What Does Matthew 19:4-6 Mean?
Matthew 19:4-6 describes Jesus responding to the Pharisees' question about divorce by pointing back to God’s original design for marriage. He quotes Genesis, reminding them that from the beginning, God made male and female to become one flesh in marriage. His words emphasize that marriage is a sacred, lifelong bond created by God Himself.
Matthew 19:4-6
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
Key Facts
Book
Author
Matthew
Genre
Gospel
Date
circa 80-90 AD
Key Takeaways
- Marriage is a sacred, lifelong union created by God.
- Divorce was allowed due to human hardness of heart.
- What God joins together, no human should separate.
Context of Jesus' Teaching on Marriage
This passage comes right after the Pharisees challenge Jesus with a question about divorce, testing His view of marriage and the law.
Jesus responds by pointing back to creation, quoting Genesis 2:24: 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' In Jesus' day, some Jewish leaders allowed divorce for almost any reason, but He redirects them to God’s original intention - marriage as a permanent, intimate bond. By citing Genesis, He shows that marriage is a divine joining, reflecting God's original design for human relationships, not merely a social contract.
This foundation sets the stage for His stricter teaching on divorce, which follows in the next verses.
Jesus' Appeal to God's Original Design for Marriage
Jesus grounds His teaching not in cultural customs or legal loopholes, but in the very foundation of creation, showing that marriage’s meaning goes deeper than human rules.
In His day, some Pharisees debated how easily divorce could be justified under Moses’ law, but Jesus shifts the conversation from legal permission to God’s original purpose - pointing back to Genesis 1:27 and 2:24, where God made humans male and female and designed marriage as a lifelong union.
What God has joined together, let not man separate.
The phrase 'one flesh' means more than physical intimacy. It reflects a deep, lasting bond where two lives are woven together in purpose, emotion, and commitment, becoming a single new unit. Jesus highlights that this union is joined by God Himself, making it sacred and not to be broken lightly. It is not merely formed by people. This view challenged the common attitudes of the time, where men could divorce their wives for minor reasons, treating marriage as disposable, and it sets a high standard that points to God’s ideal for relationships.
God's Design for Marriage: A Lifelong Covenant
Jesus makes it clear that marriage is a sacred bond established by God from the beginning, not merely a human agreement.
This teaching fits Matthew's emphasis on Jesus as the one who fulfills God's original intentions, showing that divorce was never part of God's perfect plan. The timeless truth here is that God values faithful, lasting relationships, and calls us to honor marriage as a reflection of His covenant love.
What God has joined together, let not man separate.
In the next section, we'll look at how Jesus responds when His disciples react to this high standard with surprise and confusion.
Marriage as a Lasting Covenant: Rooted in Scripture and Reinforced by the Prophets
This high view of marriage is echoed later in Scripture, showing God's consistent heart for lifelong faithfulness. It is not solely from Genesis.
In Malachi 2:16, God says, 'I hate divorce, says the Lord,' revealing how deeply He cares about keeping marriages intact. And in Ephesians 5:31, the apostle Paul quotes the same Genesis passage Jesus used - 'the two shall become one flesh' - to show that marriage also reflects Christ's unbreakable love for His people.
What God has joined together, let not man separate.
These connections help us see that Jesus isn't introducing a new rule, but restoring God’s original, enduring design for marriage - one that points to His own faithful covenant love.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine a couple on the brink of giving up - frustrated, tired, feeling like roommates more than partners. They’ve heard sermons on marriage, but this truth from Jesus hits differently: their union is a bond God Himself formed, not merely a contract they signed. When they remember that they are 'one flesh,' it doesn’t erase the hard feelings, but it gives them a new anchor. Instead of asking, 'Should I stay?' they begin to ask, 'How can I honor what God has joined?' That shift - from convenience to covenant - changes how they speak, how they forgive, and how they fight. It is about purpose, not perfection. And even for those not married, this truth reshapes how we view commitment, loyalty, and God’s faithful love for us.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my relationships do I treat closeness as disposable rather than sacred?
- How does knowing that God personally joins people in marriage change the way I invest in my commitments?
- What small step can I take this week to strengthen, protect, or honor a relationship God has joined?
A Challenge For You
This week, do one intentional thing to strengthen a key relationship - whether it’s your spouse, a family member, or a close friend. Speak life instead of criticism, initiate connection instead of waiting, and remind yourself: this bond matters to God.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank you for designing marriage and relationships with such purpose and care. Help me honor the bonds you’ve created in all my commitments, not solely in marriage. When it’s hard, remind me that you are faithful, and give me courage to love the way you do - deeply, patiently, and without giving up. Teach me to value what you have joined together.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Matthew 19:3
The Pharisees' question about divorce sets up Jesus' response on God's original design.
Matthew 19:7-9
The disciples' follow-up reveals cultural tension and Jesus' stricter standard on divorce.
Connections Across Scripture
Genesis 1:27
God creates humanity male and female, the foundation Jesus cites for marriage.
Malachi 2:16
God's declaration against divorce echoes His covenant commitment to faithfulness.
Ephesians 5:31
Paul applies the 'one flesh' principle to Christ and the church.