Author: Charlie Garrett

Sunday, 26 April 2026

He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. Matthew 19:8

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“He says to them, ‘Because Moses, toward the hardheartedness of you, he allowed you to dismiss your wives. But from the commencement, not it has been thus.’” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus was asked about Moses’ provision in the law concerning the issuing of a certificate of divorce. In response to that, Matthew records, “He says to them, ‘Because Moses, toward the hardheartedness of you.’”

A new word, not found outside biblical references, is seen here, sklérokardia. It is derived from two words, the first being skléros, dry, but indicating hard or tough, like a dry scab. Figuratively, it refers to stubborn people who won’t budge, bend, or submit. The second word is kardias, the heart. By analogy, it refers to the thoughts or feelings of a person. It is the seat of moral preference.

By placing the two words together, one can see the result: a heart that is hardened and morally obdurate. Of the words of Jesus, He ascribes this state as being the reason for Moses’ grant for divorce. This does not negate the doctrine of inspiration. What Moses said was under the inspiration and divine approval of God.

However, the book of Deuteronomy is written from Moses’ perspective. When the Lord is mentioned, it is generally in the third person, such as, “Yehovah our God, He made with us – covenant, in Horeb” (Deuteronomy 5:2).

As such, Jesus refers to the words as being those of Moses. But it is the Lord who truly looks upon the hardheartedness of the people. Moses, on the other hand, saw the result of it being worked out in the lives of the people. It is in this state of understanding the state of the people that Moses directed his words pros, toward, their hardheartedness.

The fact is that divorce was and remains a part of the human condition. Israel was taken out of the body of humanity. Their inclinations would be no different than those of anyone else. The law, however, would magnify the people’s guilt in such matters. In seeing this state in them, Jesus says, “he allowed you to dismiss your wives.”

Moses’ words were not a command to dismiss. Rather, they were an accommodation to do so because of the hard state of human hearts, among whom Israel is included. In other words, Moses had to decide the matter, considering what would have been the result if this allowance were not provided.

The answer is that things would have been worse in various ways, not better. Otherwise, the allowance would not have been given. Despite this allowance, however, Jesus next says, “But from the commencement, not it has been thus.”

The verse in Jesus’ words is a perfect participle. Depending on the translation, such as the NKJV, someone may deduce that it was not so in the beginning, but because of accommodation through Moses, that then changed. This is incorrect. The use of the perfect participle tells us that it was not that way in the beginning, it was not that way at the time of Moses’ allowance, and it continued not to be the case even up to the present.

This accommodation does not change the original intent of marriage at all. Rather, Jesus will continue to explain the matter in the verses ahead.

Life application: As an example of mixing doctrines, consider the words of the Pulpit Commentary –

“From the beginning. The original institution of marriage contained no idea of divorce; it was no mere civil contract, made by man and dissoluble by man, but a union of God’s own formation, with which no human power could interfere. However novel this view might seem, it was God’s own design from the first. The first instance of polygamy occurs in Genesis 4:19, and is connected with murder and revenge. Matthew 19:8.”

The substance of the Pulpit Commentary on the matter of divorce is fine. But one must stop and ask, “What does the last sentence of the commentary have to do with divorce?” The answer is, “Nothing.” Further, the conclusion they gave concerning polygamy is entirely amiss.

The fact that murder is mentioned by Lamech has nothing to do with his being married to two wives. Second, murder had already been seen, in the same chapter, when connected in a similar offhand manner to a non-polygamous marriage.

Cain killed Abel. They were sons of Adam and Eve. The fact that murder took place has nothing to do with that fact, just as the fact that Lamech had two wives, from a biblical standpoint, has nothing to do with Lamech’s killing of another person.

Be careful when reading commentaries not to get misdirected into irrelevant side issues. This is quite common in commentaries, but incorrect conclusions can become the highlight of a matter because of such things. When that happens, all kinds of false teachings can quickly arise.

If someone wants to deviate from a thought being presented, there needs to be a reason for it, such as a “life application” that is understood to be extra to the main content.

Likewise, be sure to stick to relevant facts yourself in your own discussions about theology and doctrine. In doing so, you will build a stronger case without fallacious conclusions that misdirect from the matter at hand.

Lord God, help us to be faithful husbands and wives, living out our lives in adherence with what You have set forth for marriages in Your word. May we be patient, caring, and forgiving as we interact with the spouse You have blessed us with all the days of our lives. Amen.

