The disciples said to Him, “If the husband’s relationship with his wife is like that, then it is better not to marry.”
Jesus’ strictly set standard regarding marriage and divorce has a strong impact on the disciples. Their response shows that even the disciples were under the influence of the social mindset of that time, in which marriage was viewed as a much freer and more manageable relationship. Jesus’ teaching struck at the roots of that perception and brought a high bar of responsibility: a union that cannot be broken on a whim. Hearing this, the disciples are astonished, because they understand that having a real, God-pleasing marriage requires readiness of heart, faithfulness, and sacrifice. Their response—“it is better not to marry”—reveals that a person often wants to choose a relationship without the responsibility that comes with it. But Jesus wants us first to choose a true attitude of heart, not merely the form of a relationship.