The Bible Speaks on Marriage/Divorce/Remarriage

(The Godly Family, Pt. 5)

 

FILING INFORMATION:

1999038

Subject: home; family; divorce; marriage

Preached Originally: 07/04/99 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction.

A.    Series on the godly home continues.  First 2 sermons dealt w/husband/wife relationship.  Second 2 sermons dealt w/parent child relationship.  Today’s 2 sermons will focus on MDR. – a hot topic among many brethren today.

1.    it is a hot topic in society today.

2.    Divorce = epidemic proportions in society.

3.    Almost every family involved in some manner w/divorce.

4.    W/some in society = it almost a status symbol to be divorced and be a single parent.

B.    That divorce was once looked down upon as being disgraceful & shameful is well known.

1.    now people look at divorce as a viable alternative to unhappy married life.

C.   Attitudes toward divorce are also changing w/in the Lord’s body concerning MDR.

1.    preachers now changing their tune on the subject & now conforming it to popular opinion.

2.    Elders/preachers in church who have had their own immediate families ravaged by divorce.

D.   Both husband/wife must be committed to Jesus in order for divorce NOT to be an option.

1.    if both marriage partners trying to be God’s kind of person (god’s kind of husband/wife) then divorce will never be considered.

2.    Not to say that there will not be problems in marriage of faithful Christians.

3.    But faithful Christian will/should do his best to be pleasing to God – and if so...divorce will not be an option.

E.    As we approach the subject this AM – need to keep a few things in mind.  This = an emotional subject.  Tempers can flare.  Relationships can be changed forever when this subject comes up.  Must remember:

1.    Deut. 10:13 – all God’s commandments for our ultimate good & benefit.  This demands faith on our part.

2.    Psa. 19:7-9 – we must have trust/confidence in God.

3.    Bible says what it means & means what it says.

4.    No passage of Scripture may be interpreted in such a way as to put it into conflict w/another Scripture.

5.    Task:  to try to understand the mind of God on the subject of MDR and then be guided by it.

F.    Main text will be in Mt. 19:3-12.

1.    All other texts on MDR only reinforce the teaching Jesus outlined here.

2.    Take Notes.  Questions/comments from this lesson are most welcome.  Talk to me after services.

 

I.  19:3 – The question of the Pharisees.

A.    recommend book – Divorce & Remarriage by Donnie Radar.  I consulted this book in prep for lesson.

B.    What was motive for question in 19:3?

1.    Pharisees:  testing Jesus

2.    Trying to use something against Him – perhaps slip of tongue – perhaps something where tide of public opinion would turn against Him.

3.    Obvious that they had no desire for the truth in asking question.

C.   Why this particular question?

1.    How could they use the question to their particular advantage?

a)    perhaps to involve Jesus in controversy – that was going on between Jewish rabbis.

b)    controversy centered around Moses’ teaching in Deut. 24:1-3.

2.    Focus on Deut. 24:1-3.

a)    one group taught that divorce only acceptable in case of adultery.  Indency (RSV) refers to adultery...

b)    another group taught that divorce acceptable for ANY reason.  Indency (RSV) could refer to anything.

c)    2nd the more liberal position.  The more popular belief of the day.

3.    if Jesus took the main (liberal) view – then those opposed to Jesus could deride His claims to be the teacher of a superior morality.

a)    if he took the stricter view – he would go against the majority of the people.

b)    Pharisees thought – any answer He gave – they had Him.

4.    Consider also situation of John the Baptist w/Herod & Herodias & their marriage relationship.

a)    Mk. 6:17-19 – John said their relationship unlawful.

b)    Had Jesus taken more liberal view – He would have contradicted John – whom the people considered to be a prophet.

c)    Had Jesus taken the more conservative view – He could have been arrested by Herod & subject to the same capital penalty.

d)    Pharisees knew Jesus had already spoken on the subject (Mt. 5:31-32) and hopefully Herod would object to the teaching.

D.   Point of question in 19:3 – is marriage a precarious relationship – an uncertain venture – to be dissolved at a mere whim or pleasure of either party?  Is divorce permissible for ANY reason?

 

II.  19:4-6 – Examining the answer of Jesus.

A.    Jesus answers question w/a resounding NO!

1.    goes back to first marriage – as it was in the beginning.  Notice: have you not read?  Appeals to their knowledge of the law itself.

2.    Adam/Eve were created for each other.  Their union was complete & unbreakable.

a)    Eve from a rib in Adam’s side.

b)    19:5 – a fundamental law of marriage here – two shall cleave to one another.

c)    “cleave” – word means “to glue”; to “stick together.”  (Kallao)

B.    19:6 – notice the permanence of relationship inferred in this verse.

1.    marriage = NOT a trivial thing.

2.    Commitment involved.

3.    Young people: You MUST realize this BEFORE getting married.

a)    spouse NOT like a car that you can trade in.

b)    Till death do you part.

