From the Mouth of the Master- Part 8- Matthew 5:31-32

Introduction

After speaking about adultery, Jesus then moves on to speak directly about marriage and divorce.

The truths that He presents here are not popular in our modern culture but they are still true.

In America some 40-50% of marriages end in divorce and this rate is not significantly different among professing Christians.

Jesus confronts what must have been a significant issue in His day as well, the tendency towards divorce and remarriage rather than reconciliation and restoration.

Again Jesus takes what is stated in the letter of the law and offers a fresh interpretation and provides some practical implications.

The Letter of the Law (Vs. 31 & Deuteronomy 24:1-4)

In the law of God there was a provision for a man to divorce his wife if he found uncleanness in her of some sort.

The man was to write a bill of divorcement and then to send the woman away. At this point, according to the law, the woman was then free to marry another.

The religious leaders had apparently began to interpret this law broadly allowing a man to put away his wife for any cause and thus divorce had become rampant among them.

The current interpretation was that so long as a man gave his wife a bill of divorcement there was no sin in breaking the marriage covenant.

This is much the same in our modern interpretation of the marriage vows. There are many today who view divorce as nothing serious and who choose divorce the moment that problems begin to arise in their marriage.

Even among believers, divorce is a common occurence. Far too often when a marriage is in trouble, a husband or a wife chooses divorce rather than face their problems work toward a resolution.

It is a minority of people in our society who still view marriage as a lifetime commitment. Even in Jesus day divorce had become common among the people and they had come to the point of broadly interpreting the law to escape their marriage.

A Fresh Interpretation (Vs. 32 & Matthew 19:1-12)

Jesus first makes it clear that a man who divorces his wife for any cause other than fornication- sexual sin was guilty of causing his wife to commit adultery.

It will do us well to take a look at Jesus comments to the Pharisees in Matthew 19:1-12 where Jesus goes into greater detail regarding marriage and divorce.

Jesus here begins with God’s original design for marriage which is still His design for marriage today.

God’s design is one man united to one woman for a lifetime. Marriage was designed to be an inseparable union between a man and a woman which is why most marriage vows end with “till death do us part.”

He makes a striking statement here when He says that “what God hath joined let not man put asunder” again communicating that marriage in God’s sight is a covenant which should not be broken.

Of course, the Pharisees then questioned why Moses had provided a means for divorce. Jesus answer is interesting because the need for a law governing divorce was apparently due to the hardness of the hearts of the children of Israel and then He again state that this was not God’s original design for marriage. (This entire argument was based upon a present division among the great rabbinic schools of thought, one espousing divorce for any cause (Hillel), the other that it was only acceptable in cases of infidelity (Shammai))

From this we glean that the law never commanded divorce but that it merely laid out principles for governing what was already taking place among the people. God permitted divorce but it was never His intent for a marriage to end in separation and divorce.

This is a great reminder that marriage originated in the mind and heart of God. It is not a government institution, but a God given institution.

He also again presents the limitations under the law upon divorce. It was only legal when the reason for the divorce was fornication.

Again He clearly communicates that under the law, the husband who divorces his wife for any other cause is guilty of causing her to commit adultery.

The ultimate takeaway from these passages should not be the stipulations given for divorce, but rather the original design of marriage instituted by God.

It is an unfortunate reality that like in many other areas of life, we have become intent upon seeking to learn the minimum restrictions and finding the loopholes, rather than striving for what is best which is obviously marriage the way God intended, one man and one woman united as one for a lifetime.

It is obvious that the disciples understood Jesus’ stance on the issue to be much more strict than that of the teachers of the day (Matthew 19:10)

Then Jesus also briefly speaks with regard to those who are celibate and obviously this was a rarity and was certainly never God’s design for all those in ministry as some suppose.

There were some who God had appointed to such a life that they might devote themselves to God alone but this was not the rule but the exception.

The Practical Implications

This instruction from the Lord Jesus should cause us to recognize the serious nature of marriage, that it is not something to be entered into lightly.

It is an unfortunate reality that many marriages end in divorce because the couple did not take seriously the commitment which they were making.

Many have entered into marriage hastily and without proper preparation and have found that it was not as they expected it to be.

We need to get back to understanding marriage as God originally intended, we should remove divorce from our vocabulary that we may be committed to working through any problems which may arise.

There will be times of difficulty in marriage but this does not mean that we give up and seek divorce, rather we must be determined to face the difficulty and work through it.

As followers or Christ we should be deeply committed to the keeping of our marriage vows. We should not consider divorce a simple means of dissolving a marriage.

Rather divorce should be a last resort that is to be avoided at all costs unless there is absolutely no other solution. The only situation where divorce is permitted is in instances of fornication- sexual sin.

Divorce for any other reason does not dissolve the marriage bond in the sight of God though it may in the sight of men.

Even in these circumstances it would be better for the couple to work towards reconciliation and restoration where it is possible.

There is one other case that must be considered as well and that is the case of those unequally yoked.

2 Corinthians 6:14–15 KJV 1900

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

This is why it is so important that we carefully consider who we marry and their spiritual condition.

Paul gives further instruction from the Lord regarding those who have an unbelieving spouse.

I Corinthians 7:10-16- it may be that an unbelieving spouse would leave and in such a scenario there is little that the believing spouse can do to preserve the marriage and yet every effort should be made in the hope that the unbelieving would come to faith in Christ

Underlying all of this is the picture that God intended marriage to be of Christ and the Church

Ephesians 5:31–32 KJV 1900

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This beautiful illustration is often tainted because men and women choose to break their marriage vows for any number of reasons.

The church may make mistakes and fall short and yet Christ loves the church unconditionally and will never allow anything to break the bond which has been instituted between HE and HIS church.

The basic practical implication of all of these passages is that those who follow Christ will do all in their power to preserve the marriage union even when divorce is legally permitted and that God’s original design was for the permanent union of a man and woman which would not be broken.

The basic truth is that if we will approach marriage as God instructs, (See Colossians 3 & Ephesians 5) we will have no need of this instruction concerning divorce.

If we would devote our attention to striving to be the husband or wife that God would have us to be rather than seeking to find an escape from the marriage vows, divorce rates would plummet.

Conclusion

Marriage is a sacred institution give by God and is never to be entered into without serious preparation and consideration of the commitment being made.

God’s design for marriage is that a man and a woman are united as one flesh and that this bond would be for a lifetime.

There are rare exceptions where divorce is allowable, but only cases of fornication qualify under the law. Even in these circumstances it would be better if it be possible for a husband and wife to remain together and to work toward reconciliation and restoration.

If a spouse comes to faith in Christ after they have been married and their partner is yet unbelieving the believing spouse should make every effort to preserve the union but if the unbelieving departs the believer is released from the union.

Again the central theme of each of these passages is that the believer would do all in his/her power to avoid divorce. It is always preferable to remain married and to work through the problems and difficulties we face.