Be Faithful

Matthew 5:31-32

On Divorce

Moses’ Allowance

Marriage - Given before the fall - to all humanity

Genesis 2:24 “24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

One man, one woman, one flesh

Divorce is not in the commands (the moral law) but is a civil regulation

Deuteronomy 24:1–4 “1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, 2 and if she goes and becomes another man’s wife, 3 and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, 4 then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the Lord. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.”

The abuse in a culture that did not value marriage

The legislation protected the wife.  She must be given a bill of divorce, stating she was not dismissed because of unfaithfulness, but because of one of these reasons which had been discovered.  It was to protect her.

A concession due to the people’s hardness of heart

Matthew 19:3-9

The divorce regulations were a concession to deal with the result of sin, not an expression of the way God intended things to be. Divorce might be necessary, but it could never be good.

R. T. France

Pharisees’ Teaching

Divorce became instituted

Liberal teaching: “Some indencency” stressing the word “some” saying it meant any indecency, such as bad housekeeping, poor hygiene, annoying in-laws; if he didn't like her cooking, or the way she dressed, he could divorce.

Conservative teaching stressed the word “indecency,” and said that it meant infidelity. If she has been unfaithful, then he must divorce her.

Both: If a husband for any reason thinks his wife to be unsatisfactory, God commanded divorce.

A certificate setting her free -

Joseph and Mary (Matt 1:19, Joseph resolved to divorce her quietly)…

Jesus’ Correction

Marriage must be upheld except on the ground of sexual immorality

There is only one justification for divorce - infidelity

Infidelity in marriage brings death, leaving the innocent partner free to remarry

Divorce for any other reason forces the woman into adultery - she must remarry for her own security…

God values marriage

First miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding (John 2)

Mal 2:16 God hates divorce

Matt 19:3-9 what God has joined, let no man separate

God calls us to faithfulness

But the idea taught by God’s Word is not only that of the indissolubility of marriage, but that of the law of love and forgiveness. Jesus was overcoming this legalistic approach which makes us say, “My spouse has ruined my life, I must get a divorce.” 

The issue is not just to avoid getting a divorce at all costs. It is that of continuing faithfulness to one’s wife.

John F. MacArthur

The ultimate call for all disciples in their relationships is faithfulness. Even when great sin and pain has occurred, we are to be faithful to one another.  We are to treat one another even has God has treated us in Christ Jesus.

Some Facts About Divorce

Details from Forbes 2024 Survey on Divorce

The Religion With the Lowest Divorced Population: Hindu 60% of the Hindu population is married, 5% are divorced.

The Religion With the Highest Divorced Population: Evangelical Protestant. 55% are married, 14% are divorced.

Those not affiliated with any religion are less likely to marry and more likely to divorce than individuals with religious beliefs: only 37% are married, while 11% are divorced.

What can we do?

Seeing how our culture, and even the evangelical church, has made such a shamble of marriage - what can we do?

We must stand firm in the truth - and lead the next generation in the truth - not just saying what we are against, but what we are for

To call every Christian to come under the teaching of the Lord, to accept his correction, that we may pursue righteousness before him.

Be Faithful -

Marriage is a picture of the Gospel

Christ is the groom, the Church is his bride - loved, redeemed, made beautiful in grace of the gospel

Hosea and Gomer - redeeming his wife from adultery, restoring in covenanted love

Christ is the faithful One, who calls us back to him

Repent and return to Christ

Repent and return to Christ - recognizing the mess we’ve made of our homes, and our priorities

Ephesians 5 - marriage is a picture of Christ’s love of us.

More than that, the Lord gives grace to forgive our sins and to make us new. With this grace, he can build a strong marriage, with all the faithfulness and contentment that two sinners can know.

As believers experience the faithful love of God, it both inspires and empowers faithful love in us.

Marriage is for Life

Enter marriage understanding only death can separate you

In SD, 97% of divorces are based on “incompatible differences” - no fault divorce has made it easy to leave

Marriage requires work, sacrifice, and commitment

Bonhoeffer - it is no longer the love that sustains the relationship, but the relationship that sustains the love.

Sproul - love your wife, love your neighbor, love your enemy

Marriage is for Sanctification

Your spouse is there to help you grow in holiness

To teach you patience,

To teach you forgiveness

To expand you capacity for love

Marriage is for God’s Glory

God is glorified when we place Him before all other things

Nothing is more honouring to God than a home which bears witness to the sufficiency of His grace and shadows forth the union which exists between Christ and His Church.

God is glorified when we look to him for our every need.