Biblical Reasons For Divorce
The search for biblical reasons for divorce will prove to be nearly fruitless. As a matter of fact, there are only eleven scriptures in the entire 66-book Bible that even discuss the topic. Under Old Testament Mosaic Law there were just two reasons for a husband to put away, or divorce, a wife: (1) adultery, or having sexual intercourse outside of marriage; and (2) if the husband found some uncleanness in the woman upon marrying. Uncleanness, in biblical terms, would likely imply that the newly wed wife was found not to be a virgin on the wedding night. The woman despised by the husband because of uncleanness was free to remarry without being labeled an adulteress--although prohibited by law from returning to the former mate.
In the New Testament, biblical reasons for divorce due to adultery or fornication are outlined in the following scripture: "And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so." (Note: biblical reasons for divorce were adapted because of a hardness of heart or inability of the offended party to forgive the offender.) "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matthew 19:1-9).
The following Old Testament passage cites one of the biblical reasons for divorce as uncleanness: "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. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife" (Deuteronomy 24:1-2).
Matthew 19, verse 9 plainly states that the husband who divorces a wife who is not guilty of fornication and marries another woman, not only commits the sin of adultery but causes the divorced former wife to sin as well, should she choose to become married for the second time. Again, notice that the only biblical reasons for divorce cited in scripture are adultery and moral uncleanness.
While the Old Testament restricted the sin of adultery to women and those husbands who unfairly put them away, men were free to have as many wives and concubines as they chose! Men of renown like King David, Solomon, even father Abraham were expected to have multiple wives to produce as many children as possible. By today's standards and according to the New Testament, multiple simultaneous marriages would be considered bigamy, punishable by law.
In the twenty-first century, the practice of marriage, divorce and remarriage--for both men and women-- has become so commonplace that no one questions the validity or equity of such actions. Many Christians have been married two or three times; and yet, no one seems to take heed to the biblical reasons for divorce in order to justify multiple marriages. But does Matthew 19:1-6 still apply for believers today? The answer is yes, the word of God has not changed because of our inability or unwillingness to obey it.
Does God forgive those who divorce? The answer is also yes; but there may be consequences; and only God can address or rectify those issues resulting from divorce and remarriage. According to the Bible, divorce tears a husband and wife apart, but it also causes grievous wounds to children, innocent victims of their parents inability to resolve marital conflict. "...the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not [God] make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That He might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously" (Malachi 2:14-15).
Before deciding to divorce for reasons other than marital infidelity, couples would be wise to search the Word of God for biblical reasons for divorce and consult a seasoned clergyman for ways to reconcile. Even in the event of adultery, there is forgiveness for the offending party. The Spirit of God is able to renew, restore and reunite couples facing the prospect of divorce because of sexual indiscretion.
A thorough search of the scriptures will reveal very few biblical reasons for divorce, but a multitude of reasons to stay in the marriage: to bring forth a godly seed (Malachi 2:15); to provide a nurturing environment in which to raise children; and to love, honor, and cherish one another as evidence that holy matrimony works; and divorce does not have to be the end result for two people who fall in love.
In the New Testament, biblical reasons for divorce due to adultery or fornication are outlined in the following scripture: "And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so." (Note: biblical reasons for divorce were adapted because of a hardness of heart or inability of the offended party to forgive the offender.) "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matthew 19:1-9).
The following Old Testament passage cites one of the biblical reasons for divorce as uncleanness: "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. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife" (Deuteronomy 24:1-2).
Matthew 19, verse 9 plainly states that the husband who divorces a wife who is not guilty of fornication and marries another woman, not only commits the sin of adultery but causes the divorced former wife to sin as well, should she choose to become married for the second time. Again, notice that the only biblical reasons for divorce cited in scripture are adultery and moral uncleanness.
While the Old Testament restricted the sin of adultery to women and those husbands who unfairly put them away, men were free to have as many wives and concubines as they chose! Men of renown like King David, Solomon, even father Abraham were expected to have multiple wives to produce as many children as possible. By today's standards and according to the New Testament, multiple simultaneous marriages would be considered bigamy, punishable by law.
In the twenty-first century, the practice of marriage, divorce and remarriage--for both men and women-- has become so commonplace that no one questions the validity or equity of such actions. Many Christians have been married two or three times; and yet, no one seems to take heed to the biblical reasons for divorce in order to justify multiple marriages. But does Matthew 19:1-6 still apply for believers today? The answer is yes, the word of God has not changed because of our inability or unwillingness to obey it.
Does God forgive those who divorce? The answer is also yes; but there may be consequences; and only God can address or rectify those issues resulting from divorce and remarriage. According to the Bible, divorce tears a husband and wife apart, but it also causes grievous wounds to children, innocent victims of their parents inability to resolve marital conflict. "...the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not [God] make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That He might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously" (Malachi 2:14-15).
Before deciding to divorce for reasons other than marital infidelity, couples would be wise to search the Word of God for biblical reasons for divorce and consult a seasoned clergyman for ways to reconcile. Even in the event of adultery, there is forgiveness for the offending party. The Spirit of God is able to renew, restore and reunite couples facing the prospect of divorce because of sexual indiscretion.
A thorough search of the scriptures will reveal very few biblical reasons for divorce, but a multitude of reasons to stay in the marriage: to bring forth a godly seed (Malachi 2:15); to provide a nurturing environment in which to raise children; and to love, honor, and cherish one another as evidence that holy matrimony works; and divorce does not have to be the end result for two people who fall in love.
Biblical Reasons For Divorce
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