Bible Question:
thank you for your answer. i still have questions though, i am trying to get the heart of God (through His word) on this situation. is the offended spouse obligated to receive the returning spouse? or would it be OK for the offended spouse to just find another.does the divorce itself negate the marriage?? |
Bible Answer: I am going to take a stab at this. I think that the offended spouse, if the reason for the divorce was because of her spouse's infidelity, is not obligated to receive the other, should they decide to return. If the injured spouse would choose to remarry, it would be permitted. However, I believe it is in Malachi 2:16 where it is stated "I hate divorce" so if it is possible for the one injured to forgive and to be able to trust again to return to the marriage. If after the divorce, one or the other remarried someone else or had an affair, it would be considered fornication so the marriage would be broken. I do know that even in cases that look hopeless, marriages can be rebuilt stronger than ever. A person I know had her husband cheat on her after 18 years of a marriage that she thought was "ideal". She was in an apartment and was ready to sell her house when she decided to give her husband the forgiveness he sought. I can report their marriage is now as strong as it ever was, if not stronger. But it takes a brokeness on both sides for it to succeed. Debbie |