Devine Scripture

Matthew 5:32

What does Matthew 5:32 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 5:32 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 5:32 means

Jesus severely restricts the grounds for divorce, challenging the prevalent easy divorce practices. He states that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than "fornication" (πορνεία - sexual immorality) causes her to commit adultery if she remarries. Furthermore, whoever marries a divorced woman (who was put away for reasons other than fornication) also commits adultery. This teaching restores the sanctity of marriage as a lifelong covenant, reflecting God's original intent.

Matthew 5:32 in context

Matthew 5 — The Beatitudes

Jesus opens his Sermon on the Mount with eight pronouncements that turn the world's value system upside down. Blessing belongs not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. In a few sentences he sketches the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and then calls them salt of the earth and light of the world.

  • Kingdom ethics
  • Inner righteousness
  • True blessedness
  • Light and salt

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But I say to you that everyone who puts away his wife for any other cause but the loss of her virtue, makes her false to her husband; and whoever takes her as his wife after she is put away, is no true husband to her.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but I--I say to you, that whoever may put away his wife, save for the matter of whoredom, doth make her to commit adultery; and whoever may marry her who hath been put away doth commit adultery.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for cause of fornication, makes her commit adultery, and whosoever marries one that is put away commits adultery.

Context

This verse delivers Jesus' restrictive reinterpretation of the law concerning divorce, directly contrasting the prevalent easy divorce practices introduced in verse 31. It emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the sinfulness of unjust divorce, leading into further discussions on vows and integrity of speech.

v.31It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

v.32This passage

v.33Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 5:28

    but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

  • Mark 10:5

    But Jesus said unto them, For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

  • Matthew 19:8

    He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.

  • Malachi 2:14

    Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

  • Luke 16:18

    Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:10

    But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:32

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Matthew 5:32 teaches us about kingdom ethics

  • What Matthew 5:32 teaches us about inner righteousness

  • What Matthew 5:32 teaches us about true blessedness

  • What Matthew 5:32 teaches us about light and salt

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