You Have Heard It Said – Divorce Series

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

YOU HAVE HEARD IT SAID – DIVORCE

MATTHEW 5:31–32 “IT HAS BEEN SAID, ‘ANYONE WHO DIVORCES HIS WIFE MUST GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE.’ 32BUT I TELL YOU THAT ANYONE WHO DIVORCES HIS WIFE, EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS, CAUSES HER TO BECOME AN ADULTERESS, AND ANYONE WHO MARRIES THE DIVORCED WOMAN COMMITS ADULTERY.

INTRODUCTION: I HAVE TO SAY IN 40+ YEARS OF PASTORAL MINISTRY, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE THE HARDEST SERMONS, OR THE HARDEST SERMON I HAVE EVER PREPARED. I CAN REMEMBER IN BOTH BIBLE COLLEGE AND SEMINARY, THIS TOPIC WAS NEVER SUFFICIENTLY DEALT WITH, WHICH RESULTED IN A “VIEW WITHOUT CLARITY”. THIS LEFT THE ISSUE TO BE DECIDED BY INDIVIDUAL CHURCHES. EVEN WHEN ATTENDING SEMINARS TO SPECIFICALLY DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE, I LEFT WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT I WAS NO BETTER OF IN GRAPPLING WITH THIS TOPIC, AND IN MANY TIMES WORS OFF THAN I WAS BEFORE I ENTERED THE SEMINAR.

WELL, AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, I AM NOW FACED WITH TAKING A DEEP DIVE LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF DIVORCE WITH REGARD TO THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. AFTER ALL, I AM SURE THAT ONE OF YOU HERE TODAY WOULD NOTICE IF I JUST SKIPPED OVER THIS PASSAGE AND SIMPLY WENT ON AS THOUGH I HAD A CLERICAL ERROR.

TRANSITION: SO, PERMIT ME TO LEY OUT WHAT I BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS SAYING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND DRAW SOME CONCLUSIONS BASED ON THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE. I AM IN NO WAY TRYING TO BE INFALLIBLE, ONLY FAITHFUL TO THE WORD OF GOD.

I. WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT MARRIAGE

a. GOD SAYS MARRIAGE WAS FOR OUR WELFARE

b. IN GENESIS 2 GOD SAID IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE

c. THIS IS PERHAPS THE FIRST CRISIS IN THE BIBLE, AFTER ALL WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU CALL SOMETHING GOD CALLS, “NOT GOOD”

d. MARRIAGE WAS CREATED TO RESPOND TO A CRISIS GOD DECLARED

e. WITH THE CREATION OF EVE, GOD INSTITUTED MARRIAGE

i. IT WAS A SEPARATE FAMILY UNIT

ii. IT WAS A PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP

f. THE ENTRANCE OF SIN INTO THE WORLD AFFECTED AND CONTINUES TO AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO HAVE A MARRIAGE THE WAY GOD INTENDED.

i. MARRIAGES STRUGGLE

ii. FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION ARE THE MEANS WE HAVE TODAY TO STRENGTHEN MARRIAGES

g. IN SPITE OF OR BEST EFFORTS, HARDNESS (THE ATTITUDE OF NOT FORGIVING OR RECONCILING) LED TO THE DECREE OF DIVORCE

II. WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT DIVORCE

a. GOD SAYS HE HATES IT -- MALACHI 2:14–16 YOU ASK, “WHY?” IT IS BECAUSE THE LORD IS ACTING AS THE WITNESS BETWEEN YOU AND THE WIFE OF YOUR YOUTH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BROKEN FAITH WITH HER, THOUGH SHE IS YOUR PARTNER, THE WIFE OF YOUR MARRIAGE COVENANT. 15HAS NOT THE LORD MADE THEM ONE? IN FLESH AND SPIRIT THEY ARE HIS. AND WHY ONE? BECAUSE HE WAS SEEKING GODLY OFFSPRING. SO GUARD YOURSELF IN YOUR SPIRIT, AND DO NOT BREAK FAITH WITH THE WIFE OF YOUR YOUTH. 16“I HATE DIVORCE,” SAYS THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, “AND I HATE A MAN’S COVERING HIMSELF WITH VIOLENCE AS WELL AS WITH HIS GARMENT,” SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY. SO GUARD YOURSELF IN YOUR SPIRIT, AND DO NOT BREAK FAITH.

i. NOTICE GOD HATES DIVORCE

ii. NOTICE GOD ALSO HATES VIOLENCE IN THE MARRIAGE

iii. GOD ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF DIVORCE AND VIOLENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF BREAKING FAITH

b. JESUS IN FULFILLING THE LAW ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF DIVORCE

i. THE CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE

1. ONLY THE HUSBAND COULD GIVE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE

2. WHAT IT DOES NOT SAY, AND NOR SHOULD WE INFER THAT IT IS THE WIFE WHO HAS BEEN UNFAITHFUL. THE TEXT DOES NOT SAY THAT.

3. IF A MAN WAS UNFAITHFUL, HE WOULD STILL HAVE TO GIVE A BILL OF DIVORCE TO HIS WIFE. AT TIMES HE WOULD REFUSE TO DO THIS AND WOULD BE DISCIPLINED UNTIL HE DID

c. PAUL WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD ADDED TO THE DIVORCE DECREE OF JESUS

1 CORINTHIANS 7:10–15 TO THE MARRIED I GIVE THIS COMMAND (NOT I, BUT THE LORD): A WIFE MUST NOT SEPARATE FROM HER HUSBAND. 11BUT IF SHE DOES, SHE MUST REMAIN UNMARRIED OR ELSE BE RECONCILED TO HER HUSBAND. AND A HUSBAND MUST NOT DIVORCE HIS WIFE. 12TO THE REST I SAY THIS (I, NOT THE LORD): IF ANY BROTHER HAS A WIFE WHO IS NOT A BELIEVER AND SHE IS WILLING TO LIVE WITH HIM, HE MUST NOT DIVORCE HER. 13AND IF A WOMAN HAS A HUSBAND WHO IS NOT A BELIEVER AND HE IS WILLING TO LIVE WITH HER, SHE MUST NOT DIVORCE HIM. 14FOR THE UNBELIEVING HUSBAND HAS BEEN SANCTIFIED THROUGH HIS WIFE, AND THE UNBELIEVING WIFE HAS BEEN SANCTIFIED THROUGH HER BELIEVING HUSBAND. OTHERWISE YOUR CHILDREN WOULD BE UNCLEAN, BUT AS IT IS, THEY ARE HOLY. 15BUT IF THE UNBELIEVER LEAVES, LET HIM DO SO. A BELIEVING MAN OR WOMAN IS NOT BOUND IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES; GOD HAS CALLED US TO LIVE IN PEACE.