CHRISTIANS: Beware of pastors who do not respect the sanctity of marriage
Jesus said: Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. Mark 10:11-12
He also said: Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. Luke 16:18
So we see here that the person who marries the divorced person also commits adultery. This is strong evidence that the divorce has not dissolved the marriage. The old solemn statement, "Till death do us part", is a very accurate reflection of what the word of God reveals. It doesn't matter what either of them have done, or who is the innocent party.1 "Whosoever" means whosoever. Although it may be necessary for the couple to separate in some cases, divorce on the other hand, followed by remarriage is always adultery. The death of one, is the only means whereby the other can rightfully marry the second time. The Apostle Paul affirms this to be true in two places:
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:39
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Romans 7:2-3
A common tactic to circumvent this glaringly obvious New Testament commandment is to claim that the former divorce has been forgiven, thereby procuring the second marriage as legal. This subtle maneuver, which is employed by many so called Christian leaders, is in reality a fulfillment of what the Apostle Paul warned us about concerning those who by good words and fair speeches would deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18) It is also a fulfillment of Paul's words concerning those who would deceive others, they themselves also being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)
If we accept that the second marriage is legal because the divorcing of the first wife has been forgiven, then we are simple. That reasoning assumes that the first marriage and the subsequent divorce were the same act. The truth is that they were very different and separate acts.
Divorce can be forgiven because it is a sin both against God and against the marriage partner. But can a marriage be forgiven? If someone has genuinely repented of the sin of divorce, having acquired the knowledge of the sanctity of marriage, then they will seek reconciliation with their spouse. And if they cannot reconcile? Then they are to remain "unmarried". (1 Corinthians 7:11) They find themselves among the "whosoever" of whom we have already taken note. Their duty to God is to remain faithful to their spouse even though their spouse is not faithful to them. A tough cross to bear, but bearing our respective crosses is how we love God and escape the wages of sin, which is death. See James 1:12 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
God instituted marriage. The rules he has made concerning it pertain to all those who have entered into it, whosoever they may be. The following pronouncement made by Jesus illustrates the extent to which God respects every lawfully married couple.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mark 10:6-9
References and notesThe exception of fornication (Matthew 5:32;19:9) does not apply to the post marital divorce for adultery, but rather only to the long established premarital "divorce", for fornication, which only terminated the engagement (betrothal). For an example of this allowable cultural "divorce" see Matthew 1:18-25 "husband" "wife" "virgin". See also Deut. 20:7 Deut. 22:23,24 "virgin" "husband" "wife" and 1 Timothy 6;3,4.
This article is distributed by a ministry that is making a call for reformation: a return to biblically sound Christianity. Articles that provide correction of other widely accepted incorrect Christian teaching may be obtained from: L. Jones, 6 Ralwin Court, Central, Port Elizabeth, 6001. Rep. of South Africa. (041) 585-1006