Discovery BoxMatthew 5:31 
ContextDivorce
5:31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’ 1
Matthew 14:4
Context14:4 because John had repeatedly told 2 him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 3
Matthew 14:7
Context14:7 so much that he promised with an oath 4 to give her whatever she asked.
1 sn A quotation from Deut 24:1.
2 tn The imperfect tense verb is here rendered with an iterative force.
3 sn This marriage of Herod to his brother Philip’s wife was a violation of OT law (Lev 18:16; 20:21). In addition, both Herod Antipas and Herodias had each left marriages to enter into this union.
4 tn The Greek text reads here ὁμολογέω (Jomologew); though normally translated “acknowledge, confess,” BDAG (708 s.v. 1) lists “assure, promise with an oath” for certain contexts such as here.
