Why did the Pharisees test Jesus with the question in Matthew 19:3? Text and Immediate Context “The Pharisees came to Him to test Him. ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?’ ” (Matthew 19:3). The incident occurs after Jesus has left Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan (v. 1), an area ruled by Herod Antipas—the same ruler who executed John the Baptist for condemning an unlawful marriage (Matthew 14:3-4). Historical Setting: Judea Beyond the Jordan This was Perea, under Herod’s jurisdiction. By raising the divorce question here, the Pharisees risked pushing Jesus into the same political minefield that cost John his life. Josephus records Herod’s sensitivity about marital criticism (Antiquities 18.136-137). The Pharisees, hostile to both Jesus (Matthew 12:14) and Herod (Mark 3:6), stood to benefit whichever way Jesus answered: if He echoed John, Herod might silence Him; if He contradicted Moses, the crowd would reject Him (cf. John 7:47-49). Mosaic Legislation on Divorce Deuteronomy 24:1 allowed a man to write “a certificate of divorce” if he found “some indecency” (Heb. ʿervat dābār). First-century Judaism debated its scope. The Qumran “Temple Scroll” (11Q19 57:17-18) takes a strict line, while later Mishnah (Gittin 9:10) preserves both lenient and strict views. Pharisaic Schools: Hillel vs. Shammai 1. School of Shammai: Divorce only for sexual immorality (ʿervah). 2. School of Hillel: Any cause—burnt meal, spoiled dish, or newer preference (m. Gittin 9:10). By asking, “for any reason,” the Pharisees tip their hand toward the Hillelite formula called “the any-cause divorce.” They want Jesus publicly committed so they can label Him extremist (if Shammaite) or lax (if Hillelite). Legal Trap: Jesus vs. Moses If Jesus says “No,” they can accuse Him of annulling Mosaic permission and therefore blaspheming Torah. If He says “Yes,” He appears to contradict His own teaching on adultery (Matthew 5:31-32) and weaken His moral authority with the crowds who admired His strictness (Matthew 7:28-29). Political Trap: The Herodian Angle Herod had divorced his first wife and married Herodias, his brother’s wife. John the Baptist’s condemnation (Matthew 14:4) led to imprisonment and execution. Any public stance similar to John’s could furnish Herod with pretext to arrest Jesus. The Pharisees, per Mark 3:6, already plotted with the Herodians; this scene revives that joint strategy. Spiritual Motive: Hardness of Heart Jesus later identifies the root problem: “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce” (Matthew 19:8). The Pharisees’ test exposes their own spiritual callousness; rather than seeking truth, they seek loopholes and traps (cf. Isaiah 29:13). Jesus’ Response: Creation Over Concession Jesus quotes Genesis 1:27 and 2:24, grounding marriage in the original, six-day creation order: “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (19:6). By appealing to creation (around 4000 BC in a Ussher-style chronology), He locates divine intent before Mosaic concession, making the Pharisees’ legal wrangling irrelevant. Contrast with Contemporary Documents • Ketubbot from Masada (c. AD 70) show contractual clauses anticipating easy divorce, underlining how Jesus’ stance was counter-cultural. • A first-century divorce papyrus (P. Yadin 18) from the Judaean Desert uses wording remarkably close to Deuteronomy 24:1, confirming Matthew’s historicity. Theological Implications 1. Christ’s authority surpasses rabbinic opinion and Mosaic concession. 2. Marriage reflects God’s creative design, typifying Christ-Church union (Ephesians 5:32). 3. Human legalism cannot override divine ordinance; therefore salvation cannot come through law-keeping but only through the risen Christ who fulfills the law (Romans 10:4). Archaeological Corroboration of Pharisaic Presence Stone vessels, ritual baths, and phylacteries recovered from first-century Jerusalem and Galilee (e.g., the “Jesus boat” vicinity at Magdala) show widespread Pharisaic practice of ritual purity, matching Gospel portrayals (Matthew 23:25-28). Why They Tested Him: Summary Points • To pit Jesus against prevailing divorce schools and discredit His teaching authority. • To create grounds for either popular rejection or political reprisal under Herod. • To probe His allegiance to Moses and thereby accuse Him of antinomianism. • To exploit a morally charged issue that divided the populace, hoping to fracture His following. • Ultimately, to harden their own position and justify their rejection of His messianic claims. Conclusion The Pharisees’ test in Matthew 19:3 was a calculated convergence of theological, political, and social traps. Jesus dismantled the snare by returning to the authoritative Word of God in Genesis, reaffirming lifelong marriage, exposing hardened hearts, and reasserting His messianic authority. Far from weakening His position, the episode strengthens the Gospel portrait of the resurrected Christ as Lawgiver, Creator, and the only Savior of humanity. |
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