Matthew 19:3

πειράζοντες αὐτόν. For present participle containing an idea of purpose cp. Soph. El. 68, δέξασθέ μʼ εὐτυχοῦντα ταῖσδε ταῖς ὁδοῖς.

εἰ ἔξεστιν�.τ.λ. The words ‘for every cause’ are omitted in Mark. In Matthew they contain the pith of the question: ‘Is the husband’s right to divorce his wife quite unlimited?’ The school of Shammai allowed divorce in the case of adultery, the school of Hillel on any trivial pretext.

It was a question of special interest and of special danger in view of Herod’s marriage with Herodias.