Biblical divorce ?

[DougE]

While this study shows that divorce has consequences for everyone involved, it is in no way condemning people who have divorced. We need to convey that they have been forgiven in Christ and encourage them to put the divorce behind them and press on in Christ. If they remarry, they need to know we do not condemn, disparage, or belittle the new marriage in any way but rather encourage them to devote themselves to it.

The following Biblical passages under consideration have been offered by some as grounds for divorce:

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Matthew 5:32

This passage is explained by some as saying that if one of the marriage partners, in this case the wife, commits fornication, divorce is therefore sanctioned.
Divorce therefore is legal and biblically allowed only when there is fornication by one of the marriage partners.

Was The Lord Jesus really saying that it was all right to divorce under these circumstances?

My understanding of the passages does not uphold this view. I understand the passage as not providing substantiation for divorce, but rather, embellishing on the fact that divorce causes adultery.

I understand The Lord Jesus to be saying that if the wife who has committed fornication by having sexual relations with someone other than her husband is divorced; she can not be made to commit adultery by marrying someone else because she has already committed adultery.
Under any other circumstances a wife that is divorced by her husband and then marries someone else is caused to commit adultery.
Also whosoever she marries commits adultery with her.

Fornication is not an exemption that allows the dissolution of a marriage but rather, unless adultery was preexistent, remarriage after divorce causes adultery.

Biblically only death dissolves the marriage bond, but God made provision under the law for divorce. This was put in place because of the sinfulness of mankind.
Jesus explained why God allowed divorce.
He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. Matthew 19:8
The provision for divorce in Deuteronomy 24 permitted divorce if a woman commited uncleanness, which included adultery and fornication. Verse 2 even allows a wife who is divorced to remarry.
24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

24:2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.

24:3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;

24:4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Christ was not applying Deuteronomy 24 in allowing divorce because the wife commited fornication in Matthew 19 below. Rather than sanctioning divorce, He was detailing the consequences of divorce. Divorce compounds and generates adultery.

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Matthew 19:9

A cursory reading of this passage would lend to the interpretation that the husband who divorces his wife on the grounds of fornication would not commit adultery by remarriage. It would appear as though these circumstances would afford an approved divorce. This however is not the case, as the phrase (and shall marry another) applies to both the husband, and the wife.

The husband that (shall marry another) shall commit adultery because divorce does not dissolve marriage. The divorced wife that performed fornication while married, if she (shall marry another), can not commit adultery solely by this new marriage since she has already committed adultery.

The next husband that marries the divorced wife is also caused to commit adultery.

Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
Mark 10:11

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeh adultery.
Mark 10:12

In these verses both the divorcing husband and wife fall into adultery.

Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
Luke 16:18

Again there is no exception allowed in this passage to relieve the charge of adultery; whether husband or wife, if they divorce their spouse and marry another, they commit adultery.
Also, the new marriage partner of either husband or wife is likewise charged with committing adultery.

Under the law only death broke the marriage bond.

Know ye not, brethren,(for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Romans 7:1-3
We are under grace, and in Christ Jesus, when we fail and sin we have complete forgivesness.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7

The exhortation for us, is to take a higher view of marriage, and minister grace to people who divorce.

What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.
Matthew 19:6

 

[Squeaky]

Divorce

I have seen some very disturbing replies from some who call themselves Christians. And their real title is hypocrite. They marry for lust and coveting . They get a divorce because their not able to love their mate. Now the purpose of the commandments is to learn love(suffering wrongfully but doing it willingly).

1 Tim 1:5-6
5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,
(NKJ)

xxx Jesus let us crucify Him on a cross. So that we might be free from sin. And He set the example of how we can do it. Suffering wrongfully but doing it willingly. He didnt stand up for His rights. And He did have the right to destroy all of us.

Matt 26:53
53 "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
(NKJ)

xxx I see the people on this thread that keep calling the knowledge of man truth. There is no truth in mans wisdom for a Christian.

John 17:17-19
17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
(NKJ)

xxx You try to justfiy divorce. Because you suffered alittle. You didnt even try to do it willingly or pray to God for strength to endure. You just started complaining. You go by some fictitious idea that if you remarry you will not be sinning. And getting remarried is adultery--sin.

Matt 5:27-32
27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30 "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
32 "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
(NKJ)

xxx There are to many intellectual idiots with their own opinion. A real Christian should not be listening to anyones own opinion.

Rom 12:16
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
(NKJ)

xxx Everything a Christian needs is in the Word of God. To guide them, instruct them, to comfort them.

1 Tim 4:6-7
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(NKJ)

xxx I dont care about these non believers. But those who really desire to be a Christian you should quit listening to the lost. Their going straight to hell anyway. And everyone that listens to them.

xxx If you havent learned how to suffer wrongfully yet. You havent learned love. And the purpose of the commandments is love. Your going to suffer whether your a believer or a non believer. Doesnt it seem right to get a reward for doing it for the right reason.

1 Pet 5:10-11
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
(NKJ)

There is only one acceptable reason for a divorce. Sexual immorality(fornication)

Matt 5:32
32 "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
(NKJ)

xxx God hates divorce. Even in the old testament

Mal 2:11-17
11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the LORD'S holy institution which He loves: he has married the daughter of a foreign god.
12 May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, being awake and aware, yet who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!
13 And this is the second thing you do: you cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and crying; so He does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
15 But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
16 "For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence," says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously."
17 You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you say, "In what way have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them," or, "Where is the God of justice?"
(NKJ)


xxx But if a woman does want a divorce let her have it. And if she remarries( has sex) she has sinned but you are then free to remarry.

1 Cor 7:10-11
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
Matt 19:3-10
3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"
4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'
5 "and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6 "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"
8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."
10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
Mark 10:1-9
1 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.
2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him.
3 And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"
4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her."
5 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6 "But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'
7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
8 'and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9 "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
1 Cor 7:10-11
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
(NKJ)

If you have been divorced by your mate. Not your idea. And they go and marry another you are free to remarry. You didnt bring the marriage to an end. And if they marry someone else, your marriage is dead. And you are free to remarry.

xxx Even the old testament.