II. Jesus Christ

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time,

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

St Matthew 5:27-30

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The Pharisees also came unto Him, tempting Him, and saying unto Him,

Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

And He answered and said unto them,

Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and the twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They say unto him,

Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

He saith unto them,

Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered [allowed] you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

His disciples say unto Him,

If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

But He said unto them,

All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

St Matthew 19:3-12