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Thank you for your query.
It raises several points. Jesus was speaking to an audience
who observed the Jewish, Old Testament law. He was speaking
against legalism, by which people used the technicalities
of the law to divorce whenever they wished. He was emphasising
the importance and permanence of marriage.
You mention the exception 'unchastity'.
The Gospels as we have them were written in Greek, one of
the chief international languages of the time. Jesus says,
except for 'Porneia'. Scholars do not agree as to the precise
meaning of this word in this context. If you look at different
English translations of Matthew 5:22 you will see it translated
variously, including 'adultery', 'unchastity', 'fornication'.
It would be unwise to base an argument, or indeed a divorce,
on such an ambiguous text.
Finally, it is not simply the Church that
says, 'What God has joined, let no-one (or 'man') put asunder.
This is a quotation from Jesus too.
I hope this answers your query. Fr Ed.
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