Matthew 19:3-9

Matthew 19:3: “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?”

Before we get into this topic, I’d like to point out that the Pharisees weren’t actually interested in the answer to the question. They didn’t come to learn; they came to trap Jesus, so that He would either lose followers or get arrested by the Romans. They were out to get Him. They repeatedly tried very hard to ensnare Him, but in the end He got the better of them and they quit asking questions.

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.”

Divorce is not a very popular topic – preachers rarely talk about it anymore. At the same time, divorce is quite common – even among Christians. It seems to be one of the realities of today’s world. Even though pastors refuse to discuss it, though, God has a few very pointed things to say about it.

You see, God hates divorce. He does not like it. People today get divorced for all kinds of reasons, but God hates it. There are very few cases where God permits it – and whenever God doesn’t permit it, it is a sin.

The rule that Jesus Himself laid down is simple: if your spouse is committing adultery, you can get a divorce and marry someone else. However, if your spouse is not committing adultery then you are not allowed to marry another. In extreme cases (such as physical abuse) it is fine to flee your spouse (just as the apostles fled persecution), but you cannot marry someone else. That is the rule.

If you decide anyway that “you’re just not happy” and get a divorce, God does not recognize it. God still considers you to be married to your original spouse. If you then marry someone else, God views it as adultery. God sees your whole relationship with your new spouse as an affair, and each and every time you sleep with them you are committing sexual immorality – a very serious sin. What God requires of you is to stop your sinful relationship with this other person, and either live alone or return to your actual spouse.

There is a great deal more to say about this topic, but since I’ve already written about it extensively here I will not repeat myself.