Lesson 7. Remarriage and Divorce. The “Foundations of Christ’s Teachings” School. A series of foundational teachings that Jesus Christ taught His disciples on the mountain.
Matthew 5:31 It has also been said that if anyone divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce [a dismissal].
First of all, it should be noted that all questions concerning divorce and remarriage apply equally to men and women. When studying this subject, it is important not to forget this.
- divorces his wife – literally in the Greek text: “whoever dismisses his wife.” The word [apolýsei] – is most often translated in the New Testament as to dismiss. Although the word “divorce” is more understandable in modern language, to preserve the accuracy of the translation, we will use (in this teaching) the word to dismiss.
- certificate of divorce – the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 24:1–2) allowed a husband to divorce his wife by giving her a certificate of divorce (a dismissal). This was written testimony that she had been his wife and that he was dismissing her for such-and-such a reason.
The divorce procedure was extremely simple. The certificate of divorce stated: “Let this be my certificate of divorce, dismissal, and release for you, so that you may marry any man you wish.”
All that had to be done – was to place this document in the woman’s hands in the presence of witnesses, and she was free. History shows that in the era of Jesus, divorce was becoming easier and easier.
Among the Jews, it went so far that a husband could divorce his wife even because she had ruined his lunch by putting too much salt in it; if she went outside with her head uncovered; if she spoke with men in the street; if she was a quarrelsome woman; or if, in her husband’s presence, she spoke disrespectfully about his parents.
Matthew 5:32 But I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for the cause of adultery [porneia], causes her to commit adultery [moicheuthēnai]; and whoever marries a divorced woman [dismissed woman] commits adultery.
- who divorces his wife – literally in the Greek text: “who sends his wife away”
- adultery [por-NEY-ah] – immorality, illicit love, prostitution, fornication. This word comes from [POR-neh] – an immoral woman, prostitute. The modern word porn was most likely derived from this word.
The reason a woman may be sent away–is that she has begun living an immoral life and has begun committing fornication. The word [POR-neh] also refers to a known, proven fact of fornication. The husband’s assumptions and suspicions are not being discussed.
Jesus says that the only reason for sending a wife away is the fact that she has begun committing fornication and living an immoral life. In such a case, the husband may send her away as a prostitute.
But if a husband sends his wife away and does not want to live with her for another reason, he makes her an adulteress. That is, when his wife marries another man, she will become an adulteress in relation to her lawful husband.
- gives her an opportunity – [poy-EY-ou-ten], literally in the Greek text: “makes her” an adulteress, pushes her into adultery.
- adultery [moy-khey-THAY-nai] – to commit adultery, to violate marital fidelity.
If a wife–is not a prostitute or an immoral woman, her husband must not send her away. Jesus means that the wife will not be able to establish a normal life afterward, because she will be an adulteress. The husband will also be an adulterer toward his wife if he marries another woman.
Matthew 19:9 But I say to you: whoever divorces his wife [sends his wife away] for a reason other than adultery [por-NEY-ah] and marries another, [he] commits adultery [moy-KHA-tai]; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery
Mark 10:11–12 He said to them: whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery [moy-KHA-tai] against her [against her]; and if a wife divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery [moy-KHA-tai].
Why will this happen? Adultery will occur because the wife and husband are bound together by the “law of marriage” until one of the spouses dies.
Romans 7:2–3 A married woman is bound by law to her living husband; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. Therefore, if, while her husband is alive, she marries another man, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law and will not be an adulteress if she marries another husband.
1 Cor. 7:39 A wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
There is a “law of marriage,” or “law of the husband”, which God established when He created the family, long before the Law of Moses. A man and a woman in marriage literally become one flesh. Scripture says that two bodies become one and therefore must not be separated.
Mark 10:2–9 The Pharisees came and asked Him, testing Him: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” Jesus answered them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. Therefore 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. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate [divide, divorce].”
Conclusions
- A husband and wife are bound to each other by the law of marriage until death (Mark 10:2–9, Rom. 7:2–3, 1 Cor. 7:39).
- If one spouse dies, the other is free to marry again (Rom. 7:2–3, 1 Cor. 7:39).
- If one spouse sends the other away for a reason other than sexual immorality [porneia], he or she drives that person into adultery (Matt. 5:32).
- A spouse who has already sent the other away for a reason other than sexual immorality [porneia] must remain unmarried; otherwise, if he or she marries again, he or she commits adultery (Matt. 19:9, Mark 10:11–12).
- A spouse who has been sent away (the other person no longer wanted to live with him or her and drove them out) cannot marry again, because he or she would commit adultery (Matt. 5:32, Matt. 19:9, Mark 10:11–12).
- A spouse who has become a victim (their spouse was unfaithful – sexual immorality [porneia] occurred) becomes free from the law of marriage and may marry again (Matt. 5:32, 1 Cor. 7:27–28).
Conclusion
Jesus’ commandments concerning divorce and remarriage are very strict. Even His disciples could not accept this teaching. After hearing His teaching on divorce, instead of drawing the correct conclusion about marital faithfulness, the disciples drew the wrong conclusion that it is better not to marry at all (otherwise, it would later be impossible to divorce).
Matthew 19:10 His disciples said to Him, “If this is the duty of a man toward his wife, then it is better not to marry.”
In reality, Jesus taught something quite different. He did not intend to discourage people from marrying, but explained the seriousness of this decision and of life thereafter. He taught how important it is to preserve the marriage relationship, because spouses are bound to each other until death. The only exception is when one of the spouses begins living a promiscuous, immoral life.
P.S. Unfortunately, there are such complicated situations regarding divorce and remarriage that it is difficult to make the right decision. In particularly complicated cases, one should act based on an additional word received from the Lord for that specific situation.
End of lesson.
Source: Father’s Blessing Church
Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
