And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall {c} cleave to his wife: and they {d} twain shall be one flesh?

(c) The Greek word conveys to be glued unto, by which it signifies the union by marriage, which is between man and wife, as though they were glued together.

(d) They who were two become one as it were: and this word flesh is figuratively taken for the whole man, or the body, after the manner of the Hebrews.

People's New Testament

19:5 For this cause. The bond of husband and wife is stronger than that between children and parents.

Be one flesh. Two lives joined into one.

Wesley's Notes

19:5 And said - By the mouth of Adam, who uttered the words. Gen 2:24.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. And said, For this cause-to follow out this divine appointment.

shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?-Jesus here sends them back to the original constitution of man as one pair, a male and a female; to their marriage, as such, by divine appointment; and to the purpose of God, expressed by the sacred historian, that in all time one man and one woman should by marriage become one flesh-so to continue as long as both are in the flesh. This being God's constitution, let not man break it up by causeless divorces.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

19:3-12 The Pharisees were desirous of drawing something from Jesus which they might represent as contrary to the law of Moses. Cases about marriage have been numerous, and sometimes perplexed; made so, not by the law of God, but by the lusts and follies of men; and often people fix what they will do, before they ask for advice. Jesus replied by asking whether they had not read the account of the creation, and the first example of marriage; thus pointing out that every departure therefrom was wrong. That condition is best for us, and to be chosen and kept to accordingly, which is best for our souls, and tends most to prepare us for, and preserve us to, the kingdom of heaven. When the gospel is really embraced, it makes men kind relatives and faithful friends; it teaches them to bear the burdens, and to bear with the infirmities of those with whom they are connected, to consider their peace and happiness more than their own. As to ungodly persons, it is proper that they should be restrained by laws, from breaking the peace of society. And we learn that the married state should be entered upon with great seriousness and earnest prayer.