12). • It treats God’s commands as negotiable instead of non-negotiable. God’s Original Design for Marriage • Genesis 2:24—“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” • One-flesh union is intended to be: – Lifelong – Exclusive – Reflective of God’s faithfulness (Ephesians 5:31-32) The Interim Concession vs. The Eternal Standard • Deuteronomy 24:1-4 gave regulated permission for divorce—not approval of it, but damage control in a fallen world. • Jesus underscores that the concession existed only “because your hearts were hard.” • By saying “it was not this way from the beginning,” He restores the pre-Fall blueprint as the norm. Scripture’s accuracy means that design still stands today. Implications for Today • Easy divorce reveals the same heart disease Jesus diagnosed. • Followers of Christ are called to resist hardness by: – Honoring vows even when feelings fluctuate (Malachi 2:16) – Pursuing reconciliation before separation (1 Corinthians 7:10-11) – Imitating Christ’s sacrificial love (Ephesians 5:25) Curing Hard Hearts • New birth in Christ replaces stone hearts with hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). • Daily submission to the Spirit keeps hearts tender (Galatians 5:16-18). • Regular Scripture intake trains the conscience to value marriage as God does (Psalm 119:9-11). |
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