“The Word (i.e., Jesus) is what matters, not the Word (i.e., the Bible).” As pious as that sounds, it takes a different view of the Word than the Word Himself. Jesus repeatedly quotes the Bible as completely trustworthy and as His final authority.
Andy Naselli

Divorce And RemarriageMake You

Divorce And RemarriageMake You

DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL

Have you ever discussed an issue with someone that just made your blood boil? We are going to look at an issue that just makes God’s blood boil! It is an issue that God hates to see men discuss with cold legalistic hardness. It is the issue of divorce and remarriage. To understand it we will have to get the emotion of God first. Yes, the emotion of God! The emotion of God is found in the following passage. “Another thing you do: You flood the LORD’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. “I hate divorce, ” says the LORD God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment, ” says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.” (Malachi 2:13-16) One reason the church is so full of sin and corruption is that God is judging us for allowing divorce and remarraige. As you begin to answer the following questions pray that God will give you wisdom, (Luke 24:45 & Proverbs 3:5). Pray too that you will start with the emotion or heart of God.

[1] According to Malachi 2:15-15 what are God’s feelings toward divorce?

“Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. “I hate divorce, ” says the LORD God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment, ” says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.”

[2] The teachings of Jesus require that we enter through what kind of “door”?

Luke 13:22-28 “Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, `Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, `I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, `We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, `I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.”

[3] How difficult is it to change what God’s Word says? Luke 16:16-17

“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.”

[4] Right after Jesus says the Law will not “disappear” what is the next teaching Jesus declares?

Luke 16:18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

[5] According to verse :18 of Luke 16, if you divorce and remarry what sin will you commit in God’s sight?

[6] According to Luke 16:18 a man who marries a divorced woman commits what sin?

[7] Since adultery is sexual sin what can we “be sure of”?

Ephesians 5:3-6 ” But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person–such a man is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

[8] For those who disobey Ephesians 5 what is “coming” to greet them?

[9] You can request a divorce on only one condition. What is that condition?

Matthew 5:31 “It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”

[10] Does Jesus say in Matthew 5:31-32 we can remarry? Or are we just permitted to divorce and not cause someone else to sin?

[11] Who gives the following command?

I Corinthians 7:10-11 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

[12] The command from the Lord in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 states that if you divorce what condition must you remain in?

[13] How long is a married couple bound to each other?

I Corinthians 7:39 “A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.”

[14] Are a couple “bound” to each other even in sickness, trouble and divorce?

[15] In keeping with 1 Corinthians 7:10 and 11 is 1 Corinthians 7:15 -16 saying that we are free to remarry or rather that a Christian is not “bound” to try and keep the other from leaving?

I Corinthians 7:15-16 “But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”

Let us repeat the very clear command from the Lord in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, I Corinthians 7:10-11 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.”

[16] According to Romans 7:3 what is a person called who remarries?

Romans 7:3 “So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.”

[17] Will the sexually immoral (adulterer) go to heaven?

Revelation 21:7-8 “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” And I Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

[18] Many people use Matthew 19 to justify divorce and remarriage. Let us look at it detail.

Matthew 19:1-12 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read, ” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator `made them male and female, ‘ and said, `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

In verse :9 Jesus is not saying that you can remarry if your wife/husband has committed adultery. Jesus is merely saying that you have not caused the other person to sin by committing adultery. Jesus is not saying anything here about under what circumstance you can remarry. In verses :12 Jesus is saying that special grace and power are given to those who renounce marriage or were not able to marry because of what men did to them. In short, they are given special peace and power to remain single, (read 1 Corinthians 7:7) Finally in verse :11 Jesus is saying that if we come to Him he will give us power to accept His words. The power to live this will be “given” to those who belong to Jesus.

THOSE UNDER GOD’S WRATH WILL COMMIT ADULTERY. THEY WILL DIVORCE AND REMARRY

In fact, those who do not belong to God will fall into the adulteress trap.

Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.”

Those under God’s wrath and anger will fall into the sin of sexual immorality. They will divorce and remarry!

[19] If someone claims to be a Christian and remarries what is to be churches reaction towards them?

I Corinthians 5:11-13 “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

Do not even eat with such unrepentant believers! Understand clearly what Jesus is saying. If you divorce and remarry it is sexual sin…it is ugly adultery…and you will go to hell if you don’t repent! Jesus warns us in Mark 10:1-12, ..

“Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” “What did Moses command you?” he replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law, ” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God `made them male and female.’ `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Listen well to the warning in God’s Word about committing adultery by divorcing and remarrying. Listen! Do as Malachi says and “do not break faith with the wife of your youth. “Guard yourself”!

Listen well to yet another warning in Proverbs 5:1-23.

“My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not. Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man’s house. At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors. I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.” Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer– may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife? For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.”

ASTONISHMENT

To understand the issue of divorce and remarriage is to say with the disciples in astonishment, “It is better not to marry”. That is how strict God’s Word is on this issue. To understand the issue of divorce and remarriage is to feel a righteous hatred because couples break faith with each other.

To believe and preach what God said about the fact that divorce and remarriage is adultery may cost you your head. John the Baptist can assure you of this. Mark 6:17-28

“For Herod himself gave orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist, ” she answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.”

CONCLUSION

Many people have already fallen into divorce and remarriage several times; what about them? If you are really sorry and want to be a disciple of Jesus, God will forgive you! If you have questions or doubts about your situation and what God’s will would be after you have thoroughly messed us His plan, please call or write to us.