Is ALL Divorce a sin? And is ALL remarriage a sin?
Let's explore the Word of God.
Jeremiah 3:8 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
8 Judah saw that I sent unfaithful Israel away because of her adultery and that I gave Israel her DIVORCE papers. But treacherous Judah, her sister, wasn’t afraid. She also acted like a prostitute.
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Isaiah 50:1 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
50 This is what the Lord says:
Where are your mother’s divorce papers?
Did I give her any to get rid of her?
To which of my creditors did I sell you?
You were sold because of your sins.
I GOT RID your mother because of your rebellion.
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In this next passage, the Lord reveals His plans to remarry unfaithful Israel who is no longer His people, and no longer His wife. The remarriage was to be through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Hosea 2:19-20 GW
19 “Israel, I will make you my wife forever.
I will be honest and faithful to you.
I will show you my love and compassion.
20 I will be true to you, my wife.
Then you will know the Lord
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Here we see a revelation of Jesus Christ's (God's) new Bride in remarriage.
Revelation 21:9-14 GW
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came to me and said, “Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.”
10 He carried me by his power away to a large, high mountain. He showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. 11 It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal. 12 It had a large, high wall with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The wall of the city had 12 foundations. The 12 names of the 12 apostles of the lamb were written on them.
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Note in the above passage that This is a HEAVENLY Jerusalem, not the earthly one.
1 Corinthians 7:15 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
15 But if the unbelieving partners leave, let them go. Under these circumstances a Christian man or Christian woman is not bound by a marriage vow. God has called you to live in peace.
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Acording to Blue Letter Bible: "unbelieving" in 1 Cor 7:15 is "apistos" in Greek
I.unfaithful, faithless, (not to be trusted, perfidious)
II.incredible
A.of things
III.unbelieving, incredulous
A.without trust (in God)
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1 Corinthians 7:27-28a GW
27 Do you have a wife? Don’t seek a divorce. Are you divorced from your wife? Don’t look for another one. 28a But if you do get married, you have not sinned.
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In the Blue Letter Bible the FIRST word used for "divorce" in 1 Cor 7:27-28 is "Loosis":
- a loosing, setting free
- of a prisoner
- of the bond of marriage, divorce
- release, ransoming, deliverance
- of liquidating a debt
- means or power of releasing or loosing
According to Blue Letter Bible, the second word used for "divorce" in 1 Cor 7:27-28 is the word "Lyo"
I.to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened
A.bandages of the feet, the shoes,
B.of a husband and wife joined together by the bond of matrimony
C.of a single man, whether he has ALREADY had a wife or has not yet married
II.to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free
A.of one bound up (swathed in bandages)
B.bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go
III.to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together
A.an assembly, i.e. to dismiss, break up
B.laws, as having a binding force, are likened to bonds
C.to annul, subvert
D.to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept or act
E.to declare unlawful
F.to loose what is compacted or built together, to break up, demolish, destroy
G.to dissolve something coherent into parts, to destroy
H.metaph., to overthrow, to do away with
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So it appears from what Paul is saying, that a Christian can indeed remarry if they have been abandoned in their first marriage. But he discourages remarriage unless one has really set their heart on it. He discourages it, but does not disallow it. He only cautions divorced people not to remarry because if they do, they will have more trouble in the flesh, and he wants to make it as easy as possible for them to serve Jesus. From a ministry perspective, this can make sense. But from a heart perspective, some people really wish to be remarried. So Paul allows it.
Jesus was speaking to hypocritical Pharisees when he said the following:
Matthew 19:9 GW
I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman.”
The Pharisees, along with Herod and others, were abusing the Mosaic provision of divorce to get rid of wives on a whim. Jesus corrected them from such abuse of divorce. Jesus reminded them that God's original design for man and woman was in the Garden of Eden. One husband and one wife, united together as one flesh, and not to be separated. Jesus never abolished Moses' provision for divorce, only clarified what it is for: unfaithfulness and abandonment (according to Paul).
It exists because of marital unfaithfulness/fornication (sexual perversions), and also because of abandonment.
It exists because of marital unfaithfulness/fornication (sexual perversions), and also because of abandonment.
