Romans 7:1-3 God's ideal is that a marriage remain intact as long as both mates are living. Marriage does not continue beyond death (Mt. 22:30; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:39).
"Divorce" is alien to God's holy ideal for man. God even said: "I hate divorce" (Mal. 2:16 - NASB). A divorce cannot occur without selfishness a disregard for God's will by at least 1 or both of the marriage partners. The trauma of divorce impacts both married partners & any children involved. Triune arrangement
Christ's Marriage Law Matthew 19:8-9
While the Jewish system was in effect, God tolerated impulsive divorce due to the "hardness" of Israel's hearts, but Christ declared that "from the beginning it was not so" (Mt. 19:8). Gr perfect tense has to do with a previous action, which remains in force. "Notwithstanding Moses' permission, the case has not been so from the beginning until now. The original ordinance has never been cancelled nor superseded, but continues in force" (Vincent, p. 65). Jesus, in anticipation of the start of His New Covenant, brings marital responsibility back to its original higher plain."And I say to you, Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery" (Mt. 19:9).
Important principles:
1) The marriage law of Christ is universal. The Lord said the term "whoever," or "whosoever" meaning "anyone," "whoever he may be" (Thayer pp. 34,156). Christ's marriage law is as broad as his plan to save (Jn. 3:16; Acts 2:21).
Some teach that Jesus' marriage law applies only to the church; implying that those who have unscripturally divorced and remarried, prior to becoming Christians, are not accountable for those unions. Some think they may remain in whatever "marital" status they have upon entering the church. Somehow, baptism is supposed to legitimize illicit relationships. What of polygamy, incest, homo?
Christ's marriage law of Christ is applicable to all men for these reasons:
Since the Lord's marriage law was designed to be a return to God's original plan Mt. 19:8, & since marriage originally was given for the entire human family, it follows necessarily that Christ's marriage law is universal.
Marriage provides all eligible people (Christian & nonChristian) with a lawful means of satisfying sexual desire (1 Cor 7:1).
Some within the Corinthian church, prior to their conversion, had been "adulterers" (1 Cor 6:9-11).
Heb. 13:4 "Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge."Prov. 6:32 "Whoever commits adultery w/ a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul."
2) The Lord taught that there is but one cause for a scriptural divorce,; i.e. fornication or sexual immorality by one of the partners; illicit sexual conduct in general (Arndt, p. 699); could be heterosexual or homosexual. One has a right to a divorce, only if one's spouse was sexually unfaithful.
But divorce, even against a fornicator, is not obligatory. God grants the wounded mate the option to put away the fornicator or to forgive a penitent fornicator & attempt to save the marriage. When the nation of Israel strayed from God & "fornicated" with false religions, he pled for her return (Jer. 3:1; Hos. 4:12; 14:1ff),3) Any sexual union/marriage, following an unscriptural divorce, constitutes an adulterous act. Jesus declared that the party who "marries another" following an unscriptural divorce, "is committing adultery." Mt. 19:9 Gr. Present tense - the person continues to commit adultery or is "living in adultery" (Beck, p. 337). Some (eg. Truman Scott) argue that "adultery" is not a sexual act; rather, it is merely the "breaking of a covenant." They say if one will just repent of having broken his marriage covenant, i.e. promise not to do such again, he may obtain a new partner & remarry w/ God's approval. Such a view has no support whatever in scripture.
On marriage, divorce & remarriage, Christians should want to be as accurate, & yet as compassionate, as possible. We should neither "loose" a restriction that the Lord has "bound" nor "bind" an restriction that the Lord has not "bound" (cf. Mt. 16:18-19; 18:18). Some people have overlooked some biblical principles on divorce & remarriage & then have denied the liberty of remarriage to some people who very well may have the right to remarry. Important concept: civil law is always subservient to divine law. Must remember as we apply the marriage law of Christ to complicated divorce situations.
Civil Law & God's Law
Civil law is human law. Man's laws are necessary to maintain of order in society. When they are consistent with divine truth, they have the backing of God, & the Christian must submit to these laws (Rom. 13:1ff).
Sometimes human laws are: arbitrary; contradict the higher law of God. A Christian is obligated to the "ordinance of man" (1 Pet. 2:13) only if it is in harmony with the revealed will of the Creator (cf. Acts 4:19; 5:29). Consider:
Civil authority may not legitimize that which is morally wrong, e.g., abortion Eccl. 11:5 or "same-sex marriage" Rom. 1:26-27 Man may pass laws to authorize such evils, but such laws have no divine authority.
