Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart; but it was not this way from the beginning. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 19:8? 2. How does Matthew 19:8 address the hardness of human hearts regarding divorce? 3. What does Matthew 19:8 reveal about God's original design for marriage? 4. How can we align our marriages with God's intent described in Matthew 19:8? 5. How does Matthew 19:8 connect with Genesis 2:24 on marriage permanence? 6. In what ways can churches support couples to prevent divorce, per Matthew 19:8? 7. Why did Moses permit divorce if it was not God's original intention in Matthew 19:8? 8. How does Matthew 19:8 challenge the permanence of marriage in today's society? 9. What does Matthew 19:8 reveal about God's view on human hardness of heart? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 19? 11. Does God disapprove of divorce? 12. Is remarriage after divorce permissible according to the Bible? 13. What are the biblical grounds for divorce? 14. Is a second marriage considered adultery? Discussion Questions 1. How does understanding the original design of marriage in Genesis 2:24 influence our view of marriage today?2. In what ways can hardness of heart manifest in a marriage, and how can couples work to overcome it? 3. How does the allowance for divorce in the Mosaic Law demonstrate God's grace, and what does it teach us about His character? 4. What practical steps can couples take to ensure their marriage reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church as described in Ephesians 5:31-32? 5. How can the church community support marriages in aligning with God's original design and overcoming challenges?1. How does Jesus' teaching on divorce challenge societal norms around marriage and divorce? 2. What does Jesus' interaction with the little children teach us about faith and entering the Kingdom of Heaven? 3. What can we learn from the rich young ruler's reaction to Jesus' instruction to sell all he has? 4. How does Jesus' assurance of rewards for those who sacrifice for His sake impact your understanding of discipleship? 5. Why do you think Jesus focused on the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? 6. How can we apply Jesus' teachings on marriage and divorce in a contemporary context? 7. How does the faith of a child differ from adult faith, and how can we foster this type of faith in our lives? 8. In what ways does the story of the rich young ruler challenge our values and priorities? 9. How can Jesus' promise of rewards for sacrifices made in His name influence our life decisions? 10. How does Jesus' response to the Pharisees' question about divorce uphold the sanctity of marriage? 11. How can we maintain a childlike faith in a world that often values cynicism and skepticism? 12. How do you reconcile the call to give up everything to follow Jesus with practical life needs and responsibilities? 13. How can we navigate the tension between living in the world and not being overly attached to worldly riches? 14. How does Jesus' assurance of rewards affect your willingness to make sacrifices for His sake? 15. How does the concept of a rich person struggling to enter the Kingdom of Heaven challenge societal success metrics? 16. In what ways can we reflect Jesus' welcoming attitude towards children in our communities? 17. How can we ensure our wealth and possessions don't become barriers to our relationship with God? 18. How can the teachings of this chapter shape our understanding of eternal life? 19. In what ways can Jesus' discussion about rewards influence our perspective on giving and sacrifice? 20. How can we uphold the sanctity of marriage in a culture with differing views on commitment and divorce? Links Matthew 19:8 NIVMatthew 19:8 NLT Matthew 19:8 ESV Matthew 19:8 NASB Matthew 19:8 KJV Matthew 19:8 Commentaries Bible Hub |



