What is the right way to interpret Jesus' teachings regarding divorce?

[Jim Parker]

If you are a woman who's been cast out, are you bound to singleness, loneliness, and despair and that somehow is suppose to please God?

That is why Moses told them to give the woman a writ of divorcement. That frees her to marry again.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

That is why Moses told them to give the woman a writ of divorcement. That frees her to marry again.

Actually, it's written in detail in the Talmud by several Rabbis because it was not answered properly in Scripture.

 

[Jim Parker]

it was not answered properly in Scripture.

Oh?
God gave a wrong answer????

 

[gtrudeau]

Actually, it's written in detail in the Talmud by several Rabbis because it was not answered properly in Scripture.

The Scripture does answer it. Jesus clearly said that the Mosaic exception was because the Israelites were so hard to teach and then brings his audience back to God's original intention from Genesis. Jesus' words as recorded in Mark and Luke (and Matthew with the unlawful marriage exception) absolutely prohibit remarriage after divorce.

I'm not insensitive to the plight of the divorced and I leave judgement to the Almighty. But I can't just say to ignore Jesus' words because they are challenging or difficult.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

The Scripture does answer it. Jesus clearly said that the Mosaic exception was because the Israelites were so hard to teach and then brings his audience back to God's original intention from Genesis. Jesus' words as recorded in Mark and Luke (and Matthew with the unlawful marriage exception) absolutely prohibit remarriage after divorce.

I'm not insensitive to the plight of the divorced and I leave judgement to the Almighty. But I can't just say to ignore Jesus' words because they are challenging or difficult.

Here's an alternative explaination

https://www.restoredrelationships.org/news/2016/01/11/domestic-abuse-divorce/

 

[Chopper]

I respectfully disagree with you. Jesus said that anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. We should take those words seriously as there are possible eternal consequences at stake.

This has nothing to do with legalism. It has everything to do with Jesus and what he taught. We aren't supposed to give up and say "that's too hard" when Jesus presents us with a tough teaching. We're supposed to rise to the occasion.

having said all that, back to the original question. What do folk think is the right way to interpret Jesus' words in Matthew? And a second question: how do we reconcile Matthew with Mark where the prohibition on divorce is absolute?

Hello gtrudeau. You are in quite situation, between being "Born from Above" and a background of being Catholic. Before I give you an answer to your above question, let me please give you some sound advice.

I've been a Baptist Pastor for 40+ years and a Christian Psychologist for almost as long. Stay with the Baptists or Pentecostalism. I could dig up a lot of Catholic dirt but I won't.

Now, lets look at what Matthew wrote....

Teaching About Divorce
Matthew 19:1 "Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
19:2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
19:3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?"
19:4 He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
19:5 and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
19:6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
19:7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?"
19:8 He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
19:9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."
19:10 The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
19:11 But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. (ESV)

Here in Matthew is the only place that Jesus allows divorce on the grounds of "sexual immorality"
G4202
πορνεία
porneia
por-ni'-ah
From G4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry: - fornication.

"Because of your "hardness of heart" Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so."
G4642
σκληρός
sklēros
sklay-ros'
From the base of G4628; dry, that is, hard or tough (figuratively harsh, severe): - fierce, hard.

Notice that this case of divorce has to do with THE MEN. The women were the ones who were left in the dust. The women of this time in history were dedicated to their husbands, children, and the upkeep of their homes. Because the men were hard hearted toward, in their way of life and business, seeing a woman prettier than his wife, he would have sex with the other woman and divorce his present wife.

Moses may have made his decision based on the dumped position of the woman. I think the Apostle Paul caught the motive of Moses in 1 Corinthians 7....1Corinthians 7:15 " But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace."

There is hardly a more poor example of "Christ likeness" than a warring Christian family unit. Love Joy and Peace is what every married couple is covenanted to in their marriage vows.

I will stop right here. I'll pick up with the text in Mark 10:1-10 next.

 

[brujaq]

I am currently married my first and only time. I'll never do it again for any reason. Divorce, death, no exceptions.

