Author	Thread: Divorce and Remarriage
Admin	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 10 Mar, 2009 10:56 AM Hi Everyone, After seeing Ella make a post stating that it is a sin to divorce and remarry, which is not a totally correct biblical statement, I see it is necessary to correct this error so that none are led astray to believe something false. It is wrong to place someone in bondage unnecessarily. Mat 19:3 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? Mat 19:7 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." 11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: NKJV This is what I have found concerning the issue of divorce and remarriage and what are the requirements according to God's word. Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: G647 ἀποστάσιον apostasion ap-os-tas'-ee-on Neuter of a (presumed) adjective from a derivative of G868; properly something separative, that is, (specifically) divorce: - (writing of) divorcement. Put Away = G630 ἀπολύω apoluo� ap-ol-oo'-o From G575 and G3089; to free fully, that is, (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively depart), or (figuratively) let die, pardon, or (specifically) divorce: - (let) depart, dismiss, divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty. 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. (KJV) The first important thing to see here is that this is Jesus giving a direct teaching to His Apostles in what is called the "Sermon on the Mount". So this is NOT a teaching to Jews under the Law. This is for Christians, Jew or Greek, etc. Jesus says that "IF" a man divorces... EXCEPT... for the cause of fornication/adultery, THEN he would be committing adultery IF he remarries and also causing his wife to commit adultery should she remarry. It does not say that a person who is divorced and marries another is committing adultery. It is saying the woman in this case that was divorced for a biblical reason would be committing adultery if she were to remarry. So this means that if you, being the innocent/faithful party to the divorce, decides to remarry then you have God's permission to remarry. In Mark 10:4 the interesting thing that many over look is that Jesus was addressing the Pharisees under THE LAW. This was not a teaching to Christians. But nevertheless, because Mark, Luke or John do not have the exception clause does NOT nullify Matthew. Unfortunately many Christians do not realize that there are other exceptions where God permits remarriage after a divorce. Let's take a look. 1Corinthians 7:10 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. The mistake made by some concerning the above scripture is that Paul is not talking about the exception clause, he is merely addressing divorce in general. So the exception clause though not mentioned does not mean we can exclude it because it does exist in Matthew 5. 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 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. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Paul is making a statement and saying that it is himself speaking, NOT the Lord, in this case. That if an unbelieving spouse chooses to leave the believer, (abandon) then the believing spouse in no longer under bondage of the marriage covenant/vows. This means they are free to remarry. What I would like to say for those of you who don't seem to fall within the obvious allowances for remarriage. Remember that while you are separated and your spouse commits adultery during that time, then you have grounds for divorce and remarriage. More often than not, during separation, one spouse will commit adultery. Let us also keep in mind that God gives GRACE and MERCY to us all and that if you have remarried unbiblically, if you repent, God forgives you! This of course does NOT mean you have to divorce. You cannot unscramble eggs. Additionally, if your ex-spouse remarried then he/she freed you to remarry because you cannot reconcile back to him any more. No one should rush to any divorce but allow a period of separation so that God can work on both of you and see if reconciliation is possible. People can change through the power of God. Marriage is a religious institution. so if you get divorced by man's laws, it does not mean that you are divorced in the eyes of God. We all need to give grace to each other in this and not be legalistic. Some denominations have gone to the extreme on this issue and have even shunned people unnecessarily who are divorced, forgetting themselves that they too are just as bad a sinner, if not worse, as the rest of us. None of us are in any position to cast the first stone. Blessings! In Christ Jesus, Walter Post Reply
View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 10 Mar, 2009 01:29 PM Well Done Walter:applause: Finally...:yay: A Post of Yours that I Agree With :dancingp: Bless U:prayingm: Daniel Post Reply
View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 10 Mar, 2009 10:01 PM Sir, an excellent response to an age old dilemma. Thank you. Post Reply
View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 10 Mar, 2009 10:20 PM NO, No, No, you've got it all wrong. Don't you know... Just kidding, good job Walter. Blessings, Leon Post Reply
