Debate among God's people concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage has been vigorous since the days of Moses and our Saviour (Deuteronomy 24:1-5; Matthew 19:3). Not surprisingly, the issue is usually over whether or not a marriage is really supposed to be "until death do us part" (no divorce), or whether under certain circumstances (adultery, desertion, incompatibility, abuse, etc.) divorce is allowed by God. For those accepting the liberal views of divorce, there is the further question of whether or not remarriage is allowed after a so-called "scriptural divorce" (this expression is similar to saying a "good devil," or "Gospel Rock Music" - in other words it is a contradiction of terms), even while the divorced spouse lives.

Few are surprised to note that if an individual takes enough liberty with Scripture to condone divorce, they will also find ample warrant to justify remarriage even while they already have a living spouse.

Pharisees Seek Grounds For Divorce

Please note in Matthew 19:3, the sanctimonious, hypocritcal Pharisees are the ones seeking grounds for divorce. How very appropriate is this scriptural illustration! It was the Pharisees Christ condemned for using Scripture to their advantage, sounding so spiritual, while all the while using it as a cloak to cover their evil deeds of the flesh (Matthew 7:3; 15:78; 23:13-33; Luke 6:46).

The hearts of men cannot always be discerned with accuracy, and therefore their real motives may be obscured from clear view. However, it would seem the Pharisees have many descendants in our age, who, like their predecessors in Matthew 19:3, are eagerly seeking scriptural justification to condone divorce and even remarriage, so they can claim that God allowed it.

Naturally, in the days of our Savior, the "popular view" was the liberal or loose view of divorce. It was a minority who sought to uphold an "until death do us part" standard. This was precisely why the Pharisees posed their question in Matthew 19:3. They were convinced Christ would uphold the clear Law of God and forbid any kind of divorce, thus alienating Him from the common people who were naturally in favor of permissive divorce.

God's Standard Has Never Changed

Notice that Jesus refused to be drawn into the debate of the day, but instead appealed to Genesis 2:24 and the "one-flesh relationship" (an inseparable bond, broken only by death [Romans 7:1-3; I Corinthians 7:39]). He further acted surprised that they had missed so basic a teaching in the Scripture (Matthew 19:14). Incidentally, the disciples were so shocked at Christ's no-divorce stand; they were amazed and perplexed (Matthew 19:10), and concluded it would be better not to marry than enter into the no-divorce relationship Jesus outlined and have no recourse but to live with your spouse until one of you die.

The Disciples' Reaction Teaches More Than Modern Scholarship

Please note that these disciples, who were intimately familiar with the idioms. Ianguage, colloquialisms, etc., Jesus used, and who actually

heard and saw this debate in Matthew 19:3-9 understood him to take a more strict stand against divorce than they had ever heard! Thus, whatever "except it be for fornication" means in Matthew 19:9, it is impossible for it to mean what most commentaries, radio preachers, etc., claim that it means (divorce permitted for immorality) as the disciples would not have been shocked since that was a commonly held view of their day.

Why would one disbelieve eye witnesses who heard and saw our Lord's response in Matthew 19 and follow some "scholar" living 1900 years later (who, by the way could never know the idioms, language, colloquialisms, etc., as the disciples did) and find "scriptural grounds" for divorce in this passage? Could it be because they want to follow their desires instead of what is right.

Frankly, it would be more candid and honest for us to say, "I don't care what Jesus said, I'm going to seek a divorce and remarriage anyway."

Help From Ephesians Five

My Preacher-Brother, I know the enormous pressure brought to bear upon you to go along with divorce and remarriage. l know it is just as popular today as it was in the days of Christ, but it is still wrong! May I help you from Ephesians?

How many times have we read from this passage or preached on it concerning the marriage relationship, vis-a-vis, the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:2233). Quite obviously, Christ is pictured here as a husband and the church as His bride (Ephesians 5:32), just as Israel was called the wife of Jehovah in the Old Testament.

My dear brother, if you teach, encourage, condone, or allow divorce, you are doing something that nowhere is allowed in this mystical illustration, or any place else in Scripture (that Christ, under certain circumstances will divorce His church, or the Church be divorced from Him). Again, an appeal is made to Genesis 2:24 (in this passage, Ephesians 5:31) to emphasize the one-flesh relationship (until death do us part, inseparable bond type of relationship).

Marriage, In The Mind Of God, ls Like Eternal Life.

On the contrary, we all find blessed comfort in the scriptural revelation for eternal salvation, that Christ having saved us, will then continue that saving work until we see Him face to face (Philippians 1:6; II Timothy 1:12; I John 4:13; 5:10, 13). We do not have to be concerned that Christ has an "exception clause" somewhere, and that we could be divorced from Him, because there is none.

Is it not apparent then how inconsistent, incongruous and wrong we are to say divorce is allowed when the Holy Spirit went to such beautiful detail in Ephesians 5:22-23 to prove its nonexistence by virtue of a comparison between the marriage of two people and the "marriage" of Christ and His Church?

Divorce And Remarriage Are Popular But Wrong

Divorce and remarriage are allowed by many famous and popular Bible teachers on radio and T.V., by a majority of writers in our Christian bookstores, by our friends, relatives, and by those with whom we work. One only needs to look at current divorce statistics to realize it is accepted by a majority of Americans, but it is still wrong! We are not to follow after a multitude to do evil, but be willing to stand alone for what is right.

Reconcile, Stay Where You Are, Or Repent

If you are already involved in the tragedy of a divorce and maybe a remarriage, be reconciled, if possible, but if not, stay in your circumstances (I Corinthians 7:20,24), honor your most recent vow, repent of your sin, and stop justifying your divorce. God will bless that kind of humility (James 4:6-10).

For further reading about this subject, see "Meant To Last" by Charles Ryrie and Paul Steele, Victor Books.

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