My wife probably says the same thing

 

[Razeontherock]

Let me add a complaint I've had about preachers, both RCC and Protestant. One could think from listening to the average American priest or pastor that homosexuality and abortion are the only sins God cares about. This has caused so much harm. 1st of all we've ripped into sinners who need the Lord the most and driven them off. 2nd of all we've probably made people think "I haven't had an abortion, I'm not gay, so I must be doing ok right?" and they take their other sins far too lightly. Has our myopic focus on these 2 issues but peoples' souls in jeopardy?

God has spared me from what you say here. I'm not saying nobody preaches this, just that I have not encountered it. Then again if I did, I wouldn't remain in a Church like that anyway so maybe that's why God has never led me to a place like that?

I hope He does not now start using me to encounter such nonsense, knowing I'd get hopping mad and confront this evil head on quite forcefully.

 

[Razeontherock]

I am currently married my first and only time. I'll never do it again for any reason. Divorce, death, no exceptions.

Well, I suppose if I die I won't get married again either.

 

[Douglas Summers]

God has spared me from what you say here. I'm not saying nobody preaches this, just that I have not encountered it. Then again if I did, I wouldn't remain in a Church like that anyway so maybe that's why God has never led me to a place like that?

I hope He does not now start using me to encounter such nonsense, knowing I'd get hopping mad and confront this evil head on quite forcefully.

Hi Raze, People know right from wrong. it is not the Scriptures fault that people think only homosexuality and a few other sins are bad. The Scriptures make it clear: We are not to associate with those who call themselves brothers but walk according to the the worlds principles and sexual immorality. (1 Cor. 5:10-12) (Rom. 1:18-32). No one will be without excuse. If people are just listening to a pastor and not reading their Bible, that is on them.
In Christ, who is our wisdom and our righteousness,
Douglas Summers

 

[Count Duckula]

I actually stick to decisions I make. My wife and I decided not to have kids when we got together. Everyone said that will change. We still didn't. 17 years later now. No one laughs at us and tells us we will change our minds anymore.

 

[Chopper]

Hi gang. Ok, here is second page on the subject of divorce and re-marriage....By the way, these words that I'm giving you are my own words. If I quote someone else, I'll respect copy-rite rules and let you know who.


Mark 10:1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
10:2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
10:3 He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"
10:4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away."
10:5 And Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
10:6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'
10:7 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,
10:8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.
10:9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
10:10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
10:11 And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
10:12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

There are a few reasons why Mark did not include the exception verse as Matthew did. Matthew and Mark both wrote their Gospels in the 50s & 60s the Scholars that I researched did not know an exact date for either men. Mark may have known that Matthew included the exception verse and as a result didn't include it.

Within the Jewish Scholars, Greek & Roman Authorities there was much discussion on what constituted grounds for divorce from burning her Husbands biscuits, to not dressing appropriately in public, as well as the Wife being to friendly to other men. There were myriads of divorce possibilities that these hardhearted men wanted as an excuse to have another good looking woman. A man having many women were considered very manly, variety of women were the spice of life for the early Jews.

The great big heart of our Abba Father heard the cries of devoted Wives who loved their husbands, provided everything for her Husband that she could, cared for their children etc, etc. Problem was, she had gained weight since bearing all his children and he wanted a fresh virgin to excite him.

Abba Father, thru Moses gave the women a just escape from the harsh treatment of the husband once he had decided to have this young virgin. An unfaithful husband is not the pride of a good woman.

There is much more to cover on this topic that I've not covered. I'll answer any question you might have.

 

[Razeontherock]

So, context matters? Who knew, lol

Excellent exposition, Chopper

 

[Chopper]

MORE ON DIVORCE....

Deuteronomy 24
Deuteronomy 24:1 "When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
24:2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife." (KJV)

So, this man decided to marry this woman either on his own or the Parents picked her. An undetermined amount of time went by and the man found some "uncleanness" in her naked body. The word is "pudendum". According to "THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE it means a woman's external genital organs; the vulva. Somehow the sex act was not pleasing for the husband, so he divorced his wife.....Notice that the woman was free to remarry.

