And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she commits adultery.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
De Con. Evan., ii, 62: It makes nothing, however, to the truth of the fact, whether, as Matthew says, they themselves addressed to the Lord the question concerning the bill of divorcement, allowed to them by Moses, on our Lord’s forbidding the separation, and confirming His sentence from the law, or whether it was in answer to aquestion of His, that they said this concerning the command of Moses, as Mark here says. For His wish was to give them no reason why Moses permitted it, before they themselves had mentioned the fact; since then the wish of the parties speaking, which is what the words ought to express, is in either ways hewn, there is no discrepancy, though there be a difference in the way of relating it. It may also be meant that, as Mark expresses it, the question putto them by the Lord, What did Moses command?, was in answer to those who had previously asked His opinion concerning the putting away of a wife. And when they had replied that Moses permitted them to write a bill ...
In Marcum, 3, 40: Up to this time, Mark hath related what Our Lord said and did in Galilee; here he begins torelate what He did, taught, or suffered in Judaea, and first indeed across the Jordan on the east; and this is what is said in these words: “And He arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea, by the farther side of Jordan"; then also on this side Jordan, when He came to Jericho, Bethany, and Jerusalem. And though all the province of the Jews is generally called Judaea, to distinguish it from other nations, more especially, however, its southern portion was called Judaea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Decapolis, and the other regions in the same province.
Mark the difference of temper in the multitude and in the Pharisees. The former meet together, in order to be taught, and that their sick may be healed, as Matthew relates ; the latter come to Him, to try to deceive their Saviour by tempting Him. Wherefore there follows: “And the Pharisees came to Him, an...
For a repetition of a saying of the Word, produces not weariness, but thirst and hunger. Wherefore the Lord instructs His disciples over again; for it goes on, “And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another, committeth adultery upon her.”
This second question is said to be asked “again” by the Apostles, because it is on the subject of which the Pharisees had asked Him, that is, concerning the state of marriage; and this is said by Mark in his own person.
Vict. Ant., Cat. in Marc., and seeChrys. Hom. 62 : For being asked, whether it is lawful, he does not immediately reply, it is not lawful, lest they should raise an outcry, but He first wished them to answer Him as to the sentence of the law, that they by their answer might furnish Him with what it was right tosay.Wherefore it goes on: “And He answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? "And afterwards, “And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. "They put forward indeed this that Moses had said either on account of the question of our Saviour, or wishing to excite against Him a multitude of men. For divorce was an indifferent thing among the Jews, and all practised it, as though it were permitted by the law.
Cat. in Marc. Oxon: Or else, it is said, “For the hardness of your hearts,” because it is possible fora soul purged from desires and from anger to bear the worst of women; but if those passions have a redoubled force over the mi...
But He enters the region of Judaea, which the envy of the Jews had often caused Him to leave, because His Passion was to take place there. He did not, however, then go up to Jerusalem, but to the confines of Judaea, that He might do good to the multitudes, who were not evil; for Jerusalem was, from the malice of the Jews, the worker ofall the wickedness. Wherefore it goes on: “And the people resort unto Him again, and, as He was wont, He taught them again.”.
But the disciples were offended, as not being fully satisfied with what had been said; for this reason they again question Him. Wherefore there follows: “And in the house, His disciples asked Him again of the same matter.”
