Matthew 19:9

Whoever shall put away his wife, &c.— From our Lord's answer it appears, that the school of Sammai taught the best morality on the subject of divorce, but that the opinion of the school of Hillel was more agreeable to the law of Moses on that point. See on ch. Matthew 5:31. The present verse seems to be parallel to Mark 10:11 having been spoken to the disciples in the house, as is probable from the unusual change of persons observable in this part of the discourse. The practice of unlimited divorces, which prevailed among the Jews, gave great encouragement to family quarrels, was very destructive of charity, and hindered the good education of their common offspring: besides, it tended not a little to make their children lose that reverence for them which is due toparents, as it was scarcely possible for the children to avoid engaging in the quarrel. Our Lord's prohibition, therefore, of these divorces is founded on the strongest reason, and tends highly to the peace and welfare of society. See Macknight, and Mintert on the word πορνεια.