Scripture sets a high standard for the permanence of marriage: Jesus points back to the Creator’s design and restricts divorce, while the Law of Moses allowed a certificate of divorce “because of hardness of heart.” Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 include an exception for sexual immorality, while Paul addresses the case of an unbelieving spouse leaving (1 Corinthians 7:15). Christians interpret these exceptions differently. Scripture does not approve of arbitrary divorce.
What does the Bible say about this?
- Jesus answers the Pharisees by referring to creation: a man and woman are one flesh, and what God has joined together, a person must not separate (Matthew 19:3–6; Mark 10:2–9).
- Moses allowed a certificate of divorce because of hardness of heart, but “from the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19:7–8; Deuteronomy 24:1–4).
- Matthew 5:32 includes the exception “except for sexual immorality,” while Matthew 19:9 says “who is not sexually immoral”; Mark 10:11–12 and Luke 16:18 contain no such exception.
- Paul repeats the Lord’s command: a wife must not leave her husband, and a husband must not divorce his wife; if an unbelieving spouse leaves, the brother or sister “is not enslaved” (1 Corinthians 7:10–16).
- Interpretations differ: what “sexual immorality” means in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 (any sexual unfaithfulness, breaking an engagement, a prohibited degree of kinship, and so on); whether 1 Corinthians 7:15 applies to divorce; and whether divorce is permissible in cases of abuse and other situations that Scripture does not explicitly name.
- Application: protection from abuse and danger is a separate task; separation for safety and ending a marriage are different questions, and it is best to discuss them with a pastor and professionals.
This brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scriptures
5 Scriptures · Father’s Blessing Bible
Matthew 19:3–9
3 The Pharisees came to Him and, testing Him, asked Him: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason? 4 He answered them: Have you not read that the Creator made them male and female in the beginning? 5 And He said: Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; 6 so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate. 7 They said to Him: Why then did Moses command giving a certificate of divorce and divorcing her? 8 He said to them: Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not so; 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, unless she is guilty of sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.
Mark 10:2–12
2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, testing Him: Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife? 3 He answered them: What did Moses command you? 4 They said: Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and divorce her. 5 Jesus answered them: Because of your hard hearts he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother 8 and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate. 10 In the house, His disciples asked Him again about this. 11 And He said to them: Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.
Matthew 5:31–32
31 It was said: Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the grounds of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
1 Corinthians 7:10–16
10 To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord: A wife must not leave her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband—and a husband must not divorce his wife. his 12 To the rest I say this (not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For 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. be 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. circumstances 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? you you
Deuteronomy 24:1–4
1 If a man marries a woman but she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her, and sends her away from his house, 2 and after she leaves his house, she becomes the wife of another man, 3 but the second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her, and sends her away from his house—or if he dies—4 then her first husband, who divorced her, is not permitted to take her again as his wife after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the sight of the Lord [your God]. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
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