Saturday, 25 April 2026

They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” Matthew 19:7

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“They say to Him, ‘Therefore, why he did enjoin, Moses, to give a divorce scroll to dismiss her?’” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus, having cited Scripture to justify His conclusion, said that what God has joined, man should not separate. With that stated, an obvious question arose. Matthew records, “They say to Him, ‘Therefore, why he did enjoin, Moses, to give a divorce scroll to dismiss her?’”

The reason this is obvious is that it is found in the Pentateuch or Torah, the same five books in which Genesis is recorded. There is nothing wrong with the question, and such confusion should be expected. If a truth is evidently being taught in one part of the Torah and elsewhere something seems contradictory to that, then how can those thoughts be reconciled?

Such confusion will often cause one to take the laxer stand in the debate unless there is a compelling reason why they shouldn’t. In other words, “This appears to say something in Genesis, but it isn’t explicit. Our teacher has noted that Deuteronomy says something different, which is stated explicitly. Therefore, we must go with Deuteronomy.”

That is why there were different schools of thought, such as Shammai and Hillel. One may have deduced that the precept implied in Genesis had limitations. The other held firmly to Deuteronomy due to its explicitly stated nature. As Moses didn’t give any further qualifications, then the laxer approach must be acceptable.

However, there is one more consideration at this time in Israel’s history. In Malachi 2:16, the prophet declared to the people –

“And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the Lord with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
¹⁴ Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’
Because the Lord has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
¹⁵ But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
¹⁶ For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,
Says the Lord of hosts.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.” Malachi 2:13-16

Because of this, Israel should have carefully considered the words of Moses and taken a second look at their actions and attitudes concerning divorce.

Life application: Theology is not always black and white and clearly set on the pages of Scripture. Many things have to be carefully considered from a much wider angle than a single precept on a page.

It is true that Moses gave an allowance for divorce. But what was the reason for it? Jesus will give a clear and exacting response to the question. When thought through, it should make sense to those who hear it. But Jesus’ response will elicit more concerns in the minds of His disciples.

But this is how the Bible presents things. There are things to be inferred. Directives come along that may seem confusing. Other things are stated later that are hard to reconcile with what has already been said, etc.

Eventually, however, as the years pass, the greater plan of redemption becomes clearer and clearer. Little steps are taken to give lessons. From there, things will take their place. When that occurs, people may still not understand what is happening because they have failed to see the progression of what God is doing.

Those who continue to hold to the law are in such a category. They failed to see that the law was a steppingstone to lead Israel to Jesus. In failing to see that, they rejected the new direction. Along with their rejection, they teach others who were never under the law that they need to go back to the part of the plan where those teaching law observance still are.

All of this is because of a failure to see the greater picture of what God is doing.  That is why God has made the gospel so hugely simple. If people can’t understand the basic gospel, and the world is full of people who don’t, imagine if it were any more complicated!

God is looking to get people saved through Christ. Once that is done, it is important to grow in Christ, lest someone come along and pull you back into a part of what God has already set aside. Keep reading the Bible! Keep looking at what God has done from the bigger and more complete plan of redemption. This is how you will be firm and secure in what is a big and complicated book.

Glorious Lord God, thank You for the simple gospel. By it we are saved. Once that is out of the way, help us to continue to grow in our walk with You. May we be responsible stewards of the time You have given us. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Friday, 24 April 2026

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:6

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“So too, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God, He conjoined, not let him separate, man.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus cited the Genesis narrative where a man is said to leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, becoming one flesh. Based on that early Genesis record, Jesus now states that a precedent took place that pertains to all people at all times. He begins that thought, saying, “So too, they are no longer two.”

A new word is seen, ouketi. It is derived from ou, a negative particle, such as “not,” and eti, yet, still, longer, etc. Together, they form the thought “no longer.”

There is now a bond between the two which has united them as “one flesh” in God’s eyes. Though they are still two people, they have formed a single, indissoluble whole. They are not two independent units. Rather, they are two entities united into a single unit.

A comparable thought is a yoke of oxen, which form a single whole. They are two oxen, but they form one yoke fulfilling a single purpose. That is actually explicitly seen in Jesus’ conclusion, “Therefore, what God, He conjoined, not let him separate, man.”

Two new words are seen here. The first is suzeugnumi. It is derived from sun, with, and zeugos, a couple (as in yoked). Together, they signify “to yoke together” and thus, figuratively, to conjoin as in marriage. This word is found only here and in the comparable passage of Mark 10:9.

