God's View on Divorce:
God opposes divorce because it breaks the solemn marriage covenant and harms both partners and their children (Malachi 2:14-16).
(14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.)
Divorce is allowed in Scripture solely due to human sin, not as part of God's original design for marriage. Believers should avoid divorce unless absolutely necessary, trusting that with God's help, marriages can endure even severe difficulties.
Jesus' Teaching on Divorce:
In Matthew 19:3-9,
(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? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 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.)
Jesus emphasizes that divorce contradicts God's original intent for the permanent unity of marriage (Genesis 2:24).
(24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.)
Divorce was permitted only due to human "hardness of heart" (Matthew 19:8).
(8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.)
The lawful grounds for divorce include sexual immorality and abandonment by an unbelieving spouse, allowing the faithful partner to be released from the marriage (Matthew 5:32; 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:12-15).
(Matthew 5:32
32 but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.)
(1 Corinthians 7:12-15
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.)
Jesus aims to correct the misconception that divorce can be pursued for any reason.
Grounds for Divorce:
1. Sexual Sin: The term "porneia" in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 refers to various sexual sins (e.g., adultery, homosexuality, incest). If a partner commits such sins and does not repent, the faithful partner may seek divorce (Matthew 5:32; 1 Corinthians 7:15).
(Matthew 5:32
32 but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.)
(1 Corinthians 7:15
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.)
2. Desertion by an Unbeliever: If an unbelieving spouse leaves, the believing partner is allowed to divorce, as maintaining the marriage may lead to greater conflict (1 Corinthians 7:12-15).
(1 Corinthians 7:12-15
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.)
Remarriage:
Remarriage is permitted for the faithful partner only if the divorce occurred on biblical grounds, emphasizing that the purpose of biblical divorce is to enable remarriage in the Lord (Romans 7:1-3; 1 Corinthians 7:39). Those who divorce for non-biblical reasons and remarry are considered adulterers (Mark 10:11-12).
(Romans 7:1-3
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.)
(1 Corinthians 7:39
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.)
(Mark 10:11-12
11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.)
Church's Role:
Believers pursuing unbiblical divorce face church discipline, as they defy God's Word. Those who remarry after an unbiblical divorce are guilty of adultery and subject to church discipline (Matthew 5:32; Mark 10:11-12). If repentance occurs, the church should guide individuals through the process of reconciliation or, if impossible, advise on subsequent relationships.
(Matthew 5:32
32 but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.)
(Mark 10:11-12
11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.)
Pre-conversion Divorce:
Paul advises believers to remain in their marital status at the time of their conversion (1 Corinthians 7:20-27). If they were divorced pre-conversion and cannot reconcile, they may remarry another believer (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 6:14).
(1 Corinthians 7:20-27
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. 27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.)
(1 Corinthians 7:39
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.)
(2 Corinthians 6:14
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?)
Repentance and Forgiveness:
If a divorce occurred on unbiblical grounds, repentance involves seeking reconciliation if possible. If reconciliation is not possible, the believer may enter a new relationship under church guidance. For those who remarried after an unbiblical divorce, confession of adultery is necessary, and God grants forgiveness upon repentance (Mark 10:11-12).
(Mark 10:11-12
11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.)
Source: "Divorce and Remarriage," Grace Community Church.
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