Christ declares matrimony to be indissoluble: he recommends the making one’s self an eunuch for the kingdom of heaven; and parting with all things for him. He shews the danger of riches, and the reward of leaving all to follow him.
19:1. And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the coasts of Judea, beyond Jordan.
19:2. And great multitudes followed him: and he healed them there.
19:3. And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
19:4. Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female? And he said:
19:5. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.
19:6. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.
19:7. They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorce, and to put away?
19:8. He saith to them: Because Moses by reason of the hardness of your heart permitted you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
19:9. And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.