Marriage and Divorce
Matthew 19:1-9
Introduction
1.
Few subjects have stirred as much
controversy as the subject of divorce in the New Testament
2.
The result:
some have given up and decided to teach nothing on the subject
3.
Understanding Jesus’ response to
a question put by the Pharisees is essential to understanding the New Testament
teaching on marriage and divorce
Discussion
1.
Divorce
a.
In the time of Moses – Deut
24:1-4
b.
In the time of Jesus – dispute
about the meaning of “uncleanness”
c.
Divorce always meant the ending of
a marriage
2.
Marriage
a.
In the beginning – Gen
b.
In the time of Solomon – 1 Kings
11:3
c.
In the New Testament – 1 Tim 3:2,
12
d.
Heb 13:4
3.
Jesus stands for
marriage and against divorce – Matt 19:4-6
a.
His apostles (except for Paul) were
married men – Matt 8:14; 1 Cor 9:5
b.
Marriage is God’s plan for sexual
fulfillment – 1 Cor 7:1-2; Heb 13:4
c.
Just as marriage is a commitment to
“become one,” divorce is a commitment to “become two”
4.
But does not Jesus deny a second
marriage to those who are divorced?
a.
The divorce regulation of Moses was
because of “hardness of heart”
b.
Moses permitted divorce, therefore
divorce is real, it is wrong, but real (not a fiction)
c.
Divorce without fornication and
marriage to another is an act of adultery (neither act by itself is defined as
adultery, but the joining of those two acts, a divorce in order to a marriage)
d.
Jesus speaks of divorced people as
married – Matt 19:9
5.
The apostles are the interpreters
of Jesus
a.
1 Cor 7:1-2 – let every man/woman
have their own spouse
b.
1 Cor
c.
1 Cor
Conclusion
1.
Divorce involves a sin by one or
both parties
2.
Divorce is not an unforgivable sin
3.
God is in the business of forgiving
those who come to Him in repentance