And this is the Baymont podcast with Marty Solomon. I'm his co-host, Brent Billings.

Today we find our understanding of divorce challenged by Jesus, and an ancient discussion

taking place between the rabbis about the importance and value of people.

Let's see if we can get through the 19th chapter of Matthew today, Mr. Brent.

Another blockbuster like episode, perhaps.

We're going to hope it's not quite as long, but we're going to see how it goes.

Good stuff in today's episode, though.

Alright, little tricky thing to cover, but why don't you just dive right in?

Alright. When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the

region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.

Large crowds followed him and he healed them there.

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, is it lawful for a man to divorce

his wife for any and every reason?

Haven't you read he replied that at the beginning the creator made the male and female and said

for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the

two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.

Therefore what God has joined together let no one separate.

Why then? They asked, did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce

and send her away?

Jesus replied, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard,

but it was not this way from the beginning.

I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife except for sexual immorality and marries

...