The Pharisees and Sadducees came [and attempted] to test Jesus [by] asking Him to perform a [supernatural] sign from heaven.
Matthew 19:3 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Some Pharisees came to Him, [attempting] to put Him to a test. They said, “Is it permissible by the Law of Moses for a man to divorce his wife for any reason [he chooses]?” More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And Pharisees came to Him and put Him to the test by asking, Is it lawful and right to dismiss and repudiate and divorce one's wife for any and every cause? American Standard Version (1901) And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? Common English Bible Some Pharisees came to him. In order to test him, they said, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” Catholic Public Domain Version And the Pharisees approached him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to separate from his wife, no matter what the cause?" Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? |
The Pharisees and Sadducees came [and attempted] to test Jesus [by] asking Him to perform a [supernatural] sign from heaven.
One of them, a teacher of the Law of Moses, asked Him a question [in an attempt] to test Him.
Some Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion] came to Him [and attempted] to test Him by asking, “Is it permissible by the Law of Moses for a man to divorce his wife?”
Then the Pharisees sent certain ones of their number [See Matt. 22:15-16] along with the Herodians [Note: This refers to members of a political party favoring King Herod] to attempt to trap Him by what He said.
Should we pay it, or should we not pay it?” But Jesus was aware of their hypocrisy and said to them, “Bring me the coin so I can see it.” [Note: The amount of this coin was equivalent to one twelve-hour day of a farm laborer’s pay, or about $108 in 2005].
They said this to test Him, in order to have a charge to bring against Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote [something] on the ground [i.e., in the dirt] with His finger.
Now I command married people, although it is [really] the Lord’s command [See. Mark 10:2-12]: A wife should not separate from her husband. [Note: This act implies the intention of pursuing a legal and permanent breach of the marriage relationship by divorce. “Separate” and “divorce” appear to be used interchangeably in this section. See verses 11-15].
where your forefathers tried me and tested [my patience] when they saw what I did for forty years.