Marriage and Divorce

The Bible teaches that marriage is an institution from God and that the husband and wife are one flesh (Genesis 2:24) and no one should separate (Matthew 19:4-6). These same verses teach that marriage is between one man and one woman. We are also told that marriage which is designed by God is good (proverbs 18:22) and this is used to picture God’s relationship with Israel (Isaiah 49:18; 62:5), as well as Christ’s relationship with the Church (1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:32). The bible describes people who have been single (Matthew 19:12) for the sake of the kingdom and reasons to remain single in light of present difficulties (1 Corinthians 7:25-35); so marriage is not for everyone. The bible teaches that marriage forms a new family (Geneses 2:24) in which the man is the head of the wife and the family (Ephesians 5:22-24). Ignoring this has served to damage marriages and more importantly, has dishonoured the Lord by ignoring His Word. Marriage involves leaving, cleaving and becoming one flesh (Genesis 2:24). So it is a physical union which can be dissolved (1 Corinthians 6:16) but it is intended to be inseparable (Matthew 19:6); and so Christians must marry Christians (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 6:14).

Covenants are made to be kept (Numbers 30:2; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6) and we are told that marriage is a covenant (Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14). More over God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) so marriage is meant to last as long as the partners live. So divorce is discouraged and if people are in physical danger in their relationship, separation would be advised rather than divorce. With the difference in what God intends and what He allows we find some exceptions such as when the spouse commits immorality (Matthew 19:3-12) in relation to the law of Moses (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). Immorality in this case should be known not assumed, because marriage should not be terminated on the bases of suspicion. Lust is sin as Jesus attributes it to adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28), but it is not technically an act of immorality. Another situation which allows for divorce is when a spouse who is not a Christian abandons the husband or wife (1 Corinthians 7:15). In all these situations the believer does not initiate the divorce.

Each of the two exceptions above which lead to divorce allow for remarriage. The situation in Matthew 19:9, talks of one who divorces and remarries, it does not talk of one who divorces and does not remarry. The one who divorces his wife except for immorality is the same individual who remarries and we cannot separate the two issues, else we conclude that someone who divorces his wife, with the exception of immorality, commits adultery. 1 Corinthians 7:15 also implies that the man is free to remarry given that he is abandoned; and so to refuse remarrying is putting restriction to the believer and we find in Corinthians 7:27-28 that the man has not sinned. We should not take divorce as a necessary option for immorality but trust in God’s grace and exercise forgiveness for mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13), as God promises to work all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).