REFLECTIONS TODAY

The Pharisees raise the age-old question about divorce to test Jesus. The phrase “for any cause whatever” (v 3) refers to the debate between the famous teachers Hillel and Shammai and their disciples. Both schools permitted divorce, but for different reasons. Both based their teachings on Deuteronomy 24:1 which permits divorce for “the nakedness of a thing.” This ambiguous phrase is a literal translation of the original Hebrew. Shammai and his students emphasized the word “nakedness” and said that divorce was only for indecency. On the other hand, Hillel and his followers focused on the word “thing” and said that divorce could be granted for almost anything. Jesus’ answer does not line up with the loose interpretation of Hillel or the stricter view of Shammai. He quotes Genesis 1:27 to affirm that God made male and female with the implication that they would be joined together, and then Genesis 2:24 to remind everyone that the two would be one flesh/one body. Jesus draws the conclusion that if God intended that the two be joined together, they are one by God’s will. Divorce, then, goes contrary to the design of the Creator and is to be considered the sin of rebellion because it tears apart what God has been putting together.

Gospel • Matthew 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.