This study is in no way condemning people who have divorced. 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
I will attempt to discuss what scripture says about divorce under the law and under grace.
The following Biblical passages under consideration at first deal with divorce under the law.
Matthew 5:32 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.
This passage is explained by most as saying that if the wife commits fornication (relations outside of marriage), divorce is therefore sanctioned. Divorce therefore is biblically allowed only when there is fornication; fornication is the Biblical exception.
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 under the law. A husband that divorces his wife causes her to committ adultery when she marries another.
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 on her own.
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, under the law, only death dissolves the marriage. 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.
Matthew 19:8 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.
The provision for divorce in Deuteronomy 24 below permitted divorce if a woman committed uncleanness, which included adultery and fornication. Verse 2 even allows a wife who is divorced to remarry.
Deuteronomy 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.
Christ was not applying Deuteronomy 24 in permitting divorce and remarriage in Matthew 19 below. Rather than sanctioning divorce, He was detailing the consequences of divorce. Divorce compounds and generates adultery.
Matthew 19:9 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.
A cursory reading of this passage above 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; she is already called an adulteress.The next husband that marries the divorced wife is also caused to commit adultery.
Mark 10:11 Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeh adultery.
In the above verses both the divorcing husband and wife fall into adultery.
Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
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.
Romans 7:1-3 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.
What does Paul say about marriage and divorce under grace. Allow me to say that grace was not exclusive to Paul. God has always been gracious. His grace can be seen in Deuteronomy 24 in making stipulations for divorce and the protection and provisions for the divorced wife.
[1Corinthians 7:10-11 KJV] 10 And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife.
Under grace Paul still upheld the view that God did not want husband and wife to be divorced, and that for our benefit and protection (Mark 10:9).
[1Corinthians 7:15 KJV] 15 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.
If an unbelieving husband or wife leave the marriage, Paul under grace says to let them leave. If the marriage is dissolved the remaining spouse is not under the bondage of the law and is free to marry another, but only in the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:39). This can be seen in the verses below.
[1Corinthians 7:27-28 KJV] 27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
Under grace Paul has been given instruction to convey to us in regard to marriage. Under grace, if we divorce, we are not said to be adulterers.
We are under grace, and in Christ Jesus, when we fail and sin we have complete forgiveness.
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
The exhortation for us, is to take a higher view of marriage, and minister grace to people who divorce.
Matthew 19:6 What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.
