Bible Question: I HAVE A FRIEND, WHO AFTER 21 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, HAS BEEN CAUGHT CHEATING ON HIS WIFE. HE HAS ASKED ME HOW I BELIEVE THE BIBLE INTERPRETS THIS. HE BELIEVES THE WIFE WILL ASK FOR A DIVORCE. IS IT A SIN TO DIVORCE? SHOULD THEY DIVORCE IF THE BIBLE SAYS NO? IF THEY DO CAN HE OR SHE MARRY AGAIN? |
Bible Answer: In a previous answer to your question, reference was made to the first four books of the NT. I would like to point out that the Bible also contains 62 other books. "God's utter hatred of divorce is very clear in Scripture. "Nonetheless, there are two extraordinary cases in which Scripture teaches that God does permit divorced people to remarry. "First, note that Jesus Himself included this exception clause: "Whosoever shall put away his wife, *except it be for fornication*, and shall marry another, committeth adultery" (Matt. 19:9, King James Version, emphasis added). He allows an exception in this one case, only "because of the hardness of your hearts" (Matt. 19:8). Clearly, Jesus is treating divorce as a last resort, only to be sought in the case of hard-hearted adultery. "The apostle Paul allows one more reason for divorce: if an unbelieving spouse abandons a believer, the believer is under no obligation in such a case (1 Cor. 7:14). This would free the abandoned spouse to remarry. "But we must emphasize that apart from those two specific, exceptional cases, divorce is not sanctioned in Scripture. (http://www.gty.org/IssuesandAnswers/archive/divorce.htm)" More extensive answers to this question are available in John MacArthur, The Fulfilled Family (Chicago: Moody, 1981); and, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 16-23,(Chicago: Moody, 1988). |