In Matthew 19, where does it say they are not divorced?
Categories: Bible Questions and AnswersIn Matthew 19, where does it say they are not divorced? It says they committed adultery, but I cannot find where it says they were not divorced.
The questioner is referring to Matthew 19:9. Jesus is stating what His law is regarding marriage and divorce. Jesus says, “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.” The questioner is also referring to a statement that I made in my sermon several weeks ago. In explaining what this verse means, I stated in the sermon that the one who puts away his or her spouse and remarries for reasons other than fornication commits adultery. What this means is that they are not really divorced–they are still married to their first husband or wife as far as God is concerned. The questioner asks, “Where does it say they are not divorced?” The answer is found in Matthew 19:6, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” This verse says that they are not divorced. One can certainly pretend that he or she is divorced and even get a legal statement from our governments in that regard but Matthew 19:6 states that that is not the case. When God joins a couple in marriage, the two are joined by God and no man has the authority to separate them. Thus, Jesus says that those who “divorce” (i.e. who seek an earthly dissolution to their marriage, not a heavenly one) and “remarry” (i.e. seek an earthly bond to their marriage, not a heavenly one) are actually committing adultery. The implication of the word adultery in this context is that they are NOT divorced as far as God is concerned, and that they are NOT married as far as God is concerned–they are living in a state of sinfulness that God calls adultery. As far as God is concerned, they are still joined to their original spouses because man has no authority to put asunder what God has joined together. So the answer to the question is that when you look at Matthew 19:6 in conjunction with Matthew 19:9, the scriptures clearly teach that the couple that commits adultery (i.e. the ones who have “divorced” and “remarried” without God’s authority) are not really divorced at all.
In relation to this we also note Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Notice that in contrast to marriage, there is what is called adultery. This verse thus defines adultery as something that occurs outside of a marriage blessed by God. So according to this verse, it is impossible for those who commit adultery with each other to be scripturally married to each other–the definition just does not allow for that. Applying this definition to adultery in Matthew 19:9 just further corroborates the point. Those who commit adultery in this passage are not divorced and married as far as God is concerned–they are in the relationship that God calls adultery.