WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE?
KEY POINTS
- God established marriage.
- Even when there are biblical grounds for divorce, it is still not God’s preference and only exists because of man's sin.
The importance of marriage, from God’s perspective, is best seen in His abhorrence of its destruction (Matthew 19:6). He loves marriage, and therefore, hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). On the other hand, the establishment of marriage, even the very wedding ceremony itself, is an endorsed (John 2:1-11) and joyous (Jeremiah 7:34) event. And so, we take a high view of marriage and shout from the housetops, “Let marriage be held in honor among all” (Hebrews 13:4).
Marriage was immediately instituted by God (Genesis 2:24) – at the very creation of Man, it was set as a foundation of human society – and is forevermore represented by a man leaving his father and mother and cleaving to his wife. The result is that God joins them together and the man and woman become one (Matthew 19:4-6). Most significantly, it should be understood how important the institution of marriage is to God (Hebrews 13:4). Its importance, most fundamentally, is rooted in the fact that marriage was instituted by God Himself and is not, simply, an invention of mankind. It is, indeed, a “God thing” and God things must not be treated lightly, responded to flippantly, redefined, or in any way undervalued.
The treating or perceiving of marriage in unnatural ways by a society is done at its own peril, for once the foundation of a building begins to erode, the entire building is, indeed, in danger of collapsing in on itself. Indeed, marriage is a foundation of society since it is the first human relationship God instituted, and because it is the natural necessity for the fulfillment of the first words God said to mankind, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22). It is the logical and practical foundation of the family, and the family is foundational to the building of a society.
Divorce is to separate and destroy what God has done; that is, “what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:6). How did divorce begin? Certainly, it was not God’s desire, in fact, according to Malachi 2:16, God hates it! In the Scripture, we can sometimes find instructions that were given to men by God that were not consistent with His desire and original intentions (note, for example, God’s instructions given regarding the people’s desire for a king in 1 Samuel 8:4-9). Some things, like divorce, were allowed or permitted because of the sin of man (Matthew 19:8).
Divorce, indeed, is not natural. It is not God’s idea! It only exists because of man’s sin. It is rebellious in the sense that it goes against God’s plan (Mark 10:5-8). Even when there are biblical grounds for divorce, it is still not God’s preference. There are, nevertheless, biblical grounds for divorce:
1.Adultery (Matthew 5:32)
2.Abandonment* (1 Corinthians 7:15)
*Grounds of abandonment may also include abuse as possible biblical grounds for divorce
Remarriage is allowed after the death of a spouse (Romans 7:1-3). What about remarriage after divorce? Divorce and remarriage seem to equal adultery unless the divorce is biblically justified (Mark 10:11-12). According to Matthew 19:9, we could refer to the following equation as a principle:
Divorce – Biblical Justification + Remarriage = Adultery
The remarriage of a divorced person constitutes adultery if their divorce was not rooted in biblical justification. Likewise, remarriage to a divorced person (whose divorce was not biblically justified) also, seemingly, constitutes adultery (Luke 16:18). In a certain sense, divorce without biblical justification is not even recognized by God. If you divorce and remarry, without biblical justification, then you commit adultery since you, in effect, are not divorced. The implication, it seems, is that in God’s eyes you are still married (Mark 10:11-12).
Marriage was immediately instituted by God (Genesis 2:24) – at the very creation of Man, it was set as a foundation of human society – and is forevermore represented by a man leaving his father and mother and cleaving to his wife. The result is that God joins them together and the man and woman become one (Matthew 19:4-6). Most significantly, it should be understood how important the institution of marriage is to God (Hebrews 13:4). Its importance, most fundamentally, is rooted in the fact that marriage was instituted by God Himself and is not, simply, an invention of mankind. It is, indeed, a “God thing” and God things must not be treated lightly, responded to flippantly, redefined, or in any way undervalued.
The treating or perceiving of marriage in unnatural ways by a society is done at its own peril, for once the foundation of a building begins to erode, the entire building is, indeed, in danger of collapsing in on itself. Indeed, marriage is a foundation of society since it is the first human relationship God instituted, and because it is the natural necessity for the fulfillment of the first words God said to mankind, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22). It is the logical and practical foundation of the family, and the family is foundational to the building of a society.
Divorce is to separate and destroy what God has done; that is, “what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:6). How did divorce begin? Certainly, it was not God’s desire, in fact, according to Malachi 2:16, God hates it! In the Scripture, we can sometimes find instructions that were given to men by God that were not consistent with His desire and original intentions (note, for example, God’s instructions given regarding the people’s desire for a king in 1 Samuel 8:4-9). Some things, like divorce, were allowed or permitted because of the sin of man (Matthew 19:8).
Divorce, indeed, is not natural. It is not God’s idea! It only exists because of man’s sin. It is rebellious in the sense that it goes against God’s plan (Mark 10:5-8). Even when there are biblical grounds for divorce, it is still not God’s preference. There are, nevertheless, biblical grounds for divorce:
1.Adultery (Matthew 5:32)
2.Abandonment* (1 Corinthians 7:15)
*Grounds of abandonment may also include abuse as possible biblical grounds for divorce
Remarriage is allowed after the death of a spouse (Romans 7:1-3). What about remarriage after divorce? Divorce and remarriage seem to equal adultery unless the divorce is biblically justified (Mark 10:11-12). According to Matthew 19:9, we could refer to the following equation as a principle:
Divorce – Biblical Justification + Remarriage = Adultery
The remarriage of a divorced person constitutes adultery if their divorce was not rooted in biblical justification. Likewise, remarriage to a divorced person (whose divorce was not biblically justified) also, seemingly, constitutes adultery (Luke 16:18). In a certain sense, divorce without biblical justification is not even recognized by God. If you divorce and remarry, without biblical justification, then you commit adultery since you, in effect, are not divorced. The implication, it seems, is that in God’s eyes you are still married (Mark 10:11-12).
BIBLICAL REFERENCES
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Matthew 19:6
“The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,”[a] says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 2:16
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:32
But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 1 Corinthians 7:15
TRUE NORTH COLLEGE COURSE
Marriage and the Family | Practical Theology 255
A biblical study of the institution of marriage with a focus on marriage roles. Special attention will be given to understanding family dynamics and applying authority and responsibility in parenting. Special emphasis will be put on the importance of our words in fostering healthy relationships.