View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 11 Mar, 2009 12:15 AM LOLOL You guys are just too funny! Blessings! Walter Post Reply
Simp1eKindofMan^ View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 11 Mar, 2009 05:07 AM Thank you Walter. I was seeking a better understanding on this topic, and He answered through you. Bless you, thank you. Post Reply
tristan07 View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 11 Mar, 2009 08:45 AM I appreciate this alot walter. My wife has left me for another man and has cheated on me multiple times in the past. I also feel she is an unbeliever so if she wants to go, I am free to let her go. There is no hope of reconcilliation anymore so I am at peace with pursuing a course of divorce, even though it greives me very very much to have to be seperated from the flesh of my flesh. But I have found that trying to hold on to her is more harmful then allowing the Lord to give me the grace to let her go. It still hurts but it is becoming inevitable and necessary because as she falls further and further into sin, and as the Lord gives her over to her sinful desires, being united to her is dragging me down too. again, thank you. - alex Post Reply
View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 11 Mar, 2009 11:43 AM Hi LB, You are most welcome. It was something I felt the Lord laid on my heart because it was a near and dear subject for me too after my divorce many years ago. Blessings! Walter Post Reply
View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 11 Mar, 2009 11:47 AM Hi Alex, My heart goes out to you my Brother!!! I am glad this study was able to help you. I understand how hard it is to let go but you know...it's what we have to do so we can heal. Pray for her and I am sure you do....also forgive her no matter what. But I am glad to see that you are going to move forward in a positive direction. God is the great healer and I believe that He will... "restore to you what the locust has eaten". Blessings! Walter Post Reply
daves7days View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 12 Mar, 2009 02:10 PM The exception clause "whoever divorces his wife except for fornication causes her to commit adultery," is easy to understand. If the adulterous wife is divorced it is not the husband that causes the adultery. the wife has already done that. Adultery according to the law was punishable by death. But Jesus was not asked that here. They said, is it lawful to put away a wife for any cause. Does divorce and put away mean exactly the same thing or are they two necessary parts to have a Divorce according to the Law, Deut 24:1b, Ezra 10:3b. There is still another consideration in the way Jesus answered the Pharisees. Unlike today, wives were considered to be the sexual property of the husband. A husband could put away a wife, without a written divorce, and demand money in exchange for her freedom to marry another. once she is given a bill of divorce she is free to marry because she is no longer another man's property. And what exactly is the exception? Except for fornication or except for adultery? Are adultery and fornication exactly the same? the Bible speaks much more about spiritual adultery than it does physical. Physical intercourse is what the man wants and emotional intercourse is what the woman needs. When a man puts away a wife and keeps her as a piece of property, he cuts her off from the emotional union. And why would that be OK? Is it because she has already committed emotional intercourse with another? The marriage bond is always two becoming one. It is a covenant of companionship because it is not good for man (or woman) to be alone. All marriage does not do this. Some married people are alone and put away in while still married. These are questions some have asked me about MDR (marriage ,divorce and remarriage). I have found that MDR is different today than in the days of Jesus. Or in the days of Moses. And it is still farther form the original design in the garden. Jesus' definition of marriage is the two shall become one because it is not good to be alone. It is a covenant of companionship with the expectations that go with it. Making up and breaking up is part of the cycle. Unconditional love is requirement. Post Reply
View Profile History	Divorce and Remarriage Posted : 15 Mar, 2009 11:47 AM Hi Dave, The phrase "put away" and "divorce" are the same word in Greek. I have seen some men try to imply that they are not the same but they are. Regarding "Fornication and Adultery". Fornication covers more than mere adultery. However in the context Jesus is referring to He is talking about the "physical" sexual act and not about a mental or emotional type. I have heard some people teach that if a man lusts after another woman then that is adultery and therefore grounds for a divorce and remarriage. That of course is absurd. For divorce to be biblical between two married "believers" there must be a physical sexual act with another person who is obviously not their spouse. Blessings! Walter Post Reply

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