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home > Marriage
and Divorce
What
does the Bible say about divorce?
"Now,
for those who are married I have a command that comes not from me,
but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. But if she
does leave him, let her remain single or else go back to him. And
the husband must not leave his wife." - 1
Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT)
Okay, so
it's not as cut-and-dry as the above implies. So let's take a look
at what the the Bible says about divorce. Are there any circumstances
in which a marriage ends?
"For
the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living;
but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning
the husband." -Romans 7:2 (NASB)
So we see that
if a spouse dies, the marriage ends and the survivor is free to
marry again.
In the next
verse we see that there is no marriage in heaven (or hell).
"For
in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
but are like angels in heaven." - Matthew 22:30 (NASB)
Matthew 5:32
gives another circumstance in which divorce is allowed.
"but
I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the
reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries
a divorced woman commits adultery." (NASB)
Several important
points are made in this verse.
Divorce is
allowed for unchastity. Don't try to change the meaning of this
to say divorce is allowed for adultery. Jesus defines adultery as
including lust of the mind. That's why this verse is specific in
talking about a physical act taking place--that is what unchastity
is.
If you get
divorced you MAY NOT remarry. If you remarry, you and the person
you marry are committing adultery. Anyone considering divorce, even
as allowed here, should carefully consider their decision. In God's
eyes you may NEVER marry again.
There is one
other circumstance in which the Bible allows divorce--when a non-Christian
spouse leaves the marriage.
"Yet
if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or sister
is not under bondage in such cases..." - 1 Corinthians
7:15 (NASB)
Here again,
however, the Bible makes it clear that remarriage is not an option.
"(but
if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled
to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife."
- 1 Corinthians 7:11 (NASB)
The Bible
makes it very clear. Marriage is between ONE
MAN AND ONE WOMAN. Not one man and one woman; then another
woman; then another women. You only get married ONCE.
Some may say
that God must be a harsh and unloving of God. Some may say that
I don't understand the difficulties that lead to divorce. I do understand.
My marriage survived my adultery, my unchastity, my depression and
my addiction to pornography. My Christian wife refused to give up
on our marriage. She also refused to give up on me, eventually leading
me to Christ and freedom from my past.
What what
about abusive spouses? If you or your children are in physical
danger, get out now and contact the authorities. Don't go back unless
you feel safe--with no doubts or concerns about your safety. Being
married does not mean you need to subject yourself to an abusive
spouse. Being married does not mean you must stay in a place where
you will be physically harmed.
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