"You are wrong! You disagree with Moses!"

With this as their starting point, the Jews could prove that Jesus was a heretic. They considered the Law of Moses to be final and forever. But, Jesus showed them that it was a temporary law, given to show the world its Savior.

"Moses said we can divorce our wives for every cause. Why do you say we cannot?"

Jesus answered their question by appeal to God's unchanging purpose for man. God's will for man has always been the same. It is true, He has dealt with man in different ways. He has issued different laws at different times, but His will for man has never changed. The laws of Mosaic and patriarchal dispensations were preparatory designed to educate man for the final dispensation. God is not a man that He should, change His mind. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His will for man has always been the same.

Jesus refers His hearers to God's original will for man, implied in the way He created him. Have you not read that mankind was created male and female at the beginning? Do you not remember that, of all those creatures formed out of the dust, not one was a perfect companion for him? But, she who was created out of the man was a helper suitable for him. Originally a part of him, she was taken out of him. Concerning this, Adam remarked "This time, this one is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She was taken out of man (ish); therefore, she shall be called woman (ishshah), "female man." This was a bond even superior to that of parents and children. He shall therefore leave father and mother and be bonded to his wife.

They were created as a matching pair. Woman was created capable of union with him sexually and spiritually. Unity of the husband and wife was a central theme of creation. God intended that one man and one woman, should be joined together (cemented, bonded) as partners through life. This is implied in the story of creation. And, His will has never, changed, notwithstanding the temporary concession of Moses. Moses' permission was given only to keep men who felt trapped from abusing and murdering their wives.

Jesus' answer is especially interesting in view of the claim now being made that the Gentiles, who were not under Moses' law, are still exempt from the marriage law until they obey the gospel. This is alleged from Romans 2:14 where Paul uses the word nomos (law) without the definite article. [the, BLG]

But, this is a false claim based on an unwarranted assumption. Greek words that are familiar and often used don't require a definite article. Sometimes scholars point out that such usage may emphasize the quality of the noun (See B.F.Wescott in his commentary on Hebrews). This is probably right in some cases. But, that is not to deny the "definiteness" or specificity of the noun. In my opinion, sometimes, the absence of the article means absolutely nothing. In any case it is undeniable, especially in Romans and Hebrews, that the inspired writers use the word nomos without the definite article where the meaning is clearly the Mosaic law. It is fanciful to assume because of a missing article that Paul' suddenly shifts the focus of the discussion from the ever-troublesome Mosaic law to some kind of "law as a principle." Nomos without the article is too often used in reference -to circumcision or some other obvious feature of the Mosaic law to permit such an assumption. Besides, in Matthew 19 Jesus clearly affirms that the Gentiles are under God's marriage law and always have been.

Twice in this passage He refers to "the beginning." Speaking of the easy divorce in Moses' law, Jesus says, "It has not been this way from the beginning." (See the NIV, NASV, RV and Vincent's word studies.) Even during the Mosaic dispensation, God was not pleased with easy divorce. See Malachi 2:13-16.

Market Street Bulletin