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What Does The Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage?

What does the Bible say about divorce and Remarriage?

SUBJECT: Family

PROPOSITION: In this lesson we will look at God’s law regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage; we will then examine some popular questions in regard to the subject.

OBJECTIVES: The hearer should be able to state who is eligible for marriage and who may get a divorce and who may marry after divorce.

TITLE: What Does The Bible Say About Divorce And Remarriage

AIM:I hope to teach each listener what God’s word says regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Read: Matthew 19:3-9

2. About the Text:

1) Jesus was in the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River.

2) Great multitudes were following him.

3) The Pharisees came tempting him.

4) They came asking him whether it was lawful to put away a woman for any cause.

5) There were two schools of thought among the Pharisees regarding divorce and remarriage.

6) The school of Hillel said that you could put away your wife for any cause.

7) The school of Shammai said that the only reason was adultery.

8) Jesus uses neither of these schools as his source of authority, but goes back to the word of God.

9) The family was an institution established by God himself upon the creation of the first man and woman.

10)Jesus then states the law of marriage.

11)Jesus cites this family as the pattern for all future families to follow.

12)The Pharisees, however, have a follow up question.

13)They want to know why Moses commanded a writing of divorcement.

14)Jesus explains that it was because of the hardness of their hearts, but he cites again how things were from the beginning. He then states the only exception to the law of marriage.

3. The situation today

1) According to the August 22nd 2001 issue of the National Vital Statistics Report issued by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

2) In the year 2000, 8.7 million married and 4.1 divorced.

3) In 1999 8.3 million married and 4.2 million divorced.

4) In 1998 9.0 million married and 4.3 million divorced.

5) Nearly half of the people getting married are getting divorces.

6) Why is this?

a. Most Americans do not understand God’s law.

b. Some perhaps do not care.

7) What is our obligation?

a. The church must understand God’s law regarding marriage.

b. The church must teach God’s law regarding marriage.

c. The church must reveal the consequences of not following God’s law for marriage, divorce and remarriage.

d. Only through our example and action can we have an impact upon our future.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

DISCUSSION: What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?

I.   God’s Law of Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

1. We must now ask the question what is God’s law regarding divorce and remarriage!

2. From the beginning God made male and female, v.4. (Genesis 2:18-25)

1) God made Adam and Eve, he did not make Adam and Steve.

2) There was one man and one woman.

3) They were both pure and holy and dedicated to each other. Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

3. Whatsoever God hath joined together let not man put asunder (v.6).

1) God authorizes those to marry who have never been married before (v.5). This is the idea in leaving Father and Mother.

2) They are to cleave to one another (v.5). There is a direct bond between them.

3) We also read that God joins them together. There is a relationship between each spouse and God which constitutes an indirect bond to each other.

4) Illustrate an (1) authorized marriage and (2) unauthorized divorce with triangle.

4. The Law of the Husband (Romans 7:2,3).

1) Those, whose spouse has died, are free to remarry.

2) While the husband lives, if she is joined to another outside of the marriage, God calls this adultery.

3) If the spouse dies, she is free to remarry.

4) Illustrate (3) death of a spouse with triangle.

II.  The One Exception to God’s Law of Marriage

1. Divorce is authorized only when one spouse is guilty of fornication.

1) Matthew 19:9 “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery”

2) Matthew 5:32 “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery”

3) Illustrate a (4) non-authorized divorce and marriage with triangle.

2. Remarriage is authorized only when the innocent spouse has first divorced the guilty.

1) Matthew 19:9 is the only scripture in the Bible that authorizes this.

2) The guilty party is in adultery and may not remarry.

3) The innocent party would be committing adultery if they were still married.

4) The innocent party must wait until the divorce is complete before marrying again.

5) Illustrate an (5) authorized divorce and (6) remarriage with triangle.

III. Some Popular Questions of our Time

1. Does Paul give another exception to the law of divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:15? A Pauline Privilege?

1) Read

2) Applies only to a certain situation where an unbeliever is married to a believer.

3) The key phrase is “not under bondage.” But, to what?

4) To the law of Christ? No. See 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

5) To the law of the husband? No.

6) To the law of marriage? Yes.

2. Are those who are not Christians accountable to God’s law of marriage, divorce and remarriage?

1) Everyone is accountable to the gospel of Christ; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:16 “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

2) The words of Jesus are part of the gospel (Mark 1:1; Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:18).

3) What right have we to say that what Jesus taught was NOT part of the gospel?

4) Those who do not obey the gospel will be lost (1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17, 18). “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

5) We will be judged by the words of Christ (John 12:48).

3. Does the word “adultery” in Matthew 19:9 refer to a sexual act, or to the act of putting away one’s spouse?

1) Some say that the word adultery here is used figuratively to refer to divorce itself and not to being married again.

2) They say that the word adultery is used in a figurative sense just as in Matthew 5:28 where Jesus says, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

3) However, I submit that just because Matthew 5:28 is not physical, that that does not make it figurative. The adultery is still the same sexual act, but committed in the heart/mind.

4) If Jesus had wanted to refer to the sexual act of adultery, how would he have said it? Exactly as he did.

4. Can those who are in unauthorized marriages, repent, and stay in the marriage?

1) It has been said that if someone divorces many times before becoming a Christian, that they can repent and remain in their current marriage.

2) However, God’s word says that they are still in adultery.

3) At which point some will retort, but they have repented and are now forgiven of that.

4) We ask, is that true repentance? Stealing illustration.

5) Repentance involves restitution (Luke 19:8).

6) God will forgive those that repent, but they must also stop committing the same act for which they repented, in this case, adultery.

CONCLUSION: What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?

1. We have looked at God’s Law regarding Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage today.

1) God’s Law Regarding Marriage — What God joins together, man must not put asunder.

2) The one exception to God’s law of marriage — One may divorce only when fornication is involved.

2. Invitation

1) If you are a Christian this morning . . .

a. Be faithful to your spouse.

b. If you need to repent . . .

c. The found treasure; the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:44-46). Heaven will surely be worth any pain and heartache that we will suffer in the here and now.

2) If you are not a Christian this morning . . .

a. We are striving to do what the Lord wants done in regard to our marriages.

b. Would you work with us to do the same?

a) Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”

b) Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”

c) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).

d) Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew16:16).

e) Be Baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).