Human law may not demand of the child of God that which is morally or religiously wrong. Early Christians who were commanded to offer worship to Caesar refused, even if such meant imprisonment or death, Jn. 4:24.Civil rulers may not prohibit that which is right. Should a country outlaw the rite of water baptism (Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 12:13), faithful children of God would ignore such an ordinance and continue to immerse those desiring to become Christians.
Why? Because divine law takes precedence over humanly devised ordinances Civil laws have varied from country to country,& in different religious ages. But perfect law of Christ will be consistent & stable.Application to Divorce and Remarriage
Guy N. Woods once noted that "divorce is a civil, legal action having nothing whatsoever to do with determining the moral and religious principles involved. It is the Lord's edict, not man's, that governs" (Gospel Advocate, December 7, 1978, p. 771). Must remember this in analyzing divorce/remarriage cases. :Jesus Christ, by implication, authorizes a divorce, and subsequent remarriage, for an innocent spouse whose marriage covenant has been broken by his or her partner's sexual immorality (Mt. 5:32; 19:9).
Suppose that the state does not allow a person to file for a divorce on the ground of fornication or adultery? What if the only "legal" cause is that ambiguous "irreconcilable differences"? Is the victim helpless in such a situation? Must he or she remain single forever just because the civil authorities refuse to acknowledge the God-given reason for the severance of a marriage? No. Human law cannot negate divine law.Suppose a wife discovers that her husband has been having a sustained adulterous relationship with another woman. She is devastated and begs him to end his adultery. She offers to forgive him, & pleads with him to return to their home. She attempts to be patient, hoping he will come to his senses (cf. Lk. 15:17). As she lingers, praying for reconciliation, he files for divorce (which he obtains), & then marries his mistress as a new mate.
What, now, is the betrayed wife's situation? She may not obtain a "legal" divorce, for that has been finalized already. Is she utterly helpless, a pathetic victim of the circumstances of "civil law" a law that cares nothing for God's truth relative to marriage? Is she bound to remain single for the remainder of her life just because he preceded her to the "court house" while she hoped for his repentance? Some would agree. They say that because he divorced her, rather than the reverse being the case, she has no option but to remain celibate.
However, the adulterous husband did not have scriptural cause to file for divorce. He was the guilty one not his wife. The fact that the civil authorities processed his unscriptural petition does not make his new union a scriptural marriage. Human law cannot "trump" God's law!
Even though the civil system would not grant to the wife the option of an "on paper" divorce (due to her husband's previous action), this does not alter the fact that she had the moral right in God's sight to legally dissolve her marriage. And, if she chooses, to remarry eventually.
The Remedy
What ought one to do who finds himself in an intimate relationship which is adulterous (even though may have been veneered with civil ceremony)? The only remedy for adultery, or any other sin, is repentance which involves a cessation of the evil conduct (cf. Mt. 12:41; Jon. 3:10), Repentance involves godly sorrow, turning from evil, turning toward God, & changing/reforming one's life. The notion that one can simply say "I'm sorry," yet continue living in an adulterous union is not found in scripture. It is wrong to offer false hope to those in adulterous unions & to tell such individuals simply to pray, & then feel safe spiritually while remaining in adultery.R.R. Nicole: "Can we assume that God's laws must be adapted to shifting human opinions and sinful practices, rather than to stand in the midst of human relativity as the permanent standard? Did not Christ, the Apostles and the early Christian church face a world with a laxity equal to, or even worse than that of our times, and yet proceed on the strict basis established in the NT?" (p. 190). No true gospel preacher will compromise the biblical teaching on divorce for the sake of pleasing a worldly culture. We must hold true to the Book!
Conclusion The NT grants the right of marriage to: (a) the never-married-before person (1 Cor. 7:2); (b) the widowed (Rom. 7:3; 1 Cor. 7:39); (c) the innocent victim in marriage who put away one guilty of sexual immorality (Mt. 5:32; 19:9). Provided each of these is also marrying an eligible person.
It must be emphasized, then, that marriage is a divine institution. The Creator of the human family ordained/designed the relationship. He alone has the right to regulate it. Divorce and remarriage cases, therefore, must be judged upon the basis of the facts, and the application of Heaven's law. No other criteria will suffice.