Matthew 19:7-9 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
7 The Pharisees asked him, “Why, then, did Moses order a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her?”
8 Jesus answered them, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you’re heartless. It was never this way in the beginning. 9 I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman.”
We also know that if the spouse dies, the surviving spouse can remarry. That is in 1 Corinthians 7:39.
So the Lord remarried the Bride, the New Jerusalem (the Israelites who came to Christ) and grafted the Gentiles into that tree through faith. And Biblical divorce appears to be a provision in itself, not a sin. Divorce is a provision BECAUSE of sin. Some married people are unfaithful, unbelieving, unbelievable. The Lord does not sin yet He divorced natural Israel for her unfaithfulness. Then He died for her sins, and rose from the dead to take back any into the New Bride, the heavenly New Jerusalem. Any Israelites or Gentiles who come through Christ get to be a part of the New Jerusalem, the WIFE of Jesus the Lamb. This is the second -yet final and eternal- marriage.
So according to Moses, Jesus, and Paul, divorce is a negative yet sometimes necessary provision because of fornication/unfaithfulness and hardness of heart in one partner.
But like all provisions in the Bible, mankind can also sin by abusing such provisions. It is never to be taken or used lightly. We must always seek the council of the Lord and His Word first before considering divorce at all. The first option in a troubled marriage should be prayer and counselling. Reconciliation should be considered first if it is possible.
But if your spouse is a non believer, incredible/unbelievable, and they abandon you, or they cheat on you, or violate your vows, you are not required to keep those vows. Legal divorce is sometimes the sad provision we must take in order to continue on with Jesus. Nothing should come between you and Jesus.
One final Bible verse which I already quoted last time, but it applies here too. Jesus makes it clear how important following Him is. Not even marriage should stop you. Jesus will reward those who forsake their loved ones and spouses for the Gospel's sake:
Matthew 19:29 Geneva Version (See also the King James Version)
29 And whosoever shall FORSAKE houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or WIFE, or children, or lands, for my Name’s sake, he shall receive an hundredfold more, and shall inherit everlasting life.
I discuss the meaning of the word "forsake" in my in my last blog entry here.
Basically, the scope of this word includes divorce. It means to "let go" or to "allow" or to "divorce". Sometimes we need to let go of unfaithful people, unfaithful spouses. If you gave it all you got, and the spouse still will not return to you, then you are in good company. Jesus was also abandoned in the garden. The LORD God in the old testament was forsaken, cheated on, abandoned. The Lord had to divorce Israel. And now, through His death, and resurrection, Jesus can take a remnant back.... ALL who will call on the name of Jesus as Saviour and Lord and Messiah! All can call on Him, but not all will. That is why it will be a remnant in the second wife, the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Not even marriage and divorce concern Jesus as much as discipleship concerns Him. NOTHING should come between you and Jesus. If your spouse is non-believing, let them stay with you. Don't send them away. But if they want a divorce and they abandon you, then divorce is your only Biblical option. And after the divorce is complete, you CAN remarry in the Lord. Paul allowed it in 1 Corinthians 7. He favoured singleness as a personal preference, but upheld marriage and remarriage also. Most people will benefit from the gift of marriage. Some thrive more in the gift of singleness. (1 Cor. 7:7). So if you are legally divorced from an unfaithful spouse who cheated or abandoned you, take time to heal. Take time to recover and grieve the loss. Divorce is loss and takes time to recover from. The Holy Spirit can heal you. Over time, and with plenty of healing, ask the Lord to slowly reintroduce you into a new relationship, if you desire one. You are free to remarry.
Stay true to Jesus as His disciple and be faithful to Him! HE will REWARD you for your faith and faithfulness in all areas, even if you had to get divorced in order to stay true to Jesus and His call.
The REAL sin is those disobey God's leading and direction. (See Adam, who put his wife above God). I might remind you that Adam is responsible for bringing sin on all of us, because he did not put God above his marriage. He should have listen to God, but he failed to. This is why he sinned and caused all mankind to be sinful after him. This is why Jesus, the Last Adam came as a single/unmarried man... to live a perfect sinless life, and to offer that perfect life as a sin-offering to the Father on our behalf. God is SO GOOD!
I am looking forward to receiving a hundred times MORE from Jesus, and life everlasting! Are you?
Blessings!
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