Jesus Would Not Divorce A Spouse For Any Reason Other Than Fornication
BY RANDY BAKER
Jesus, through the word of God, states that He has high expectations for us. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). We are blessed to have Jesus’ words for guidance so we can rightly handle difficult challenges.
When we’re facing a temptation to divorce a spouse, we may ask “what would Jesus do?” When listening to Jesus’ words, what pattern can we observe that would provide us guidance on how to handle this emotion-charged question?
Jesus spoke of divorce and remarriage during His sermon on the mount. “It was said also, ‘Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement,’ but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32). According to Vine’s Dictionary, the word fornication means “illicit sexual intercourse,” any sexual relations with one who is not a proper marriage partner. What are we to learn from this passage? Jesus has a very limited view on what is acceptable divorce. Any reason for divorce, other than fornication, is wrong in Jesus’ sight. On judgment day, we certainly don’t want to be guilty of living in continual adultery with a partner that was not rightfully ours.
In Matthew 19, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about divorce. “And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, ‘Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?’ 4And he answered and said, ‘Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? 6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’ 7They say unto him, ‘Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?’ 8He saith unto them, ‘Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. 9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.’ 10The disciples say unto him, ‘If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.’ 11But he said unto them, ‘Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given. 12For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it’” (Matt. 19:3-12).
Notice the surprise in the disciples’ response in verse 10. They knew this was a demanding teaching! Jesus goes on to say that many will not be willing to receive that truth, but it didn’t change His command. In verse 12, Jesus states that there will be some, who when they’ve understood this teaching, will realize they need to make themselves eunuchs to be acceptable to Him in the kingdom. Vine’s Dictionary states the word eunuch here means “voluntarily abstaining from wedlock.” One example application of verse 12 is a person who is married to a second mate and one (or both) of them was previously divorced for reasons other than the adultery/fornication that Jesus spoke of. The only way to heed Jesus’ strict teaching is to demonstrate repentance of the continuing sin of adultery that occurs when living with the wrong partner that is not theirs in God’s sight. They would need to discontinue this sin (and marriage) and make themselves eunuchs for the Lord’s sake, for obedience sake.
Jesus spoke of John the Baptist when He said “This is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee’” (Matthew 11:10). John’s position on divorce and remarriage was the same as Jesus’, and eventually John was beheaded for it. “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18For John said unto Herod, ‘It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife’” (Mark 6:17). Herod had married a divorcee, but he and his new wife were unwilling to respond to the truth about the matter.
What does Jesus instruct about divorce? “He shows that the pattern from the beginning was to “leave father and mother” and “cleave” to our mate. He provides for only one allowance for divorce, and that is for the sake of fornication. He also shows that the price of repentance in this area is very high. “I hate putting away, saith Jehovah” (Malachi 2:16).
Jesus, through the word of God, states that He has high expectations for us. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). We are blessed to have Jesus’ words for guidance so we can rightly handle difficult challenges.
When we’re facing a temptation to divorce a spouse, we may ask “what would Jesus do?” When listening to Jesus’ words, what pattern can we observe that would provide us guidance on how to handle this emotion-charged question?
Jesus spoke of divorce and remarriage during His sermon on the mount. “It was said also, ‘Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement,’ but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32). According to Vine’s Dictionary, the word fornication means “illicit sexual intercourse,” any sexual relations with one who is not a proper marriage partner. What are we to learn from this passage? Jesus has a very limited view on what is acceptable divorce. Any reason for divorce, other than fornication, is wrong in Jesus’ sight. On judgment day, we certainly don’t want to be guilty of living in continual adultery with a partner that was not rightfully ours.
In Matthew 19, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about divorce. “And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, ‘Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?’ 4And he answered and said, ‘Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? 6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’ 7They say unto him, ‘Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?’ 8He saith unto them, ‘Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. 9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.’ 10The disciples say unto him, ‘If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.’ 11But he said unto them, ‘Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given. 12For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it’” (Matt. 19:3-12).
Notice the surprise in the disciples’ response in verse 10. They knew this was a demanding teaching! Jesus goes on to say that many will not be willing to receive that truth, but it didn’t change His command. In verse 12, Jesus states that there will be some, who when they’ve understood this teaching, will realize they need to make themselves eunuchs to be acceptable to Him in the kingdom. Vine’s Dictionary states the word eunuch here means “voluntarily abstaining from wedlock.” One example application of verse 12 is a person who is married to a second mate and one (or both) of them was previously divorced for reasons other than the adultery/fornication that Jesus spoke of. The only way to heed Jesus’ strict teaching is to demonstrate repentance of the continuing sin of adultery that occurs when living with the wrong partner that is not theirs in God’s sight. They would need to discontinue this sin (and marriage) and make themselves eunuchs for the Lord’s sake, for obedience sake.
Jesus spoke of John the Baptist when He said “This is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee’” (Matthew 11:10). John’s position on divorce and remarriage was the same as Jesus’, and eventually John was beheaded for it. “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18For John said unto Herod, ‘It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife’” (Mark 6:17). Herod had married a divorcee, but he and his new wife were unwilling to respond to the truth about the matter.
What does Jesus instruct about divorce? “He shows that the pattern from the beginning was to “leave father and mother” and “cleave” to our mate. He provides for only one allowance for divorce, and that is for the sake of fornication. He also shows that the price of repentance in this area is very high. “I hate putting away, saith Jehovah” (Malachi 2:16).
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