The best-case scenario for a marriage, and what we should do everything in our power to fight for, is for a man and woman to be joined for life, (Genesis 2:24). But in a fallen world, many heartbreaking choices are made-some that are out of our control.
Because of sin, God allowed a clause about divorce to be included in the Law of Moses (see Deuteronomy 24:1-4). He wanted to prevent men from dumping their wives for frivolous reasons. Yet this allowance is not a license to maintain a cavalier attitude about marriage, such as, "Oh well. If this doesn't work out, we can always get divorced." Nor does is preclude a couple's responsibility to work hard at a marriage. After all, God still hates divorce. His mercy, however, is shown in the grace he extends to his people.
Unfortunately, we believers aren't always so gracious to each other. We load guilt on people who are already wounded. Maybe you've experienced this firsthand.
In a perfect world, divorce wouldn't happen. Unfortunately, in our world, it does. -True Identity Bible
{Matthew 5:31-32}
31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’
32 But
I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful,
causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman
also commits adultery.
{Matthew 19:1-11}
1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River.
2 Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.
3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’
5 And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’
6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.
9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”
10 Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”
11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps.
{Matthew 19:8}
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.
{1 Corinthians 7:10-16}
10 But 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.
11 But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.
12 Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a Christian man has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.
13 And
if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is
willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.
14 For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.
15 (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.)
16 Don’t
you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And
don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of
you?
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