Dr Paul Allen

The Reformed Church of France, Paris, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 19:1–8 “He said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so’” ( v. 8 ). Though He has made a few excursions into Gentile areas ( Matt.8:28–34 ; 15:21–39 ), Jesus ’ roughly three years of public ministry have thus far been confined mostly to the region of Galilee ( 4:12–25 ; 9:1–7 ; 10:5–42 ; 17:24–27 ). But we see now that He has left Galilee for Judea ( 19:1–2 ), the place where His time among His disciples will conclude with His death, resurrection, and ascension. Upon arriving in Judea, Jesus meets some Pharisees who, as we have come to expect ( 12:1–14 ; 15:1–20 ), seek to test Him once more. Now the issue is divorce, and the Pharisees’ question ( 19:3 ) is rooted in the controversy over marriage in their day. First-century Jews interpreted Deuteronomy 24:1–4 , which allows for divorce on the grounds of “indecency,” i

Dispute of Jesus and the Pharisees over tribute money (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 19:1 –8 “He said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart Moses  allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so’” (v. 8). Though He has made a few excursions into Gentile areas (Matt. 8:28–34; 15:21–39), Jesus ’ roughly three years of public ministry have thus far been confined mostly to the region of Galilee (4:12–25; 9:1–7; 10:5–42; 17:24–27). But we see now that He has left Galilee for Judea (19:1–2), the place where His time among His disciples will conclude with His death, resurrection, and ascension. Upon arriving in Judea, Jesus meets some Pharisees who, as we have come to expect (12:1–14; 15:1–20), seek to test Him once more. Now the issue is divorce, and the Pharisees’ question (19:3) is rooted in the controversy over marriage in their day. First-century Jews interpreted Deuteronomy 24:1–4, which allows for divorce on the grounds of “indecency,” in t

The Pharisees Question Jesus (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 19:1–8 “He said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so’” ( v. 8 ). Though He has made a few excursions into Gentile areas ( Matt. 8:28–34 ; 15:21–39 ), Jesus ’ roughly three years of public ministry have thus far been confined mostly to the region of Galilee ( 4:12–25 ; 9:1–7 ; 10:5–42 ; 17:24–27 ). But we see now that He has left Galilee for Judea ( 19:1–2 ), the place where His time among His disciples will conclude with His death, resurrection, and ascension. Upon arriving in Judea, Jesus meets some Pharisees who, as we have come to expect ( 12:1–14 ; 15:1–20 ), seek to test Him once more. Now the issue is divorce, and the Pharisees’ question ( 19:3 ) is rooted in the controversy over marriage in their day. First-century Jews interpreted Deuteronomy 24:1–4 , which allows for divorce on the grounds of “indecency,” in two major way