The Man of St Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew

Marriage and related matters: 19,1-15

We saw that verses 1-15 are bounded by the movement of Jesus in verses 1 and 15, in verese 15 Jesus goes on his way. This puts together some teachings which are not obviously related, from marriage and divorce to celibacy and little children.

Matthew in verse 2 has a great crowd, Mark just a crowd (Mk 10,1). They follow Jesus (like disciples) rather than just gathering around him. And Jesus heals whereas in Mark he teaches.

Matthew has changed Mark, Mk 10,2-12, so that the disciples intervention, 19,10-12, is a separate unit special to Matthew. In Matthew, Jesus' teaching about marriage and his answer to the question about divorce are both addressed to the Pharisees.

As in Mark, the Pharisees come and ask Jesus a question about divorce, to which Matthew adds to Mark "for any cause whatever."
In Mark, Jesus replies by asking another question and then deals first with the hardness of heart, Mk 10,5. With Matthew in verse 4, Jesus replies with a statement "have you not read" and then presents a positive teaching first. Jesus highlights the teaching of Genesis, putting together Gen 1,27 (created male and female) with Gen 2,24, (husband and wife becoming one flesh which no man/husband shall separate). That gives a priority to what God says in Genesis over Moses' later teaching in Deuteronomy. Jesus' teaching could hardly be more absolute.

In verse 7, the Pharisees then refer to the case outlined in Dt 24,1-4. Jesus follows up in verse 8 on his reply in verse 6 and teaches that the second marriage is adultery.

For verse 9, as also in 5,32, it is most likely that the exception clause in Matthew is referring to a particular issue within his community, perhaps considering Gentiles married to closer cousins than Jewish law permitted (which is what Leviticus is addressing, Lev 18,6-18). That the exception is not mentioned by Mark and Luke lessens its significance.

The disciples question in verse 10 sounds strange, easy divorce is hardly the basis for a good marriage. It does though serve as a trigger for Jesus to give his teaching on celibacy. Some may be so from birth defects, some may be castrated. Neither are acceptable in the assembly (Dt 23,1).

Complete dedication to the kingdom by freedom from marriage is undoubtedly possible even recommended. Jesus himself came into this category, and probably Paul too.

With that is the example of the children, 19,13-15, in a society where children had no rights. The voluntary eunuchs do so for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus then says in verse 14 that it is to the children that the kingdom of heaven belongs, recalling 18,3-4. They are therefore an example to the voluntary eunuchs. Matthew has therefore made verse 13 more formal than Mark, Mk 10,13.

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