Divorce is discussed in a number of Bible verses. These can be found in the New Testament in Matthew 5:31–32, Mark 10:1–12, Luke 16:18, and 1 Corinthians 7:10–16. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 in the Old Testament offers crucial foundational knowledge. However, given the brief nature of Deuteronomy’s remark (which is limited to a single instance), the cultural perceptions surrounding divorce during the New Testament era, and the fact that Matthew is the only gospel writer to include a “exception clause,” this is a difficult question to address (Matthew 19:9). Christians do, therefore, hold varying opinions about this matter. John Piper, for instance, would contend that divorce and remarriage are never acceptable in this situation, but others disagree.
Jesus’ answer about divorce in Matthew 19
Since Matthew 19 appears to be the most complete account, we will concentrate on it. In it, Jesus is asked by the Pharisees, “Is it legal to divorce someone for any reason?” Jesus’ response refers back to Genesis 1-2, the creation story, and God’s original plan for marriage. Genesis 1:24 (“a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”) and 1:27 (the Creator “made them male and female”) are cited by Jesus. He then emphasizes that a man and a woman “are no longer two but one flesh” when they are married. Therefore, do not allow man to divide from what God has united. Matthew 19:6.
But what about Moses?
Jesus’ primary response is that since God unites or joins a man and a woman in marriage—they become one flesh—they shouldn’t be separated, i.e., they shouldn’t get divorced. But the Pharisees have another question for him: “Why then did Moses order one to issue a divorce decree and to send her away?” Matthew 19:7. The Pharisees are quoting Moses from Deuteronomy 24:1, when he permits a man to provide his wife a certificate of divorce. Given that God appears to prohibit divorce in Genesis 1-2, why then would Moses (who is speaking on behalf of God, not himself) permit it?
Jesus’ answer is that it is “because of your hardness of heart” (Matthew 19:8), that Moses (speaking God’s words) permitted divorce. It is important to remember at this point that between Genesis 1-2 and Deuteronomy 24, an enormous tragedy took place: Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command. As a result, God has judged them and they are no longer permitted to live in the Garden of Eden. People’s hearts are now hardened. Therefore, although a man and women still become “one flesh” when they are married, God now permits divorce in certain situations. Another way of looking at this is that in Genesis 1-2 divorce would have never been an issue, since a husband and wife would never have sinned against each other in any way, but that after Genesis 3 sin and divorce do become issues.
Adultery
Jesus’ verdict in Matthew 19:9 is: “whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” Therefore, Jesus allows divorce only in the case of sexual immorality (how this is to be understood exactly, is still a topic of debate among Christians). In 1 Corinthians 7:15, Paul is also addressing the topic of divorce. He is talking about marriages where one spouse is a Christian and the other is a non-Christian. In 1 Corinthians 7:12-14, Paul says that if the non-Christian spouse is willing to continue living with the Christian, then the Christian should not divorce. However, if the unbelieving spouse leaves the marriage, then the believing man or woman is not bound (1 Corinthians 7:15). In such a situation, the Christian who is left by his/her spouse does not sin if he/she accepts the situation of the divorce as initiated by the other partner.
Marriage is a very high calling
In conclusion, marriage is an extremely noble calling in which God unites a man and a woman to become one body. As a result, they shouldn’t split up or get divorced. Divorce is possible, nevertheless, [if there is unfaithfulness within the marriage]. However, there isn’t always; if the couple chooses to continue their marriage, they may (ideally) demonstrate forgiveness and grace. Furthermore, in a Christian-Non-Christian marriage, if the non-Christian leaves the union and the Christian accepts this, the Christian is not committing a sin.
