SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:3
¶ Entonces se llegaron a l los fariseos, tentndolo, y dicindole: ¿Es lícito al hombre repudiar a su mujer por cualquier causa?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 19:3
Verse 3. Tempting him] Trying what answer he would give to a question, which, however decided by him, would expose him to censure. Is it lawful-for every cause?] Instead of aitian, fault, cause, reason, three MSS. and the Coptic version read amartian, sin or transgression: this was probably the original reading-the first syllable being lost, artian alone would remain, which a subsequent transcriber would suppose to be a mistake for aitian, and so wrote it; hence this various reading. What made our Lord's situation at present so critical in respect to this question was: At this time there were two famous divinity and philosophical schools among the Jews, that of SHAMMAI, and that of HILLEL. On the question of divorce, the school of Shammai maintained, that a man could not legally put away his wife, except for whoredom. The school of Hillel taught that a man might put away his wife for a multitude of other causes, and when she did not find grace in his sight; i.e. when he saw any other woman that pleased him better. See the case of Josephus, mentioned in the note on chap. v. 31, and Calmet's Comment, vol. i. part ii. p. 379. By answering the question, not from Shammai or Hillel, but from Moses, our blessed Lord defeated their malice, and confounded their devices.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. The Pharisees also came unto him , etc.] Either from the places round about, or from Jerusalem: these came unto him, not for the sake of learning, or to be instructed by him; but as spies upon him, to observe what he said and did, and watch every opportunity to expose him to the contempt and hatred of the people; tempting him with a question about divorces, in order to ensnare him: and saying to him, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause ? be it ever so trivial, as said the school of Hillell: for there was a difference between the school of Shammai and the school of Hillell about this matter; the former insisted that a man might not put away his wife but in case of uncleanness; but the latter allowed putting away for very trifling things; as if she spoiled her husbands food by over roasting, or over salting it; and, as one of the doctors say, if he found another woman that was more beautiful than her; see Gill Matthew 5:32 . This question being now agitated in the schools, they artfully put to Christ; not for information, but with a view to reproach him in some way or other; and that he might incur the resentment of one party or another, as he should answer. They might argue thus with themselves, and hope to succeed in this manner; should he be on the side of the school of Shammai, which was the weakest side, and less popular, as they had reason to believe he would, he would then expose himself to the resentment of the school of Hillell, and all on that side the question; should he take the part of Hillell, he would make the school of Shammai his enemies; should he forbid putting away of wives
