Mark 10:6

Key Reflection

In first-century Israel, the commandment referred to was likely the one Moses wrote after the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:15-16), which permitted divorce. Jesus’ statement acknowledges that this command was a concession due to the hardness of the people’s hearts and their inability to fully keep the higher standard of God's law, as outlined in Deuteronomy 5:7 where Moses states, "The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb." By citing this historical context, Jesus emphasizes that while divorce was allowed due to the hardness of the people’s hearts, it is not an ideal outcome and points towards a deeper understanding of marital fidelity.