Matthew

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NASB	Matthew 19:9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."
AMPLIFIED 2015	Matthew 19:9 "I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."

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Subject: for what reason can a man divoce his wif

Bible Note: Forgive me for saying so but you appear to have a very easy attitude towards divorce which is totally contrary to the teaching of Jesus. What is important is that we ask what the Scriptures teach about divorce.

I have already dealt with your argument that lust can be a grounds for divorce, which has no genuine Scriptural grounds.

But you say, 'It is important to remember that God knows about divorce firsthand. In Jer 3:8, God divorced Israel for her faithlessness (abandonment) and idolatry (infidelity).

We can know that God identifies with our suffering because He has experienced divorce. This divorce was necessary because the marriage with Israel was dead from a break of faith. It is in the context of faith that we are to be married, and when that is no longer possible, due to the hardness of someone's heart, (Matthew 19:8) divorce is appropriate.'

What you have overlooked is that God specifically says that it was because of their adultery that He was divorcing them. Thus He was underlining Jesus' teaching before the event.

I do appreciate the sad situation you have found yourself in (assuming I have read it aright). And your one consolation may be that it is unlikely that your 'husband' will not soon commit adultery.

But we do not have a right to take clear teaching and manoeuvre it around on the grounds of modern reasoning. It is important that we ask, what does the Scripture teach? Breach of trust is not a Scriptural grounds for divorce. What we must seek to do is restore that trust. Jesus is basically saying that marriage is binding for better or for worse.

Adultery is a grounds for divorce, not because it is a breach of trust, but because it is a deliberate break in the union between a man and a woman as described in Genesis 2.23-24 as Jesus makes clear (Matthew 19.4-6). Otherwise Jesus said 'what man has joined together let no man (or woman) put asunder'.

As it happens even abandonment is not said to be a grounds for divorce. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7.14-16 allows for separation, he does not mention divorce or remarriage. It is just that that is often assumed to be inferred by his words.

But Jesus tightened the law on marriage and divorce. He not only set aside Hillel's easy approach, but He also demonstrated that Shammai was inconsistent in agreeing that divorce could only be for adultery or impurity (as a theological position) while still not speaking out against divorce. Jesus spoke out against divorce. He said that it was a no, no, except where adultery had broken the bind that bound the man and the woman.

Please note that I am not arguing for my position. It is not for me to say who can divorce and when. I am expounding what the Scriptures say. And they are quite clear on the subject. We can ignore what they say, but it is at the risk of displeasing the One Whose word it is.

Because of their divorce Jerualem was destroyed and Judah went into exile.