The next new word is chórizó, to place room between. It is derived from chóra, a room or a space of territory. Figuratively, chórizó thus means to put asunder, separate, etc. One could think of a couple deciding to have two separate rooms instead of one. Eventually, they decide they like it and permanently separate, divorcing and permanently breaking the bonds of marriage.

Jesus says that this should not be. God joined them as one. Therefore, what He has done is not to be undone by man.

Life application: In Ephesians, Paul confirms that Jesus’ words are not only directed to Israel during the time of the law, but at all times. He then explains that this bond of marriage anticipates something greater –

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ³¹ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:22-33

If God has united man and woman in marriage and says it is a permanent bond in His eyes, how do you think He considers the bond of a person who has united with Christ? The doctrine of eternal salvation is clearly and unambiguously upheld.

We look to our own broken relationships and impute our own failings to God. “My father was a loser and a drunkard. Fathers cannot be trusted, and God, who is the ‘Father’ sure can’t be trusted!” “My husband left me for another woman. He ruined my life and his own children’s lives. Jesus will be just as unfaithful as he was. And even if He is a good Husband, I will fail Him, and He will cast me away.”

This is how we view things, from our own failed perspective. But this is why God gave us the Bible and the example of Israel. Despite their constant failure to be a suitable people for Him, He faithfully has endured their troublesome ways, covenanting with them and working to ensure that they will come into the New Covenant someday.

Let us remember that God does not fail. He will perfectly fulfill every promise He has made to His people.

Lord God, thank You that we have the absolute assurance that You will bring us to Yourself in Your heavenly kingdom. You will never leave us, never forsake us, and because of Jesus, You have and will continue to forgive us of our innumerable failings. Thank You for Your infinite faithfulness, O God. Amen.

Thursday, 23 April 2026

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’? Matthew 19:5

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And He said, ‘For this, he will leave, a man, the father and the mother, and he will be glued to his wife, and they will become, the two, into one flesh.’” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that from the commencement, God created humans male and female. Having said that, the narrative continues, “And He said, ‘For this, he will leave, a man, the father and the mother.’” Jesus cites Genesis 2:24 –

“Upon thus, he will leave, man, his father and his mother, and he impinged in his wife. And they were to flesh – one.” (CG)

The unstated force behind the thought is that a child is derived from a man and a woman. There is no other way for it to occur, something already seen in the Genesis 1 account, where everything breeds after its own kind. In the case of humans, the offspring are the issue of a union between a man and a woman.

Also, within that thought is the idea that a properly functioning home is where there is a father and a mother who are together as the child grows. These are logical deductions that can be made from thinking about these early words of Genesis, which are repeated by Jesus. Understanding these things, Jesus continues, saying, “and he will be glued to his wife.”

A new word is seen here. In some texts, it is rendered as kollaó, to glue. In other texts, it is similar but with more force, proskollaó, to glue to. The word proskollaó will be used in the comparable passage found in Mark 10:7, and also in Paul’s citation of this Genesis account in Ephesians 5:31.

The model in many parts of the world, and that which is being pressed upon many “nuclear family” nations today, is that it is ok for children to be raised by one parent, usually the mother, who gets pregnant by whoever comes around. From there, the child is brought up in an environment lacking both parents.

Rather, there is to be an indissoluble union between the man and the woman who produce a child. That continues, and is confirmed, in the words, “and they will become, the two, into one flesh.”

The Hebrew word translated as “one” is ekhad. It can signify a plurality within a unity. For example, a cluster of grapes is one, and yet it has many grapes. The Godhead is one, and yet there are three Persons within it. These two humans have become one in flesh. From them issues a child. The bond of unity remains after the child is born.

There is nothing stated elsewhere in Scripture until the Law of Moses that qualifies this. Jesus will explain in a few verses why a provision ending such a union was set forth in the law. The explanation, however, will be seen to merely accommodate the people. However, accommodation does not necessarily equate to what is actually proper.

Life application: In the Western world, where the standard has been that a man marries a woman, has children, and remains with his wife throughout their lives, it was the bulwark upon which the society was established. Everything in the family, the community, and the society at large extended from that basic unit.

In order to undermine Western society, this concept has been under constant and increasing attack by those with left-leaning ideologies. The increasing attack is not merely in the number of voices, but in what the voices proclaim. First, the idea of divorce was brought into societal thinking.

Once that became acceptable, an increase in deviation was seen. It soon became acceptable for a woman to have a child without ever getting married. From there, other sexual perversions have entered what is considered a “family,” such as two men raising a child or two women raising a child.

