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Rays of Light Bible Lessons by Keith Holder

JESUS' TEACHING ON DIVORCE

Matthew 5:31-32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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.

Marriage and divorce - the Jewish nation skirted around this issue and its spiritual leaders, by their traditions, and erased its meaning until it was beyond recognition as a law of God. Today, the majority of preachers proclaiming denominational doctrine avoid the issue entirely. God's laws regarding marriage and divorce are extremely painful to most people of the world - it is hard for them to accept. Religions have been founded in order to incorporate and justify erring beliefs on this subject. Some denominations have "enacted" tenets that allow marriage and divorce to suit the desires of their followers.

The subject text begins by quoting the scriptural meaning of Deuteronomy 24:1 which says, When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. The reason for the letter of divorcement was because the wife had performed some uncleanness - that is, an unclean act. Jewish interpreters of the law gave this law two very different meanings. No doubt the most commonly accepted meaning was from the Jewish leader, Hillel, who said that divorce could be granted for any reason that the wife brought disfavor to the husband. However, another school of though was from Shammai, which held the opinion that the uncleanness Moses referred to was the commitment of adultery. Naturally those desiring divorce would accept the "for any reason" teaching, and those committed to maintaining their marriage would accept the teaching that uncleanness was "adultery." And so it is today. People choose the "religion" that allows them to do what they want to do; the "religion" that tolerates their personal, human desires.

The interpretations of Hillel and Shammai are mere opinions of man, and have no scriptural authority. Here is the best test of all. How does Jesus Christ, the Son of God, interpret this Old Testament law? In His "Sermon on the Mount" He explains God's law on marriage and divorce in the simplest manner ever spoken. The person that cannot see and understand His teaching on this subject is spiritually blinded by the worldly wisdom of mankind. God's laws are not given as mere guidelines that can be modified to suit the desires of God's human creation. God's laws are not discretionary; they cannot be changed; they are not subject to arbitration. The statutes of God are unalterable commandments; they are given for our good and for the preservation of our souls (See Deut. 6:24). Out of His love for mankind, God gave us commandments that are bearable, which we are to keep and be allowed to direct our lives.

The only reason Jesus gives for divorce is the act of fornication. He positively forbids divorce for any reason other than unchastity that violates the divine institution of marriage. In answer to the tempting questions of the Pharisees regarding the matter of divorce, Jesus replied, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 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? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Not satisfied, the Pharisees continued their questioning of Jesus by asking, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? Answering, Jesus 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. Following this, Jesus stated the law of divorce and marriage in words that can be understood by all: 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 (See Matt. 19:3-9, and also Mark 10:2-9, Luke 16:18). On this, Adam Clarke, in his bible commentary says, "A real Christian ought rather to beg of God the grace to bear patiently and quietly the imperfections of his wife, than to think of the means of being parted from her."

Indeed, no man-made law, regardless of its origin, whether by civil authorities or in the name of a religious body, can modify or make void God's law as testified and explained by Jesus' teaching on divorce.