Note 7 at Mt. 19:10: The Pharisees weren't the only ones who were surprised by Jesus' teaching on the permanency of marriage and the seriousness of divorce. Jesus' very own disciples were too.

Apparently, the attitude of Jesus' day was very similar to the views people hold on marriage today. They did not really commit themselves to marriage but simply tried it and if problems arose, they divorced and tried it again with someone else. When Jesus explained the union that took place through becoming one flesh (see note 4 at Mt. 19:5, p. 322), and the permanency that God intended for marriage, the disciples questioned whether or not it was good to ever marry if it took that much commitment (see note 8 at Mt. 19:11, below).