Matthew 19:1-12

Bible Text

[1] It happened when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan. [2] Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. [3] Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" [4] He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, [5] and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?' [6] So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart." [7] They asked him, "Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?" [8] He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. [9] I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery." [10] His disciples said to him, "If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry." [11] But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. [12] For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it."

Galilee was Jesus’ northern home region; he traveled south through the Jordan-area route into Judea, the province containing Jerusalem. This movement frames Matthew 19 as a major transition toward Jerusalem, where Pharisees test Jesus on marriage and divorce amid large crowds seeking healing.

Places in this passage

Matthew 19:1-12 mentions Galilee, Jordan and Judea.

Place data & photos: OpenBible.info (CC BY). Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.