Divorce was a LIVE dispute in Jesus’ day, and the Mishnah preserves it: the school of Shammai allowed divorce only for “unseemly conduct”; the school of Hillel “even if she merely burnt his dish”; Rabbi Akiva “even if he finds another woman more beautiful.” That running argument is the very question put to Jesus: “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” (Matt 19:3). A divorce required a formal written bill given to the wife (Deut 24:1).
Daily life in Bible times
Divorce
Family & home
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- Matthew 19:3bsb
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
- Deuteronomy 24:1bsb
If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house.
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