The exception clause Matthew 19
In Matthew’s account of the testing of Jesus, the first question put by the Pharisees was, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?’ (Matthew 19:3).
As we have seen, Jesus did not answer the question directly, but referred to the Genesis account of the Creation, and the institution of marriage. He then said, ‘So they are no longer two, but one.
Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate’ (Matthew 19:6). The Pharisees persisted with their questioning, ‘Why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?’ (Matthew 19:7).
Jesus corrected the Pharisees by pointing out that Moses did not command divorce, but rather permitted divorce because their hearts were hard. He then reaffirmed his teaching given in the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery’ (Matthew 19:8-9).