FAQ

What Does the Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage?

No matter what view you take about divorce, we need to remember Malachi 2:16: "For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce." Marriage in the Bible was designed as a life-long commitment, as it is written, "where they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matthew 19:6).

For those who have gone through a divorce, please take heart, even though God dislikes divorce, God knows that a marriage involves two human beings who are born in sin, divorces are going to occur. If we look in the Old Testament, we see that God has created some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcées, especially women (Deuteronomy 24:1–4). In Matthew 19:8 Jesus points out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people's hearts, not because God desires divorce.

The Biblical controversy whether divorce and remarriage are allowed revolves primarily around Jesus' words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase "sexual immorality" (other translations use "marital unfaithfulness") is the only thing in Scripture that gives us the "exception clause" for God's permission in divorce and remarriage.

When we look at the Greek translation of "sexual immorality" we find that it is the root word where pornography comes from and can mean any form of immoral sexual activity. It can mean: fornication, prostitution, adultery, etc. Jesus is likely stating that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality/misconduct is committed, and only the spouse who did not commit the sexual immorality is free to divorce and remarry.

Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: "the two will become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). Therefore, any breaking of the bond by sexual immorality/misconduct outside of the marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce. Additionally; physical, mental, and emotional abuse creates a broken bond because of the sexual immorality within the abuse. Therefore, the one who was abused may seek divorce under the "exception cause" without fear of adultery if they remarry.

We at times get lost in the debates over the "exception clause" and whatever "sexual immorality" means, but let us remember this: "sexual immorality" is an allowance for divorce, not a requirement for it. Even when "adultery" is committed, a couple can, through God's love and grace, learn to forgive and begin rebuilding their marriage.