Jesus Teaches about the Law and Divorce (Luke 16:14-18)
What Did Jesus Teach About Divorce and the Mosaic Law?
In Luke 16:14-18, Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ distorted view of the law, particularly regarding divorce. When confronted with their question about divorce, Jesus doesn’t merely provide a simple legal answer. Instead, he exposes their hypocrisy, highlighting how they misuse Scripture to justify their own desires, while marginalizing others. The Pharisees had manipulated the law to serve their personal interests, especially by allowing men to divorce their wives for trivial reasons. Jesus redefines the purpose of the law, emphasizing God’s original design for marriage and calling for faithfulness in relationships. This passage calls us to move beyond a legalistic understanding of Scripture, encouraging a heart that seeks righteousness and justice in all aspects of life.
The Context of Jesus’ Teaching on Divorce and What He Said About it
Jesus’ Confrontation of the Pharisees: A Call for Integrity and True Righteousness
The Pharisees in this passage were not simply looking for a theological debate about divorce—they were attempting to trap Jesus in a question that would allow them to either discredit him or affirm their own practices. Jesus’ response goes far beyond the question of divorce itself. Rather than providing an immediate answer to their legal query, he addresses the deeper issue of how they were misusing Scripture to justify their personal desires, particularly in ways that benefitted them while hurting others. In this sense, Jesus’ teaching on divorce is a critique of their broader attitude toward the Law, which was an attempt to manipulate it to their advantage.
The Pharisees’ Hypocrisy and the Misuse of Scripture
In his Luke: A Commentary (Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), Joel Green explains that Jesus’ critique of the Pharisees is aimed squarely at their interpretation and application of Scripture. The Pharisees had a tradition that interpreted Deuteronomy 24:1–4 as giving men the right to divorce their wives for virtually any reason. In practice, this led to a patriarchal double standard: men were free to divorce their wives while women had little recourse and often ended up destitute and vulnerable. This interpretation of the law was a prime example of how the Pharisees, in Jesus’ eyes, had selectively applied Scripture to benefit their own positions of power and comfort. Jesus confronts this by stressing the sanctity of marriage, reinforcing that divorce and remarriage outside of adultery is a violation of God’s original design (Matt. 19:9, Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18).
Luke Timothy Johnson, in his The Gospel of Luke (Sacra Pagina Series, Liturgical Press, 1991), emphasizes that Jesus’ primary concern here is not simply the issue of divorce but the broader theme of how people interpret and apply the law. The Pharisees are guilty not just of loosening the law of marriage for convenience, but of distorting God’s intentions in the law for personal gain. This is where the kingdom ethic Jesus is preaching comes in: a call to the purity of heart, a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 5:20), and a call to faithfulness in all aspects of life—especially in relationships.
Jesus is seeking to confront and an expose how these men use their position of authority as leverage for themselves and against others.
The Heart of Jesus’ Message: A Critique of Self-Justification
What’s critical to grasp here is that Jesus isn’t just setting up a legal framework for divorce; He’s critiquing the way the Pharisees use the law to validate their own actions while excusing their deeper moral issues. As N.T. Wright points out in Luke for Everyone (SPCK, 2004), Jesus’ answer isn’t merely an abstract doctrinal statement but an indictment of those who use religious law to escape the moral and ethical demands it places on them. The Pharisees, in their self-righteousness, sought loopholes in the law that allowed them to maintain their privileges. When they tried to ensnare Jesus with a question about divorce, he responded by turning the spotlight back on them, exposing their hypocrisy.
To clarify, Jesus doesn’t abolish the law on divorce outright. Instead, he presses deeper into the intent behind the law: the sanctity of marriage and the righteousness that should govern human relationships. Divorce, in Jesus’ teaching, is not about legal wrangling but about how these men have broken covenant yet justify their actions, which hearts others. This is not God’s intent for how we relate to one another in marraige or any other kind of relationship.
