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NASB | Matthew 5:32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 5:32 but I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on grounds of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery. [Deut 24:1-4; Luke 16:18] |
Bible Question:
My present wife and I have been married for quite a while. We divorced our former mates on unscriptural grounds and know that we committed adultery when we married. My question is, according to Matt. 5:22 and 19:8, are we continually living in adultery as long as we are married and therefore, will be sent to hell, or has Christ forgiven us (we have asked for forgiveness)? I ask this because our former spouses are still living. Also, does anyone know the tense of the verb "commit" in these 2 passages of scripture. Is it a continual verb or a one time act? Please answer ASAP as it is bothering my present wife and me very much! |
Bible Answer: dcj: Welcome to the Study Bible Forum. You sound like you want to deal with this once and for all, if I understand right. There is always a price we pay for our sin, and often guilt. regret and fear are part of the cost. You don't say if you and your present wife are Christians, I will assume you are. Neithet do you say if your former spouses were Christians either. I will for the sake of an answer for you, assume they were. However in either case the message is the same. Jesus said that you two had hardness of heart. Hardness of heart can be emotional hell. Such hardness kills love, our spiritual lives, and puts a block wall between us and others we love, and the God who loves us so deeply. When we have hardness of heart we can do just about anything sinfull. In very open terms heardness of heart is sin. There several possible considerations I would have you to look at. Deuteronomt 24:1-4 says you can not return back to your former mates. So leaving each other, and reuniting to your former mates is not an consideration. In Malachi 2:14-16, Scripture clearly says divorce, or (putting away) with or without a certificate, is a braking of faith with your mate and God. God says this is a sin which He hates! (Please note God hates all sin, no matter what it is) This sin involves so many people besides just the husband wife. Members of the church that see other Christians divorce are emotionally hurt and often discouraged, even to the point they might well be influenced to divorce their spouse as well. The unargueable point is divorce is serious sin. The guilt of this sin can last a lifetime, and the hurt it causes upon others is very painful and can last for a very long time as well. I am assuming you are wanting to become clean before the Lord and want this sin put behind you both, and live a clean Christian life before the Lord. I hope this is the desire of both your hearts. If you both have not confessed your sin of adultery to the Lord then do so right now! In 1st John 1:9 we are assured if we confess our sin He will forgive and cleanse us. This is His mighty love for us, as we are sinners and the LORD knows our frame is made of dust. There is no one who does not sin. Jesus was the gift of God to save us from our sinful life. I remind you of John 3:16 which is our assurance of His love and Salvation. So if you have not confessed this sin and any others this needs to be done now. Based on the above assumptions, you need to confess your sins to your former mates and ask forgivness. (if they refuse to forgive, that is their choice, and it is between them and the Lord. The Lord may well need to take some time to word in their lives as well.) After you have done the confessing and seeking of forgivness you are to live your lives to please the LORD as the husband and wife you are for each other. Make sure that the LORD is the center of your lives and home. This is ultimately a serious sin, and the fact is God forgives all sin the same way. Confess, repent, and accept the Mercy and unfailing love of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way to be free and enjoy a life of peace and joy of ones salvation. To those who would condemn you, after you have done all the above here are some things to help you both. Please read Romans 8:1-8 tells we are not condemned. Romans 8:31-39 tells us nothing can keep Gods love from us. Then in Romans 12:1-9 this tells us our duty and not to conform to the worlds way of life, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We all need to be renewed inour Spiritual lives every day we live. With all my heart I wish that you grow in love of the Lord Jesus, and accept His loving steadfast mercy, and forgivenes. Often I remind myseld that Jesus said many times, Go and sin no more; that friend is what I say to you. Blessings. Justme |