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Marriage and Divorce
How do you view Biblical Truth? Derek Prince advised that no one should interpret it as the only way he/she understands (to paraphrase - I am right and you are wrong!). Consult the Author of the book - that's where the authority lies. And He is The Holy Spirit! Generally, when some say, I don't care what other people think/say ... That's SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS ... which leads to CONDEMNATION! (Luke 18:9) |
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Marriage is a lifelong bond sealed by God that can only be voided upon the death of one’s spouse. Even if spouses elect to sign divorce papers and go their own ways, according to this verse the marriage covenant is still in place. It follows, then, that remarrying would constitute adultery. 1 Corinthians 7:39 says, “A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” God takes divorce seriously because He takes marriage seriously, being unwilling to void the covenant as long as both spouses are living.
This is not to say that God does not allow or permit divorce in certain cases. God allowed Moses to draft certificates of divorce because of the hardness of the hearts of the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). This, however, was never God’s desire or will. Jesus says in Matthew 19:8, “He said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.” Jesus also says in verse 6, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” We need to recognize that marriage is more than just two people living together. It is a joining of two into one by God Himself. Man can remove himself from the other person, but he cannot undo what God has joined. However, there will be times that getting a legal divorce is necessary to protect the innocent spouse from the transgressions of the other. Perhaps a spouse is violent or abusive. Perhaps he or she is immoral in terms of committing adultery. If possible, the innocent party should hope that the spouse in the wrong can get his or her life back together. But things may become too dangerous or corrupt that change will be too late. Divorce is then permitted because of the hardness of heart of the sinning party. That doesn’t mean God delights in the divorce, for it is a tragedy. However, it may be necessary. |
Jesus says in
Matthew 19:9, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” So, in the case of immorality, divorce is permitted. But, as the verses referenced earlier indicated, this is not a license to remarry. Matthew 19 is not the only time Jesus speaks on divorce and remarriage. Matthew 5:32 says, “But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” The picture becomes clearer here that marrying a divorced person forces that person to commit adultery, even if the one marrying him or her is single. Mark 10:11-12 says, “And He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.” Jesus is explicitly clear that remarriage after divorce is adultery because the marriage covenant was never voided by God, though it may have been in the courtroom. Luke 16:18 says, “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.” Paul affirms Jesus’ intentions in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, saying, “But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband, (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.” Divorce does not offer a license to remarry. This is yet another reason why we must take divorce seriously and avoid it as much as possible. God hates it because He knows how damaging it is to us. It is impossible to tear apart two people who have been spiritually joined together without damaging them. Marriage is that intimate, and divorce is that horrific. More here : CLICK |
Luke 18:9-14 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
14b .... For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
14b .... For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
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