"And the Pharisees came to him tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" Matt.19:3.
This question was part of an on going dispute between the Shammaite Rabbis and the Hillelite Rabbis. Jesus rejected what was known as the "Any Cause" divorce advocated by the Hillelite view. And while He rejected the any cause divorce, he did not reject all divorce for any cause.
In every passage where Jesus is quoted as saying divorce, He is actually saying put away which is very similar but not exactly the same as the divorce we think of today. He never uses the word for a written divorce certificate which is required for a (lawful) divorce according to the law Ezra 10:3b� Only when they ask about the divorce certificate does He bring up the hardness of heart. Because while many believe that put away and divorce are one and the same thing, (see http://www.christianpoly.org/divorce.php) &*note*, it was still possible for a wife to be put away and not be given a divorce certificate. This woman is called "Agunah" or a chained wife.
It is not lawful to put away a wife except for fornication which is also a cause of uncleanness as written Deut. 241.
If the husband hates the wife and puts her away he becomes hard hearted and his hatred becomes a snare unto him Mal. 2:16 (DDS). He should give the divorce certificate as the Law stated. That is why it was given in the first place (Because of hard heartedness).
Jesus rightly says from the beginning it was not so. God created them as the same flesh and sin had not yet entered their lives.
:yay: :yay:
The church has failed in its attempt to minister to divorced people making them feel as if they are less sanctified because of divorce.
dear folks, the greek word for put away and divorce as we find it in certain scriptures that are referenced here.. show the meaning of put away and divorce.. and are shown to mean the same thing..
:rocknroll: The "bill of divorcement" and "Put away" are very similar but slightly different. By using the Strongs Concordance and dictionary we can look up to see both have the prefix "apo" meaning away from.
The greek word for put away is apolyō (strong's 630)
and the greek word for a bill or witting of divorcement is (strong's 647) apostasion.
In Matthew 19:7 both of these words are used,
"They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement (apostasion) , and to put her away (apolyō)?
I know this challenges the traditional teachings on (MDR) Marriage divorce and remarriage
see http://www.totalhealth.bz/marriage-and-divorce.htm
But both are rquired for a legitimate divorce according to the Law. This would not seem so important if it were not for the practice of Jewish husbands who would only "put away" a wife and not grant a (get) divorce. See Agunah the chained wife,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agunah
The DDS (Dead Sea Scrolls) version of Mal 2:16 says,
""He who hates and puts away his wife, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his mind with violence as with a garment,"
This is a little different from the over used "God Hates divorce" of some translations. And it reveals new insight into what hardness of heart means. It is a hard hearted man who puts her away (chained wife) and refuses to grant her a bill of divorce. He does not love her and is so hard hearted he refuses to let her find someone who does. Unfortunately, some churches seem to have the same attitude toward divorced people. And it is just not right.
Splitting of hairs here Gentlemen, the point is that there are many Christians that put away the divorced per say to make them feel unclean. The loudly declare that God hates divorce, like this is somehow a new revelation to us, which it is not. Truth is that we hate divorce too. Is it necessary sometimes? Yes, sometimes it is. But even when it is necessary, God hates it and we should as well because it tears us right down to the core of who we are. It rips the two made into one back into two again, and just like in the movie "Fireproof" where the man glues the salt and pepper shakers together, once two are united, tearing them apart is damaging, tragically damaging.
But I think it is a dark spirit that continuously reminds victims of divorce that they are somehow "unclean", for we two are forgiven for our transgressions if we are truly sorry and pure of heart in that sorrow, and desire for the Lord to heal us and make us whole.
God hates all the things that damage us...all sin, not one particular one over another, and I truly believe that it is Satan that keeps us slicing and dicing at each other and quibbling over details and black marks. If the Lord has forgiven your sin, has He not erased it? If He has erased it, then who are we to not only remember it, but to embrace it and lift up the pain of it?
If you have forgiven your ex, and forgiven yourself and asked for the Lord's forgiveness, and know in your heart that you have done everything you can to make amends, then do not let the world convict you for what the Lord has died for, that you might be free.
If you are still feeling convicted then I encourage you to self examine and make atonement for healing for yourself and your family. Once you have done all you can do, then you need to believe that the Lord has the power to do what He says He can do, and let go of things He has erased.
If you are married in a church or at least in a Christian ceremony and agree before family and friends to abide by God's convenant then you have entered into a contract with God. You, your spouse and God.
This contract is binding until "Death Do You Part".
Now (and here is the most important part), this contract has to be entered in "Good Faith" -- meaning that none of the parties involved intend to defraud or misrepresent. If that happens then the contract can be voided.
So if either spouse misrepresents themselves or breaks any clauses in the contract they have a right to petition for divorce or to have the contract declared "Null and Void". The only question now is -- who do you petition to, man or God's Church?
My wife told me that she wanted to leave.It was nothing I did. Then she said that she was not going to pay for it.I knew that she wasn't comung back so I quickly gave her what she wanted.
From file date it was six weeks.She wanted me to do all the work.
Even thou she left.As,far as I am concerned she left, I am blamless and forgiven.I was the loyal spouse.
Do you really want to get into the Solo Scriptura debate here? I will show you Scripture backing up what I said about divorce if you show me where in Scripture the list is of all the Books and Letters that are supposed to be in The New Testament?
If you go by Scripture alone how do you answer questions like "Where in Scripture does it say that these books and letters were the ones that were supposed to be in The Bible?"
Even Scripture tells us things like eveything Jesus said and did could not be contained in one book and that there were many things -- enough to fill many books.
Jesus told His Apostles many things and Jesus gave them and His Church The Holy Spirit to insure that everything He told them would not be corrupted. His Church has the Written Revelation from God and the Oral Revelation from God and The Holy Spirit guiding The Magisterium to make sure that the Whole Deposit of Faith is not corrupted or changed.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a Final Court of Appeal to answer your questions about scripture thst come straight from Jesus and the writers of that very same scripture that has been Guarded and Perserved and handed down through time by trustworthy elders Instead of relying on man's own interpretation of God's word?
For over 1500 years there was only One Interpretation of "This Is My Body And This Is My Blood". 60 years after the revolution a book was published in Germany that had in it 200 interpretation of the Same Words!
I am not trying to belittle anyone here. You are all my Brothers and Sisters In Christ. I would just love for us all to be as One Voice with One Truth and the only way that will happen is through discussion.
Cattle asked you a legitimate question to demonstrate from scripture any support of your claims. It is a simple request. I do not think it is fitting for you to then say you will answer his question as long as he answers your question which is completely unrelated and frankly absurd. If you want to debate people on the issue of the inerrancy of scripture or canonization then do so on another thread. This thread is about Divorce and Remarriage.
"Biblical Questions and Discussion" is the title of this forum. It also has a statement underneath it.
"Discuss the Bible and ask any questions Biblical in nature."
Then we have various titles of discussion. This one is "Divorce and Remarriage".
So please demonstrate your position by giving Biblical support with well exegeted scriptures. It is really a very simple thing to do if there is support for your position. If you cannot back up your position with solid scripture then your position is not sound.
2Timothy 3:16 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.NKJV
2Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. NKJV
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 5:31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
Mat 5:32 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.
Mat 19:3 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."
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 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 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 overllook is that Jesus was addressing the Phasisees 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 committs 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 reconcilliation 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.