Addressing the Bigger Picture: Divorce as a Symptom of a Deeper Issue
One of the most insightful points comes from Darrell Bock in Luke: 9:51–24:53 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 1996). Bock stresses that the issue of divorce here is symptomatic of a much larger problem: the misuse of the law to further personal agendas. Divorce is simply the outward manifestation of a deeper issue—the desire to justify oneself through selective obedience to Scripture. Jesus isn’t teaching merely about marital fidelity; He’s addressing the heart attitude that some people possess which leads them to manipulate and hurt others.
This teaching fits within a broader pattern in Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus consistently calls out those who misuse the law for self-interest. Whether it’s the Pharisees’ concern for outward purity or their obsession with legal minutiae, Jesus’ message consistently challenges those who would use religion to prop up their own status, while others are oppressed or marginalized. In the case of divorce, Jesus is confronting a culture that had made it easier for men to dismiss their wives at will, without regard for the well-being of those women. In doing so, he restores the law to its original, God-intended purpose: not a tool for self-justification, but a means to bring about justice, righteousness, and covenant faithfulness in the world. In other words, God’s intent is that marriage is to lift up and care, not demean and leave in a fragile or hurtful state.
Jesus’ Invitation to True Righteousness
The confrontation here is ultimately an invitation to rethink righteousness. Jesus isn’t just setting a legal precedent—He’s revealing that true righteousness comes not from the mere external observance of rules but from a heart that seeks God’s will above all else. As scholars like Green and Bock emphasize, Jesus’ point is to challenge the prevailing interpretation of the law, which had become a tool of self-exoneration rather than a call to covenant faithfulness. This teaching is about exposing the emptiness of religiosity that seeks loopholes rather than integrity.
In short, while the Pharisees sought to justify themselves through manipulation of the law, Jesus offers a deeper, more radical challenge: to live by the spirit of the law, not just the letter, and to live faithfully to God’s intentions for marriage and all relationships. This challenge cuts against the grain of the religious and social systems of Jesus’ day—and it cuts against ours too. In the end, Jesus isn’t just concerned with divorce; He’s concerned with hearts that desire to use God’s law to escape the call to integrity.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of Luke 16:14-18 and Commentary
Luke 16:14-15 – Confronting Hypocrisy
“The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. So he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.’” (Luke 16:14-15, NRSV)
Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees begins with a direct challenge to their love of money. They scoff at his teachings because they are too close to the truth. The Pharisees, entrenched in their wealth and status, used their external righteousness to cover up their true desires. By ridiculing Jesus, they reveal their priorities: status and wealth over God’s values. Jesus exposes their hypocrisy by revealing that while they justify themselves to others, God sees their hearts. This rebuke isn’t just about their wealth; it’s about their spiritual pride and self-justification. For Jesus, what humans value—power, wealth, influence—often stands in stark contrast to the heart of God, which desires humility, repentance, and true justice.
Luke 16:16-17 – The Law and the Kingdom
“The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.” (Luke 16:16-17, NRSV)
Here, Jesus transitions from confronting hypocrisy to clarifying his mission. The Law and the Prophets—representing the Old Testament—pointed toward the coming of the Kingdom of God, which John the Baptist heralded. Now that the Kingdom has arrived in Jesus, many are scrambling to enter it, often through self-serving means or by distorting the law. Jesus warns that the Law is permanent, emphasizing that even the smallest aspect of God’s moral law will not fade away. He’s not negating the Old Testament but showing that the Law is fulfilled in him and cannot be manipulated for personal gain. The Pharisees, who think they can bend the law to their advantage, are being corrected. The Kingdom doesn’t come through force or manipulation, but through a repentant heart and a life aligned with God’s will.
Luke 16:18 – Divorce and Misused Law
“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18, NRSV)
In this verse, Jesus brings up divorce, which at first glance seems like an abrupt shift. However, he is using divorce as an example of how the Pharisees manipulate the Law. Divorce had become a point of debate in Jewish culture, with some rabbis allowing it for nearly any reason. This created an unjust system where men could discard their wives at will, while women had little recourse. A woman could only get a divorce if her husband agreed to it. Jesus’ teaching here is meant to counter this abuse by reaffirming the sanctity and permanence of marriage. Marriage, in God’s design, is not just a contractual agreement but a covenant, and it reflects God’s faithfulness.
