Marriage and divorce

“3. 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? 4. And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5. 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? 6. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 9. 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 19-3-6, 9).

A sacred union between a man and a woman is called marriage. God’s aim is that marriage will be for a lifetime. In marriage, two people (a man and a woman) come together to become one flesh. Their families are left behind and a new family under God is formed. The couple is joined together by God Himself. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. The Lord’s intention for marriage is not divorce, so He frowns at it. You didn’t also promise this before God and man, when you made your marriage vow. Jesus said it plainly that whosoever divorces his wife, except the woman commits fornication, has committed adultery, and anyone who remarries the woman also commits adultery. This is so, because divorce shouldn’t have taken place in the first place. This also implies that no intangible reason must make a man and a woman in marriage go their separate ways. Getting married to someone else is like committing adultery.

Concerning divorce and remarriage, the weight of the word of Jesus, must be felt. The Pharisees liked to give an acceptable reason for divorce, but the sanctity of marriage is much more important, according to Jesus. The Pharisees wanted to know when to break a marriage, but Jesus was trying to explain to them why it shouldn’t be broken because marriage is a great covenant before God. Jesus answered the Pharisees, when they asked why Moses supported divorce in Matthew 19:7, “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” (Mathew 19:8). Marriage is meant to be permanent. If a spouse commits adultery, you can also give room for forgiveness.

In 1Corinthians chapter 7, it’s allowed for widows to remarry, if they wish. That chapter also explains that a believer cannot divorce his/her spouse because he/she is an unbeliever. If you are a believer, God uses you to sanctify your spouse. Living in peace with a spouse that is an unbeliever is necessary, because God can save him/her through you. If you are a real child of God, pray for your spouse who doesn’t know God and God will change him. “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace” (1 Corinthians 7:15). If an unbelieving spouse deserts you, then you are free to remarry if you wish.

Divorce (when deserted by an unbelieving spouse) and sexual immorality are the major two grounds on which divorce is permissible.

Those who separate from their spouses without following the Bible principles are illegitimately divorced and their remarriage is illegal biblically.

Divorce can affect your relationship with God. It can also affect the lives of your children. Are you contemplating divorce? Seek the face of God and never give up; He will come to your rescue.

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