Title: Sermon on the Mount: Jesus and Divorce
Theme: To answer some questions on divorce
Text: Matthew 5:31-32
Mt 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.
Stats on Divorce:
Today about one out of every two marriages end in divorce. 50%. The reasons vary from adultery, cruelty, desertion, incompatibility, fraudulent representation, misconduct, etc. It seems to be anyone can get a divorce no matter the cause
We see this even more prevalent in the celebrities. It is like a soap opera where people are being married five and six time and flaunting this proudly.
Matthew 19:1-9
1 Cor 7:1-2, 10-16
Fornication-marital unfaithfulness, adultery or anything of sexual immorality
Paul says in 1 Cor 7 that it is okay to divorce if one is disserted.
I. What constitutes a marriage?
1. legal law-marriage by a priest or state
2. sexual union 1 Cor 6:16
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. (1 Corinthians 6:16 AV)
II. How long is a marriage contract? "till death breaks it" Matthew 19:6
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 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? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:4-6 AV)
III. Is there any scriptural ground for divorce? Yes
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. (Matthew 19:9 AV)
Mt 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.
III. What about abuse? If it is wrong to divorce except for fornication reasons what about someone who is abused or abandoned?
And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 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. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 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. 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. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? (1 Cor 7:10-16
First of all there could be separation. A person does not have to divorce but could separate. I don't think that it is God's will for a spouse to stay in an abusive relationship either emotional or physical. Separation would not hurt.
The idea is for the innocent part to stay pure outside the marriage. Make their conscience and heart is clean and the cause of the trouble is on the other person.
We must be reminded of why Jesus even spoke on divorce. The Jews had carried it so far. If their wife displeased them in anyway, burning the food, gaining weight, even if he found a woman more fairer than her then he could divorce. This was the extreme as most of the laws were carried to.
IV. Should the innocent party demand a divorce if Matthew 9:19 becomes true? No
This is not a requirement but on a guideline. God's original plan was for no divorce.
V. If people once divorced and married to another person get converted should they return to their original partner? No.
It would cause more divorces. For a newly saved person if restitution cannot be made then "life begins at conversion"
VI. If a wife is divorced and marries someone else who later dies, may she return to her first husband?
It is forbidden according to Dt 24:1-4
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4 AV)
VII. Should a divorced person remarry?
If the divorce is scriptural "yes". But if it is unscriptural then "no" because then they would be "living in adultery"
VIII. Why should people avoid divorce?
1. The children, they suffer the most
2. Shame and the scandal that sometimes ensues
3. There are some areas that one cannot participate in the church
according to scripture.
4. Some look at divorce as sinful regardless of the circumstances
5. Economics, especially the wife.
6. Divorce represents many times failure.
7. Once the step is taken it is hard to undo.
IX. May the Innocent party in a divorce remarry?
If there is an innocent party then yes. But it would be good to, according to church rules, have two or more witnesses
X. Is it permissible for a divorced person to hold a church office?
According to the circumstances and in light of scripture.
The idea is that marriage is an institution of God. It is ordained by God to show us his relationship with us. We are in an marriage relationship with God when we become a Christian this is why it is such an important institution.
We must not look at the world and its standards when judging this matter. It does not matter but what matter is scripture.