 

III.  A closeup of 19:6

A.    God joins the man/woman together in marriage.

1.    phrase joined together here defined in Heb. As “to yoke together” or to “conjoin (in marriage).”

2.    Act of being “yoked together” does 2 things according to the LAW of God.

a)    one is OBLIGATED to leave father/mother & cleave to his wife – 19:5

b)    one is RESTRAINED from sexual relations w/another person besides his spouse – Rom. 7:2-3.

B.    19:6 demonstrates that God plays a role in the marriage relationship.

1.    God JOINS 2 people together.

2.    GOD ALONE has authority to free one from this yoke so they can contract another marriage w/o sin.

3.    The marriage covenant more than agreement b/t man/woman but it involves 3 – man/woman/God!

C.   19:6 – man not to separate what God has joined together.

1.    separate/put asunder:

a)    Heb. Wd. Chorizo – to place room between; to go away; to depart; to separate.

2.    Can separate by divorce spouse unlawfully & thus commit adultery – Mk. 6:17-18 – Herod/Herodias.

3.    1 Cor. 7:10-11 – one can separate by leaving spouse & become unmarried – but to do so is sin & to marry again = adultery.

4.    One obligated by God to keep his marriage vows.

a)    for better or worse

b)    for richer or poorer

c)    through thick n thin.

D.   Basically:  19:6 – an absolute pronouncement by Jesus against divorce for any cause.

1.    Jesus rebuking hard hearts of the Jews & demanding a return to God’s marriage law – as it had been from the beginning.

2.    Divorce is sinful behavior!  They need to know it then & we need to know it today!

a)    except in case of adultery – Mt. 5:31-32

b)    Mal. 2:16; 1 Cor. 7:10-11 – refer to God’s feelings on the matter.

 

IV.  Observe the reply of the Pharisees in 19:7-8.

A.    Pharisees attempt to make Jesus contradict Moses.  (Moses second only to God in their reverence.)

1.    They thought if Moses “commanded” men to give wives certificate of divorce – who was Jesus to say it was not so?

B.    Moses never “commanded” divorce.

1.    permitted b/c of Israel’s hardened & sinful heart.

2.    Was a practice in which Jews had been widely engaged.

a)    rader says:  divorce already a common part of Israel long before Moses.

b)    19:8 – “Moses allowed” (NRSV) or “permitted” (NKJV) – even though God did not approve.  Jesus said from the beginning it was not so.

c)    Throughout the OT – important to remember that God tolerated many things which he did not approve of.

1)    polygamy

2)    Acts 17:30-31.

3.    practice of divorce for every cause contrary to law of Gen. 1-2.

C.   Thus the statement of Pharisees in 19:8 would be invalid b/c from the beginning it was not so.

 

V.  19:9 – the law of Christ.

A.    Jesus specified HIS law...that divorce is not acceptable to God EXCEPT in case of adultery.

1.    general law stated here:  whoever divorces his wife & marries another commits adultery.

2.    This = real point of 19:3-12.

3.    This needs to be emphasized.

B.    Only exception:  in case of sexual immorality.

1.    word “fornication” defined:

2.    to act the harlot; literally...to indulge in unlawful lusts.

C.   the force of an exception clause – is something that is easily understood in other passages:

1.    except:  means that the general law does not apply in certain situations.  Look at:

2.    Acts 8:1

3.    2 Tim. 2:5

4.    Lk. 13:3

D.   Force of the exception clause in 19:9 is...

1.    if a man divorces his wife for the cause of fornication & marries another...he does not commit adultery.

E.    Notice also – whoever marries one who has been put away for adultery commits adultery when he marries her.

F.    Summing up 19:9 in three points:

1.    one who divorces spouse b/c of fornication & marries another does NOT commit adultery.  This = force of the exception clause.

2.    Man who divorces spouse NOT FOR adultery (for any other cause) commits adultery.

3.    Th man who marries a woman who has been divorced (put away for adultery) commits adultery.

 

Conclusion

A.    Let us consider marriage from another viewpoint.

B.    We must have Bible authority for everything we do.

1.    Col. 3:17; 2 Jhn. 9; Rev. 22:18-19.

C.   Who has the authority to marry?

1.    answer plain.

2.    Those who have never been married.

3.    Those whose first mates have died – Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:39

4.    The innocent party in case of fornication in marriage – Mt. 19:9.

D.   Bottom line:  those who do not have authority from God to marry are called adulterers.

1.    adulterous relationship is a sinful relationship & to remain therein will cause one to lose his soul.  1 Cor. 6:9-11.

2.    Serious thing before God.

E.    As in intro – the one who is striving to be God’s kind of husband/wife will never consider divorce as a viable option.

F.    Are you striving to be God’s kind of husband/wife?

G.   I N V I T A T I O N