The Meaning of “Whoever” in Matthew 19:9 (1of 3)

Dave Miller, Ph.D., Apologetics Press
Perhaps to avoid the stringency of Jesus’ requirements for marriage, some have maintained
that Matthew 19:9 does not apply to non-Christians. They insist, therefore, that the verse has no
bearing on the marital status of non-Christians who wish to become Christians. It is claimed that
Matthew 19:9 is “covenant legislation” and was intended by Jesus to apply only to those who have
already entered into His Christian covenant. Hence, it is alleged that non-Christians who have been
divorced and remarried for reasons other than fornication may “start fresh” when they become
Christians and remain in whatever marriage relationship they are in at the time they are baptized.
Only at that point are they to be considered amenable to Matt. 19:9.
One attempt to defend this viewpoint is the claim that the word “whoever” generally refers—
even in the Old Testament—to those who are already in covenant relationship with God.1
However, hos (ό΄ς) is a relative pronoun which, when used with an (ά΄ν) and a verb in the
subjunctive mood, means “whoever.” It carries no peculiar application to Christians, as if its use
indicates that those being referenced are in a covenant relationship with God. The claim is
grammatically incorrect and linguistically indefensible. The parallel inMatthew 5:32 uses pas
(πάς) which simply means “all” or “everyone.”
Reasons Why Matthew 19:9 Is Not Limited to Christians:
1. In context, Jesus was speaking specifically to Jews—not Christians. Christianity had not
even been established.
2. Jesus answered their question about divorce (vs. 3). They were not asking Jesus what His
divorce policy would be once His kingdom was established. They desired to know His will for
Jews right then. The frequent allusion that some make to the divergent views of Hillel and
Shammai2 is further proof that Jesus was directing His remarks to His pre-Christian
contemporaries.
3. Nor did Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:9 commence its application in Acts 2. It went into
effect when it was first uttered to the entire human race in Genesis 2:24—intended for all people
for all time: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they
shall become one flesh.” This divine declaration was not limited to Adam and Eve—as shown by
Jesus’ quotation of it in the first century A.D. Deuteronomy 24 did not conflict with this original
Law of Marriage. It was simply an attempt to minimize and contain the stubborn abuses of the
Israelites.3 On the other hand, God’s declaration at the beginning of human history was intended
to apply to all human beings—Jew, Gentile, Christian, non-Christian—for all time.
4. To see the fallacy of the claim that “whoever” throughout the Bible is used to refer to those
in covenant relationship with God, simply examine passages that use the word and insert
“Christian(s),” or “the Christian who,” or “those already in covenant relationship with Jesus” in
the following verses where “whoever” occurs:
• Mark 16:16—“Whoever [the Christian who] believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever
[the Christian who] does not believe will be condemned.” “Whoever” cannot refer to Christians
since a person does not become a Christian until baptism. Who is to believe and be baptized—
Christians or non-Christians? Those already in covenant relationship with Christ, or those not
yet in covenant relationship?
• John 3:16,18—“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever [is
already in covenant relationship with Christ] believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life…. Whoever [already in covenant relationship with Christ] believes in him is not
condemned, but whoever [already in covenant relationship with Christ] does not believe stands
condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Once
again, “whoever” must refer to non-Christians who are being urged to become believers by
entering into covenant relationship with Christ.
—continued next week