Luke 16:18 (KJV)

What does Luke 16:18 mean?

Luke 16:18 says that anyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. The verse presents a strict teaching on marriage and divorce, emphasizing the seriousness of breaking the marriage bond.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to a group of listeners, including the Pharisees, during a broader discussion about the law and righteousness. The statement comes in the context of Jesus correcting misunderstandings about the law, especially where people might look for loopholes. Luke 16:18 highlights how Jesus views marriage as a binding commitment, not something to be set aside lightly.

The Greek behind Luke 16:18

• "putteth away" (ἀπολύω, apolyō): This Greek word means to release or divorce. The use of this term shows that Jesus is specifically addressing the act of legally ending a marriage, not just separation.
• "marrieth" (γαμέω, gameō): This word means to marry or take as a spouse. Its repetition in the verse underlines that both the one who remarries after divorce and the one who marries a divorced person are included in this teaching.
• "adultery" (μοιχάω, moichaō): This word refers to sexual unfaithfulness to a spouse. By using this term, Jesus equates remarriage after divorce (in the situations described) with breaking the marriage covenant.

Why Luke 16:18 matters

• Luke 16:18 clarifies that Jesus’ standard for marriage is stricter than what some religious leaders of the time allowed, challenging common interpretations that made divorce easy.
• The verse connects to the broader passage where Jesus is exposing the Pharisees’ tendency to justify themselves by the law while missing its true intent.
• This teaching helps readers see that, in Jesus’ view, marriage is not just a social contract but a serious, lifelong commitment with moral and spiritual weight.