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Does God allow divorce?
Tragic News
For many years it has been shown that half or more of all marriages end in divorce. Children all over are living in broken homes. More and more couples live together without much consideration of getting married. Many who do get married are not looking at the big picture, the life long commitment. They seem to be more focused on the novelty of the union, the recognition from friends and family and on ceremony. Many talk of being in love but as soon as bliss hits a snag they give up. If things don't go their way they feel they will just get out. That's not saying that all quit for trivial reasons.
No Commitment
Let's look at America. In this seemingly Christian nation how can there be so many divorces? I think the vast majority of people do not see marriage for what it is. There seems to be a general concept, maybe an unconscious one, that marriage is on a trial basis. Something not necessarily meant to be permanent. If it doesn't feel right after a while then just move on. If it isn't always perfect, just move on. If someone else seems more interesting or exciting, just move on. Attitudes lacking true love and commitment. How often the following can be heard. "We've just grown apart.", "He just hasn't matured.", "She just wants to spend money all the time.", "I just want more.", "I thought I was in love but oh my look at that over there!" Mindsets of for now instead of forever.
Marriage in the Bible
Where did the idea of marriage come from? Let's look at the first man and wife.
Genesis 2:18
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. ...21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. KJV
The idea came from God. It is such a wonderful thing it had to be His idea. We know that in marriage man and wife are joined together. Just how tightly?
Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. KJV
"One flesh." You can't get more joined than that. Also marriage is a covenant, a vow, a promise, an oath. God is very serious about such a thing.
Numbers 30:2
If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. 3 If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; 4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. KJV
Deuteronomy
23:21
When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. KJV
Joshua
9:19
But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. KJV
Zechariah 8:17
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD. KJV
Thats just a few of the verses but it is clear. God takes vow seriously and expects it to be kept. If not there will be consequences. It does not take much reading of the bible to see that covenant breaking has lead to flaming death and destruction. It is clear that many have come to see breaking a covenant as changing the mind. It is much more than that. It is betrayal, turning the vow into a lie.
Marriage is also symbolic of the relationship between Christ and the church, the body of Christ. That alone shows why God takes it so seriously. Read To love, honor, and WHAT?! for more on this relationship.
Divorce in the Bible
So does God allow divorce? Let us turn to His word for the answer.
Malachi
2:14...
Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.KJV
"He hateth putting away" God hates divorce. God intends marriage to be permanent. Moses, because the people were stubborn did allow divorce but Christ says it was not so from the beginning.
Matthew 5:31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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
Matthew 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? 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. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 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. KJV
"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." That clearly says no. The marriage contract is made with God. This verse shows that He gave no man or court the power to void that contract. This is repeated in Mark chapter 10.
Mark 10:2
And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. KJV
Christ did give one exception for divorce. That is fornication. He further states that divorce causes adultery and to marry one who is divorced is to commit adultery.
Matthew 5:31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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
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. KJV
Mark 10:11
And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. KJV
Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. KJV
Remarriage
In the case of a divorce, permitted under the above circumstance, remarriage is permissible. Just replace the word remarriage with reconciliation.
1 Corinthians 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. KJV
This is a lesson to all so we may learn to live in peace and forgiveness. No matter what comes between us we are to strive to come back together. Paul furthers this with one other exception for divorce. Unbelievers.
1Corinthians 7:12
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? KJV
So in truth there is only one way God truly allows for a marriage to end.
Romans 7:1
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? 2 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. 3 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. KJV
Therefore we say
Til death do us part
May God bless you all and may He bless your marriage.
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