"And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; (2) And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. (3) The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? (4) And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, (5) And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (6) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (7) They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? (8) He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (9) And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."
There can be no question, but that the married state from the beginning of the creation of the world, was intended as a beautiful representation of the mystical union between Christ and his Church. Genesis 2:18-21 to the end, explained by Ephesians 5:23 to the end. And all the after stages, in the departure of our nature by adultery, could not destroy the first, and legitimate connection. Jesus betrothed his Church to himself forever. Hosea 2:19-20. And though Moses as the Lord Jesus said, for the hardness of the hearts of the Israelites, did permit a bill of divorcement, yet not so will Jesus. His language is: though thou hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet return unto me saith the Lord. Jeremiah 3:1; Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Hence the Church recovered by sovereign grace, sings aloud, I will return unto my first husband. Hosea 2:6-7.