Matthew 5
Matthew 5:31 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
5:32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." (ESV)

Here, Yahshua Jesus gives the exception clause.
My final discernment on divorce and re-marriage is only allowed if one of the married couples finds sexual immorality going on with the partner as I explained above.

Today, O Boy!! Moses would turn over in his grave....where ever it is. Today we have husbands addicted to pornography big time. Sneaking off to see an XXXXXXXX rated movie. Internet porn is stealing our young men, pretty young girls are walking around all but naked and having sex at unbelievably young ages. Sexual impurity is almost every where. Praise Abba Father, there are still married couples that have remained faithful to their spouses for 50+ years. There are young girls and young women that are staying pure until they marry.

One of the biggest problems in our homes and especially in our churches is teaching children and adults THE FEAR OF GOD. Not a running away fear but a fear of displeasing Yahshua Jesus who died the horrible death on the cross so that He could love us all and forgive us for all our sins. Did Christ die in vain for you? Have you passed thru the narrow gate? Are you walking on the narrow path that leads to spending eternity with Jesus and His Father, I AM!! Will you please join me? Because the Rapture, or first gathering of the "called out ones" will occur at any moment, I said AT ANY MOMENT!! Look up my friends, our redemption draws very, very, very near. Even so Lord Jesus, COME!!

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

This may be true
But if a couple realize this after the fact, and they can't get back together because one already remarried, then what happens?
What does Scripture say about that?

 

[Jim Parker]

This may be true
But if a couple realize this after the fact, and they can't get back together because one already remarried, then what happens?
What does Scripture say about that?

Deu 24:1-4
When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife, if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife,
Then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Deu 24:1-4
When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife, if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife,
Then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

I was looking at that verse, but then it dawned on me that Jesus forgives all our sins, including that one.
Jesus forgives everything we do wrong.
In the verse above, the woman has been defiled, yet if she goes to Jesus and asks forgiveness, then she will receive it.
They didn't have that choice back in those days.

 

[Jim Parker]

Jesus forgives everything we do wrong.

God's grace and mercy are no a license o do whatever we want
.
Rom 5:20-6:2 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

 

[Jim Parker]

In the verse above, the woman has been defiled, yet if she goes to Jesus and asks forgiveness, then she will receive it.

The act of sexual intercourse, according to the law of Moses, defiled a person. They were required to bathe.
Lev 15:18 (NIV) When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean (defiled) till evening.

 

[Chopper]

This may be true
But if a couple realize this after the fact, and they can't get back together because one already remarried, then what happens?
What does Scripture say about that?

Interesting question my friend Allen. This is a hypothetical question. or a what if question. The "uncleanness" that the first husband divorced his wife for would have to change in order for him to even want her back. I appreciate your question Allen, it shows to me that you're a thinking man and not one who just believes anything that comes down the pike, so to speak.

Within the heart of Elohim (God) there is a great love for His children. He wants to protect His Child at all costs from the activities of His great enemy Satan. For reasons that we do not know, If our fellow in question wants to re-marry the woman he divorced as you said, "But if a couple realize this after the fact, and they can't get back together because one already remarried" Somehow God knows, we don't, that the re-marriage would open a door to Satan and his demons to enter the man & woman lives and cause great problems that only God knows of.

A Dad has to say no to his son or daughter because from his own experience he knows his child will get hurt. The child won't like it, but it's best!! In the almost 50 years of being a Pastor of Reformed Baptist Churches and marriage Counselor, I have witnessed many more conflicts between re-married couples than couples who have leaned on the Lord, year after year to solve their conflicts and stay with their spouses 50+ years.

I pray that this helps a little on your great question. You will find good Scripture on this subject in first Corinthians Chapter Seven, the Law of Marriage. Read the whole Chapter please.

I Love You,
Chopper