After that, the idea of multiple partners all living together and raising a child was introduced. During all of this time, the idea of abortion has been introduced and pushed as a way of alleviating the burdens of these dysfunctional scenarios. With each next step of mental perversion being worked out in people’s lives, increasing harm has come upon once well-established societies.

The force behind this is not “love,” as if that is the driving motivator. Rather, the force behind it is hate. There is a hate of God, a hate of accountability to God, a hate of moral discipline, etc. In order to push God out of the society, it first begins by pushing God out of the family.

The more families that take this step, leads to more districts accepting the premise. The more districts that accept it, leads to states or provinces accepting it. Soon, it becomes a national force. What is intolerable to God is what is praised. Those who refuse this “tolerant” lifestyle are, ironically, no longer considered tolerable. They must be dealt with accordingly.

Anyone who cannot see this logical progression going on in the world simply does not want to see it. After the rapture of the church, this mental degradation will rise to such an extent that the world will, literally, destroy itself. Religions, ethnicities, and nations will have no basis for moral governance.

The idea of “tolerance” is the death knell of a society. What is intolerable to God should not be tolerated. When it is, God – and what He expects – becomes what is intolerable.

Lord God, help us to faithfully endure this world of ever-increasing immorality, never waffling on our stand that Your word is right and that it is to be always upheld, in its proper context. May we be people morally grounded in Your word. Amen.

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ Matthew 19:4

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And answering them, He said to them, ‘Not you have read that the ‘having made’ them, from the commencement, male and female, He made them?’” (CG)

In the previous verse, the Pharisees came to Jesus asking about divorce. His response is next detailed, beginning with, “And answering them, He said to them, ‘Not you have read.’”

Instead of simply answering the question outright, as if on His own cognition, separate from an external authority, He appeals to something already written and what should obviously be known to those He is answering. The appeal concerning what is written is “that the ‘having made’ them.”

The implied, but unstated thought is, “the One having made them.” In other words, Jesus refers to the account of man’s creation. For the Jewish nation, that account is carefully detailed in Genesis 1 with supplemental information about day six of creation in Genesis 2. Having said that, Jesus continues with, “from the commencement.”

A new word is seen, arché, commencement. It is derived from the verb archomai, to commence. HELPS Word Studies says it is, “‘the initial (starting) point’; (figuratively) what comes first and therefore is chief (foremost), i.e. has the priority because ahead of the rest (‘preeminent’).”

Jesus does not divert from the fact that there was a beginning to man’s existence. In other words, He takes it as axiomatic that the Genesis narrative is true, accurate, and reliable for reference, doctrine, and defense concerning its presentation. At the beginning of their time, Jesus proclaims, “male and female He made them?”

Jesus upholds the creation of man as being divided into two classes, male and female. Everything else beyond that is later divisions according to the movement of humanity as they interact with one another and the world in which they live. This is fully supported by Paul’s words in Acts 17 –

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, ²⁷ so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’” Acts 17:26-28

Life application: Taking just this one verse spoken by Jesus, all long-term creation accounts, from a true Christian perspective, are shown to be false. Further, evolution is likewise denied by Scripture as a possible scenario for the world and life on it. If one is to claim to follow Jesus as Lord, then accepting His words as true and reliable (because He is the Lord God) is a mandatory requirement, not an optional “pick and choose” concerning what one will believe.

Jesus appeals to Genesis as authoritative. He appeals to creation as it is recorded in that authoritative book. He appeals to the fact that man had a commencement within that creation and that the creation of man and woman as representatives of all humanity is what God has done.

Because of this, any Christian creation model that does not adhere to a literal six-day creation must be tossed out. Any creation model that allows for the evolution of man must be cast away. Any creation model that claims there are more than two sexes must be chucked into the rubbish bin, etc.

One cannot claim adherence to the word of God while denying the words of God. As Jesus is God, to deny or attempt to dismiss as literal what He says is to assume authority over His word and thus over Him. That is not a healthy place to be when we all must give an account for our lives before Him someday.

Think reasonably! God has presented to us what He has done and is doing in the affairs of creation. As this is so, we should take what He has said as being literal, true, and reliable.

Lord God, though there is much confusion about the creation of the universe, our world, and humanity on this world, from a biblical perspective, there should be none. You have spoken, it is recorded, and Jesus has confirmed it. May we not arrogantly hold our fist in Your face and claim Your word isn’t reliable in such matters. Help us in this, O God. Amen.