PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD
(Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
THE BIBLE AND
DIVORCE
Devotional
Text: Matt. 5:31-32
Introduction:
For a start, please, note that…”God hates divorce”… (Mal. 2:16).
To this end, Adam Clarke in his Bible commentary remarks that, “he also notes
those who frame idle excuses to cover up the violence they have done to the
wives of their youth, by putting them away, and taking others in their place,
when their own wives have been worn down in domestic services. Divorce was
legal in Israel, (Deut. 24:1-4). But, Malachi in his reaction kicks against the
legislation, as he hints that God hates divorce, legal or not, upholding that
the marriage covenant between a man and woman should be kept faithfully,
(2:16). In Matthew’s account of the Gospel, Jesus gives reason for the legality
of divorce in the law of Moses, as He also remarks that, “whoever shall put
away his wife, if not for fornication, and shall marry another, commits
adultery. And the one who marries her who was put away commits adultery” (Matt.
19:1-9)
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1) God hates
divorce and any cover-up that leads to it,(Mal. 2:16)
(2) In the
Scripture, Jesus shows that infidelity could be the only ground for divorce,
(Matt. 19: 9)
(3) In His
dramatic response to the temptation of the Scribes and the Pharisees, He also shows
that forgiveness of infidelity is better than divorce by death,
(John 8:1-11)
(4) Jesus finally
remarks that marriages is God’s institution, and so, what God has joined
together, let no man separate, (Matt 19:3-6)
DIVORCE AND
THE LAW OF MOSES
The
Scripture, “when a man takes a wife and marries her, then it shall be, if she
find no favour in his eyes because he has found some unseemly thing in her,
that he shall write her a bill of divorce”… (Deut 24:1) shows the legality of
divorce in the Law of Moses. But, Jesus says that Moses allowed the legality of
divorce because of the hardness of the hearts of the people, stressing that in
the beginning it was not so, which indicates the need to return to the original
plan, (Matt.19:1-8). By implication, Jesus’ remark shows that if the heart of
man becomes renewed, divorce would die a natural death, and this, His atoning
death achieved, (Rom. 7:4-6). In line with this, therefore, it becomes
instructive that;
(i)
The law of Moses reveals the hardness of the heart of the
unredeemed
man that results in frequent divorce,
(Matt.19:7-8)
(ii)
The atoning death of Jesus brings redemption and renewal to the
heart of man
that enables him remain in God’s original plan
for the institution of marriage, (Rom.7:4-6)
(iii)
Those who divorce their life partners demonstrate the fact of their
hardness of heart
by dint of the old nature, and this shows that
they are in need of redemption, (Matt.19:8; Rom.7:6).
DIVORCE AND
MODERN LEGISLATION
Statistically, the rate of divorce in modern world is alarming.
And, in response, piles of legislations have been put in place by different
segments of the human society to handle the problem. But, the upsurge of
divorce in human society remains traceable to the hardness of the heart of the
un-redeemed man. Today, marriages are dissolved in courts, via legislations or
personal volition, and these indicate serious moves against the Word of God,
which holds that once marriages are contracted, divorce should not be
contemplated, (Matt. 19:3-6). Therefore, by the verdict of God’s word, no;
(i)
court or legal institution in the world has the right to dissolve
marriage,
as no one is given the authority to do so, (vs
4-6)
(ii)
individual, no matter how highly placed, is in position to put
asunder what God has joined together, (vs 4-6).
(iii)
authority is given to any religious leader, whether by church
legislation,
or whatever means to dissolve any marriage
contracted before God and man, (vs 4-6).
DIVORCE AND
FORGIVENESS
This lesson biblically indicates that Jesus says that infidelity
is the only factor that could warrant divorce, (Matt.19:9). It also put forth that the same Jesus
dramatically shows that forgiveness is the best way to stop divorce, and return
to God’s original plan in marriage(vs 7-8), if the offender (in infidelity) is
willing to repent and turn a new leaf, (John 8:11). And, for the biblical fact
that God promises a heart of flesh, in replacement of the stony heart (Ezek.
36:26), which informs the hardness of
heart that forced Moses into the legality of divorce (Matt. 19:8), and now,
available through the redemptive work of Christ
(Eph.4:21-25), it becomes obvious that the teaching of Jesus shows that;
(i)
God’s original plan should prevail in marriage, (Matt. 19:3-6)
(ii)
hardness of heart should not be allowed to prevail over marriage
(Vs.709)
(iii)
forgiveness should override infidelity, where the offender is
willing to sin no more, (John 8:1-11).
In
conclusion,
please, note that Jesus says that sexual immorality could permit divorce (Matt.
19:9) does not mean He approves divorce, nor does He mean that such a sin
should continue in marriage simply because He canvasses for
forgiveness, (John 8:1-11), as the golden rule in this case remains, “go and sin no more,” (vs.11). And, in all, a proper exegesis of the
teaching of Jesus on marriage and other relevant scriptures show that divorce
is not permitted in whatever guise, (Matt.19:1-9; Mal.2:16). PLEASE NOTE!
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