Bible Question: Why would God allow Hosea to stay in a marriage when the wife was prostitute? Isn't adultery grounds for divorce? |
Bible Answer: Yes, in the N.T. grounds for divorce are limited to sexual immorality (adultery, fornication) and desertion. In both the O.T. and N.T., divorce is PERMITTED, but not COMMANDED. "Therefore, God would allow Hosea to stay in that marriage. . . . .'They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?" He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way' (Matt 19:7-8 NASB). In regard to your question, the key word in verse 8 is "permitted". The Jewish religious leaders used the word "command", but Jesus used the word "permit". |