May a person divorced on account of abuse remarry?
Categories: Bible Questions and AnswersMy question is related to divorce. Recently a friend of mine divorced her husband on account of pyhsical abuse. She was finally tired of his violent behavior so she left him. My question is, is it okay for her to remarry? And if it isn’t biblically correct for her to remarry and she does, would her husband also considered to be living in sin?
God’s Reason For Divorce and Remarriage
The Bible teaches that the only reason for divorce and remarriage is when one’s spouse commits fornication (Matthew 19:9).
The Husband’s Responsibility
It is sad that in this world there are many men who are not being what the Bible teaches that they ought to be. Husbands are supposed to love their wives as their own flesh (Ephesians 5:28, 29) and so he has no excuse for his behavior.
The Wife’s Responsibility
The Bible, however, also expects wives to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22, 33). Disobedient and rebellious wives are often the cause of ill-tempered men and then, society turns around and blames the man for his sinful behavior without giving appropriate attention to the sins of the wife in the relationship as well. Many marriages could be saved if BOTH husband and wife would be what God wants them to be in their marriage (1 Peter 3:1-7).
God’s Solution
Paul’s advice to folks who are in such a situation as your friend is not to divorce, but to reconcile (1 Corinthians 7:10, 11). Those who do not respect God’s law regarding marriage (Matthew 19:6) and go off and marry others without God’s approval, are simply living in adultery and have no legitimate marriage at all according to the word of God (Matthew 19:9).
I hope that this helps with your studies on this subject. My prayer is that God will help this woman find God’s way in her life.