Divorce and Remarriage:  Scriptural Truth

Jesus Speaks About Divorce

I mentioned that all Four Gospels speak of the teaching of Jesus concerning Divorce.  Let's examine Luke 16:16-18. 

Luke 16:16-18  "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery."

Jesus indicated that this part of the law would not fail.  It would not "pass away".

 Let's examine another passage.

The account of Matthew gives us a bit more insight:

Matthew 19:3-12 "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 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. 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. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."

Let me clarify that for you if I may.  I'll arrange the passages as questions and answers and I'll try to paraphrase for clarity.  Perhaps that will help you understand what is happening here. 

Remember, I am paraphrasing!

Some Pharisees came to him to test him (as usual).

They asked," Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"   They were asking this because the custom was that if a man was displeased with his wife, regardless of reason, (even if the reason was fictitious) he could then divorce her.

To which Jesus Replied:  "Haven't you read, that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female?  He said:  "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.  Now they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, don't let man separate."

So the Pharisees then wanted to see what Jesus had to say about the Old Testament.  They considered Moses to be greater than Jesus and asked:  "Why then, did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and put her away?"

Jesus then said, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for FORNICATION (interesting choice of words...we'll discuss this a little later), and marries another woman commits adultery."

The disciples said to him," If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."

You see, the disciples were as the Pharisees, believing they could divorce a wife for any little thing.  They could simply wake up one day, decide they no longer liked their wives and then divorce them. 

Then Jesus told them, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

Jesus answered the Pharisees by correcting them and stating that God's original intent was not to have divorce, but, because of the sinfulness of man, divorce was allowed. He reminded them of God's original purpose in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24.

Jesus pointed out that God intended marriage to be permanent and gave four statements concerning the importance of marriage as far as God is concerned:

1. God created man and woman.

2. Man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his wife.

3. The two shall become one - no longer two, but one.

4. No man may destroy what God has joined together.  In other words, it is not permitted to separate what God has joined together.

We understand from  the book of Genesis, that God intended for man to have one wife and wanted them both, male and female, to "be fruitful and multiply" and to "subdue the earth".  God set in order, one man and one woman to be together.

That was the original intent, purpose and provision of the man-woman relationship.

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