SERMON ON THE MOUNT: JESUS TEACHING ON DIVORCE

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Life Church!!!!

Let’s stand for the reading of God’s Word to us today!

Matthew 5:31–32 NASB95

“It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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TODAYS READING IS A HARD READING

We have all been affected by divorce

You either know people who are close to you who have gone through a divorce.

Or you, yourself have gone through a divorce.

This topic is not light but it is necessary.

WHY IS IT NECESSARY?

The Western Church has over spiritualized the faith.

To the point that many in the Western Church today are practicing Gnostics.

“As long as I love Jesus and my heart is towards him, it does not matter what I do.

We have Divorced - Pun intended -Our spiritual life from our natural life.

YET JESUS SAYS -

“If you love me, you will obey me.”

Our Spiritual Life should dictate a natural life that is both righteous and just.

Remember the verses above in this chapter.

Let your light shine before people, so they may see your good works.

Our righteousness must go beyond the pharisees.

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THE TEACHING OF JESUS ON DIVORCE IN IT’S CONTEXT.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

School of Shammai - A man may divorce his wife for any reason.

School of Hillel - A man may divorce his wife only for infidelity.

The argument is over understanding the meaning of God’s law to Israel.

Deuteronomy 24:1–2 NET

If a man marries a woman and she does not please him because he has found something offensive in her, then he may draw up a divorce document, give it to her, and evict her from his house. When she has left him she may go and become someone else’s wife.

THIS WAS THE CURRENT THEOLOGICAL DEBATE AT THE TIME OF JESUS.

NO CAUSE DIVORCE - HILLEL

DIVORCE FOR INFIDELITY ONLY - SHAMMAI.

Notice this practice only addresses men divorcing their wives.

Most women in the time did not have the money, power or influence to divorce their husbands.

If we read our verses again you can see, Jesus is calling for Righteousness towards the WIVES.

Matthew 5:31–32 NET

“It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

JESUS IS BROUGHT INTO THE DEBATE.

The Following Verse Will Give Us a Better Grasp of Matt 5-

Matthew 19:3–9 NASB95

Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 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’? “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

NOTICE, THIS WAS A TRICK QUESTION BY THE PHARISEES.

They came to snare him not listen and learn.

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JESUS LAYS OUT GOD’S IDEAL AND GOD’S PERMISSIBLE.

For the ideal marriage Jesus takes us to the first 2 pages of Genesis.

Created male and female

Joined together to make one new flesh.

Genesis 2:24 NASB95

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

What God has joined together let no one tear apart.

This, I think we can all agree upon is the ideal marriage and what God intended and still to this day desires from His children.

Permissible Cause for Divorce.

Remember the context, Jesus is answering the question asked to him, which is based on the debate between the two Rabbi Schools of note.

Jesus explains the law of divorce was given because of the sinfulness of the people.

It is not ideal but permissible.

He then agrees, Deut 24 - is a law that allows a man to divorce his wife, only if she has been unfaithful to the marriage covenant.

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JESUS IS A PUREST AND HE CALLS HIS CHURCH TO LIVE TOWARDS THE IDEAL OF ONE FLESH THAT WITHSTANDS THE WORLD TO STAY UNIFIED.

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HOWEVER WE LIVE IN A BROKEN WORLD, AND WE EACH AT TIMES LIVE FROM OUR OWN BROKENESS.

It is due to sin that the Scriptures do allow for divorce for a couple of categories.

CATEGOREY 1 - INFIDELITY.

But as we learned last week lust of the eye leads to adultery.

Pornography can be grounds for divorce.

I however will always council the offender to repent and turn away.

And the offended spouse to reconcile if there is true repentance.

I want you to notice the Bible does not tell you to divorce but gives you permission.

In most cases, I believe the marriage can be saved if there is true repentance and both are willing to do the long hard work of rebuilding the trust and intimacy.

I have seen many marriages restored after infidelity and become stronger.

CATEGOREY 2 - ABANDONMENT

1 Corinthians 7:10–16 NET

To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—a wife should not divorce a husband (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife. To the rest I say—I, not the Lord—if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?

Paul gives us 2 categories for divorce.

Infidelity based on the teaching of Jesus.

And abandonment - or a spouse choosing to leave the marriage.

IT IS THIS SECOND ONE I WANT TO DISCUSS.

WHAT IS ABANDONMENT?

IS IT ALWAYS PHYSICAL ABSENCE AND A DESIRE TO END THE MARRIAGE?

NOT ALWAYS

A marriage is two becoming one and it is to be a safe and cultivating enviroment for the family.

ABUSE -

When this enviroment is broken and turned into a unsafe and possibly deadly enviroment I would council to run.

My pastoral council - Tell the elders of the abuse - physical, emotional, gas-lighting, etc.

Protect yourself and children if you have any by moving out.

Allow the elders to confront and call the abuser to repentance.

Do not move back in or seek reconciliation until long term fruit of repentance is evident.

If there is refusal to repent, or no attempt is made to repent, or if they are unable to repent, I would suggest divorce and believe it is allowable.

Absence due to being controlled by sin.

In our society drugs and alchohol have recked many families.

If a spouse is unable, unwilling, or incapable of living out the marriage covenant due to being controlled by sin - there is grounds for divorce.

I would ask for deep and long suffering patience for healing and repentance to take hold.

But I have seen a couple cases where the spouse was very patient, loving, and longsuffering, and in the end, the other spouse could not get freedom.

THERE MAY BE OTHER CASES THAT COULD FALL INTO EITHER OF THESE TWO CATEGORIES.

As Christians, you must depend on the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and the council of your Church.

There is too much at stake to not take the matter seriously.

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CONCLUSION:

While God has provided provisions for divorce, His standard and ideal is Gen 2-

We must seperate ourselves from this culture and be Holy.

No fault divorce is an act of evil offense to the family unit.

Our first priority should always be to save the marriage and the family.

YOUR MARRIAGE IS A SYMBOL TO THE WORLD OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND JESUS.

Let the world see your good deeds so they can give glory to God.

Fight for your marriages

Speak honestly in your marriages

Seek help when needed and do not let Pride be the sin that leads to the end of your family.

FINALLY,

FOR ALL OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH A DIVORCE AND HAVE REMARRIED-

There is only one unforgivable sin -

Divorce is not it.

My pastorial advice to you, is to fight for your current marriage.

Honor God by honoring one another.

Do not let the enemy use your past to shame you.

Refuse to see a repeat of your past failures.