What is the "Exception Clause"
in Matt. 19:9?
Matthew 19:7-10,
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement,
and to put her away? (8) He saith unto them, Moses because of the
hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the
beginning it was not so. (9) And I
say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication,
and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is
put away doth commit adultery. (10) His disciples say unto him, If the case of
the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
The “exception clause” in
Matt. 19:9 extends to Gentiles as well as Jews in the Sanhedrin [Matt. 19:3].
Some believe this clause is not for us today but the Jews in the Sanhedrin
finding out their bride was not a virgin.
What does verse 9 say?
1. “Fornication” covers a
multitude of sins not just pre-marital sex. It also covers extra-marital sins.
2. There is no mention of the
“betrothal stage” in the text as some believe putting it in relation to the Jews in the
Sanhedrin.
3. The disciples asked Jesus,
not just the Jews.
(1) Matt. 19:10-12
(2) Matt. 5:31-32, note here that the context is the Sermon
on the Mount which is written to
believers in kingdom living.
4. Note Matt. 5:31 where Jesus is talking about Moses but in v. 32 he
says, “you.” In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is
talking about how our inner righteousness must exceed the outward
righteousness of the Jews. “You,” refers to the disciples not just the Jews.
Therefore we believe this is
one of the two Biblical reasons for divorce, the other one being desertion (1
Cor. 7:10-16).
