Opinion / Columnist
What the Bible says about divorce
28 Feb 2016 at 17:25hrs | Views
FIRST of all, no matter what view one takes on the issue of divorce, it is important to remember Malachi 2:16; "I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel."
According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment. "So they are no longer two, but one, therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate. (Matthew19:6).
God realises, though, that, since marriages involve two sinful human beings, divorces are going to occur.
In the Old Testament, He laid down some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcees, especially women (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).
Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people's hearts, not because such laws were God's desire (Matthew 19:8).
The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus' words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase "except for marital unfaithfulness" is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God's permission for divorce and remarriage.
Many interpreters understand this "exception clause" as referring to "marital unfaithfulness" during the "betrothal" period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged or "betrothed."
According to this view, immorality during this "betrothal" period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce.
Marital unfaithfulness can mean any form of sexual immorality. It can also refer to fornication, prostitution and adultery. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: "… the two will become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31)
Therefore, any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce.
If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage.
The phrase "and marries another" (Matthew 19:9) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. It is important to note that only the innocent party is allowed to remarry.
Although not stated in the text, it seems remarriage is God's mercy for the one who was sinned against, not for the one who committed the sexual immorality.
There may be instances where the "guilty party" is allowed to remarry, but they are not evident in Mathew 19:9. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and that reconciliation and forgiveness should mark a believer's life Luke 11:4; Ephesians 4:32).
However, God recognises that divorce will occur, even among His children.
A divorced or remarried believer should not feel any less loved by God, even if the divorce and or remarriage is not covered under the possible exception clause of (Matthew 19:9).
Bishop Francis Matemavi is the Zimbabwe Inter-denominational Christian Union leader and he was speaking to The Sunday Mail Religion reporter Desire Ncube in Harare last week
According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment. "So they are no longer two, but one, therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate. (Matthew19:6).
God realises, though, that, since marriages involve two sinful human beings, divorces are going to occur.
In the Old Testament, He laid down some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcees, especially women (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).
Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people's hearts, not because such laws were God's desire (Matthew 19:8).
The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus' words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase "except for marital unfaithfulness" is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God's permission for divorce and remarriage.
Many interpreters understand this "exception clause" as referring to "marital unfaithfulness" during the "betrothal" period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged or "betrothed."
According to this view, immorality during this "betrothal" period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce.
Marital unfaithfulness can mean any form of sexual immorality. It can also refer to fornication, prostitution and adultery. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: "… the two will become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31)
Therefore, any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce.
If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage.
The phrase "and marries another" (Matthew 19:9) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. It is important to note that only the innocent party is allowed to remarry.
Although not stated in the text, it seems remarriage is God's mercy for the one who was sinned against, not for the one who committed the sexual immorality.
There may be instances where the "guilty party" is allowed to remarry, but they are not evident in Mathew 19:9. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and that reconciliation and forgiveness should mark a believer's life Luke 11:4; Ephesians 4:32).
However, God recognises that divorce will occur, even among His children.
A divorced or remarried believer should not feel any less loved by God, even if the divorce and or remarriage is not covered under the possible exception clause of (Matthew 19:9).
Bishop Francis Matemavi is the Zimbabwe Inter-denominational Christian Union leader and he was speaking to The Sunday Mail Religion reporter Desire Ncube in Harare last week
Source - the herald
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