


… whoever divorces … and marries someone else commits adultery.” God’s standard, as stated by Jesus, goes beyond the law and states that God’s intent is for no one to divorce. Jesus states, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. Instead of answering their question, Jesus quotes Genesis and concludes: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” As the Pharisees continued in their questions, Jesus takes this opportunity to expand on the law of Moses to explain that divorce is not what God intended. But Jesus knows their hearts and their intentions and recognizes their hardened hearts. This verse is preceded by the phrase, the “Pharisees came and tried to trap him” by trying to get Jesus to provide a black-and-white answer to determine where He stands on the law regarding divorce that was provided by Moses in Deuteronomy. In Matthew, the Pharisees ask Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (Matthew 19:3). In the New Testament, Jesus initially offers a more nuanced view to this question. Opinions differ on whether this law is intended to justify divorce and/or remarriage, but most theologians agree that this law was in fact given as a way to provide PROTECTION to individuals who are in a situation that deals with divorce and/or remarriage.
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Here, the Israelites are given a law which permits divorce, allowing a man to write his wife a “document of divorce” if she “does not please him “ and “she is free to marry another man.” (Deuteronomy 24:1-2). Deuteronomy gives us the only law about divorce in the Old Testament. Let’s first consider what the Bible says. In addition to covering those pieces, our discussions often focus on the struggle between conscience and harsh reality in making decisions about children, assets and the future. Are there any circumstances that permit Christians to divorce?.Must they suffer through an unloving, unwholesome marriage?.Are they condemning themselves to hell?.Are Christians sinning in seeking divorce?.Do they stay in an unhealthy, perhaps even harmful marriage for the sake of a vow and covenant? Or do they act against their beliefs and seek a divorce? The stark choices can leave Christians in a kind of limbo-no longer feeling committed to a marriage that is irreparable, but unable to take that step towards a new life.Īs a Texas family attorney and Christian, I have helped offer advice to many Christians as they face the big question of whether to divorce or not, along with the following questions Christians have about divorce: Specialty tag(s): Divorce Divorce for Christians: Can it Be an Act of Faith?ĭivorce may be an accepted fact of life in our culture, but for many Christians in broken marriages it presents a moral dilemma.
