Translation
So no longer are they two, but one body. Therefore, what THEOS has yoked together,
Go to footnote numberman must not separate.” (See comment below.)
Paraphrase
So that they are no longer two people but one unit. Therefore, a man [or a woman] must not separate what THE CREATOR AND OWNER OF ALL THINGS has paired closely together in order to work well together.” (See comment below.)
Footnotes
1
Here a different mental image is used, that of yoking two oxen together to form a team that can accomplish much more together than if they worked separately. It was a common way to refer to marriage in ancient Greek.
The Original State of Things
At this point in His answer, Jesus did not choose to support either Shammai or Hillel, instead He pointed them to the original state of things at creation. The original plan was for a union of one man and one woman that would only be broken by death. This statement by Jesus seems to allow no room for divorce. In this way it appears at first glance that Jesus did not agree with the law of Moses, however, we will see later that He did uphold the Law as well as highlighting the original design.
The words “what Theos has yoked together, let not man separate” infer “Let no person separate.” That includes the husband and the wife! In fact it is always either the husband or the wife that seeks a divorce. I have never heard of a judge or any other authority figure saying to a duly married couple, “I have decided that your marriage is over.” That statement is designed for the husband or the wife.
What’s more, it was a stronger statement than we realize. If only God can give life, only God can take it away. If only God could strike someone with the scourge of a visible abnormality (often called leprosy), only God could heal it (as Jesus healed it rapidly). If only God could establish a covenant with mankind, only God could replace that covenant with a new covenant. The same is true here; if God unites a man and woman in marriage, only God can separate them. When we choose divorce, we are playing God.
Thus, at this point in Jesus’ answer, it sounds like divorce is not an option at all. But Jesus went on to address the allowance given in the Law.