How does Luke 16:18 connect with Matthew 19:9 on divorce and remarriage? The Texts Side by Side • Luke 16:18: “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” • Matthew 19:9: “I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.” Immediate Context in Luke 16 • Jesus is addressing the Pharisees’ love of money and their manipulation of the Law (Luke 16:14–18). • Verse 18 functions as a concise statement of God’s unbending standard, exposing how the religious leaders had trivialized divorce (cf. Deuteronomy 24:1-4). • No “exception clause” appears because the stress is on the Pharisees’ habitual practice of easy divorce. Immediate Context in Matthew 19 • Pharisees test Jesus: “Is it lawful to divorce for any reason?” (Matthew 19:3). • Jesus roots marriage in creation: “The two will become one flesh… What God has joined together, let no one separate” (vv. 4-6; Genesis 2:24). • Verse 9 clarifies a single permissible ground—“sexual immorality” (Greek: porneia). • The disciples react: “If this is the case, it is better not to marry” (v. 10), showing how strict Jesus’ view was compared with prevailing custom. Harmonizing the Two Statements • Core truth in both passages: divorce followed by remarriage equals adultery. • Matthew supplies a divinely sanctioned exception (sexual immorality); Luke omits it for brevity and emphasis. • No contradiction exists: Luke speaks universally; Matthew supplies the one circumstance under which the universal rule is lifted. • Similar telescoping appears elsewhere—compare Mark 10:11-12 (absolute statement) with Matthew 19:9. Key Words and Concepts • “Divorces” (apolyō): to release, send away, legally dissolve. • “Sexual immorality” (porneia): all illicit sexual relations; here it breaks the “one-flesh” bond. • “Commits adultery” (moichaō): ongoing, not one-time; the new union is adulterous in God’s sight. Old Testament Foundation • Genesis 2:24—marriage ordained as lifelong, one-flesh covenant. • Deuteronomy 24:1-4—regulates, but never endorses, divorce. • Malachi 2:14-16—God hates divorce and calls it “violent.” Further New Testament Witness • Mark 10:11-12—repeats Luke’s absolute wording. • Romans 7:2-3—wife bound “as long as her husband lives.” • 1 Corinthians 7:10-15—Paul reaffirms Jesus’ command, allows separation but urges reconciliation; in case of desertion by an unbeliever, the believer is “not bound.” Implications for Believers Today • Marriage is a sacred, lifelong covenant; breaking it invites God’s judgment. • Legitimate ground for divorce is limited to sexual immorality (and abandonment by an unbeliever, 1 Corinthians 7:15). • A spouse who divorces without biblical cause and remarries lives in ongoing adultery. • Where adultery has occurred, the offended spouse may extend forgiveness and seek reconciliation, reflecting Christ (Ephesians 4:32), yet Scripture permits—but does not require—divorce. • In cases of danger or abuse, immediate separation for safety is wise; church discipline and legal protection may be necessary, but remarriage questions must still be evaluated by Scripture. • Repentance, confession, and restitution open the door to God’s mercy, but they do not rewrite God’s marital standards. Summary Principles • Luke 16:18 states the universal rule; Matthew 19:9 supplies the single explicit exception. • Both passages underscore God’s design: one man, one woman, covenant for life. • Any teaching that broadens grounds for divorce or normalizes remarriage after illegitimate divorce contradicts Christ’s words. • The church is called to uphold marriage’s sanctity, offer restorative grace, and point to the ultimate Bridegroom whose covenant love never fails. |
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