"It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.‘ But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Matthew 5:31-32 RSV

Jesus and Divorce• This passage is found in “the Sermon on the

Mount”– This is in connection to Jesus‘ fulfillment of the

law and the prophets– We fulfill the law when we live the Jesus Creed• Loving God• Loving others

Jesus and Divorce• Jesus’ teaching on divorce should be

understood within this context– His rejection of divorce is not based on a new law

or arbitrary commandment– His rejection of divorce is connected to his creedal

command to love God and love others

Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?“ He answered, "Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,‘ and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.“ They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?“ He said to them, "It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.“ Matthew 19:3-9 NRSV

Suppose a man enters into marriage with a woman, but she does not please him because he finds something objectionable about her, and so he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; she then leaves his house and goes off to become another man's wife. Then suppose the second man dislikes her, writes her a bill of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house (or the second man who married her dies); her first husband, who sent her away, is not permitted to take her again to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that would be abhorrent to the LORD, and you shall not bring guilt on the land that the LORD your God is giving you as a possession.

Deuteronomy 24:1-4 NRSV

Divorce Devalues Marriage• Marriage is not merely a contract of

convenience– This devalues marriage into an improper means to

an end (e.g. marrying to acquire wealth)

• This makes marriage impermanent and insecure

• Marriage is a covenant of commitment– Marriage is the proper means for developing

covenant love (love for not just love from)• This makes marriage permanent and persevering

Divorce Devalues MarriageCultural View

• Find the right person

• Fall in love with the other

• Depend on that person to fulfill all your desires

• Start over when problems arise

Biblical View• Be the right person

• Walk in love with the other

• Depend on God to meet all your needs

• Start over when problems arise

Divorce Dehumanizes Others• Humans are ‘ends’ not merely means• Divorce involves at least one party treating the other

as a mere means– When we treat the other person as a means to fulfilling

our selfish desires we place those desires above the person• This is the same problem found in lust which objectifies the other

person

• Divorce often (always?) involves one person thinking he/she is more significant than the other– e.g. when one thinks “I deserve better than you”

Divorce Dishonors God• Divorce is always connected to selfishness

which is a form of idolatry• Marriage is designed to be a picture of God’s

covenant faithfulness– cf. Ephesians 5:31-33 where Paul links marriage to

Christ and the church– Divorce violates this covenant faithfulness and

suggests that promises need only be kept when convenient

Dealing with Divorce• Recognition of divorce as failure– All divorce is failure

• Repentance of sin– It is not enough to admit the failure, but one must repent

and seek forgiveness

Dealing with Divorce• Reconciliation– Even if it is too late to save the marriage, this involves

reconciliation with one’s spouse • Asking forgiveness of the one who was wronged• Forgiving if wronged

• Restoration – Divorce is not the unpardonable sin – After confession and repentance the community should

restore people to fellowship