It’s important to understand that Jesus’ words here aren’t intended to trap people in harmful or abusive marriages. Elsewhere, we see the acknowledgment of situations where divorce is allowed, such as in cases of infidelity (Matthew 5:32) or abandonment (1 Corinthians 7:15). The focus in this verse is on confronting a misuse of the law: the Pharisees were allowing divorce for trivial reasons, but Jesus calls for faithfulness and integrity in marriage as a reflection of God’s own faithfulness. This is a powerful challenge to the legalistic way the Pharisees approached the law—using it to their advantage while overlooking God’s deeper desires for justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Meaning for Today from Luke 16:14-18
God Sees Through Self-Justification
The Pharisees were experts at justifying their actions in the sight of others, but Jesus reminded them that God sees the heart. In our own lives, it’s easy to put on a front, justifying actions that we know are wrong. This passage encourages us to examine our hearts and motivations, recognizing that true righteousness is not about appearances but about inner alignment with God’s will.
God’s Truth Doesn’t Change
While we live under grace and the new covenant through Jesus, the moral and ethical standards of God’s Law remain unchanging. Jesus affirms that God’s standards are permanent, and his Kingdom cannot be entered through manipulation or force.
Jesus’ Teaching on Divorce is About Faithfulness, Not Control
In this passage, Jesus is not laying down rigid rules meant to control people, but instead challenging a system that allowed people to use the law for their own benefit. His teaching on marriage and divorce calls for faithfulness in relationships, reflecting God’s unyielding love and commitment. Divorce is a painful reality for many, but Jesus’ words point us toward the importance of faithful, covenantal relationships that mirror God’s own steadfast love.
FAQ on Luke 16:14-18
1. What is the main message of Luke 16:14-18?
In this passage, Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who justify themselves through their wealth (some thought of this as a sign of God’s blessing) and adherence to the law, while ignoring God’s true desires for justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God cannot be entered through self-serving means, and he reaffirms the sanctity of marriage, challenging the Pharisees’ casual treatment of divorce.
2. Why did the Pharisees ridicule Jesus in Luke 16:14?
The Pharisees ridiculed Jesus because his teachings threatened their status and exposed their love for wealth, which they prioritized over God’s commands. They had become so entrenched in their self-righteousness and materialism that they mocked Jesus instead of accepting the challenge to change their ways.
3. What is the significance of Jesus’ statement about the Law and the Kingdom of God in Luke 16:16-17?
Jesus underscores that the Law and the Prophets pointed toward the coming of the Kingdom of God, which he brings to fulfillment. The Kingdom is not something that can be entered through human effort or manipulation, but rather through submission to God’s will. Jesus affirms the permanence of God’s moral law, which remains valid even with the coming of the new Kingdom.
4. Does this mean divorce is always wrong in Jesus’ eyes?
No, Jesus acknowledges in other parts of the Gospels that divorce may be allowed in cases of infidelity (Matthew 5:32). Abandonment (1 Corinthians 7:15) is also an extenuating circumstance. The focus in Luke 16:18 is on addressing the abuse of divorce laws, particularly where the Pharisees were permitting divorce for trivial reasons. Jesus calls these me to faithfulness in their marriage and to do what is necessary to preserve their covenantal relationship, which means having a soft, repentant heart, and allowing God’s word to correct them.
5. What should we learn from Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees in this passage?
The key takeaway is that God desires sincerity and faithfulness in all areas of life, especially in how we treat others and honor the commitments we make. Jesus challenges us to reflect on our own motives and actions, urging us to align our lives with God’s values—values of justice, mercy, and truth—rather than seeking to justify ourselves through outward appearances or manipulation of the law.
