Matthew 19:7 - 12

7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”

8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

10 His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

11 But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:

12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

Their question in verse seven is very natural for them, they knew the law of Moses gave them more freedom than what Jesus is telling them God intended for the bounds of marriage and divorce.

Jesus tells them that Moses allowed them the freedom to divorce because of their protest because they had become so worldly, the law would be held off until Jesus brought the spiritual kingdom into existence.

Jesus tells them the only scriptural reason a husband and wife can divorce and remarry is because one of them is guilty of sexual immorality, Jesus defines sexual immorality as being either physical or mental, Matthew 5:27 - 28(27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ) He defines this just a few verses before he names sexual immorality as the only valid reason for divorce and remarriage.

The disciples heard the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees, these restrictions about divorce and remarriage was new to them, so they voiced their opinion, maybe it was just better never to marry.

Jesus agrees for some it would be better not to marry, but He also points out for many they need marriage so that they do not commit sexual immorality. Paul explains it as (but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. ) 1 Corinthians 7:9

In verse 12 Jesus explains the about the ones who can abstain from marriage, and he closes with the statements that if one can abide as a single then let him.