How does Matthew 19:9 define the grounds for biblical divorce and remarriage? Setting the Scene Matthew 19 finds Jesus in Judea, confronted by Pharisees who want to trap Him with the hot-button question of His day: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” (v. 3). Jesus answers by pointing back to God’s original design in Genesis—one man, one woman, one flesh, for life (vv. 4-6). Then He addresses the one narrow exception. Jesus’ Core Statement (Matthew 19:9) “And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.” Key Observations • The verb “divorces” (Gk. apolyō) speaks of formally dissolving the marriage covenant. • The clause “except for sexual immorality” (Gk. mē epi porneia) states the single explicit ground Jesus permits. • “Marries another … commits adultery” reveals that remarriage after an unbiblical divorce equals ongoing adultery in God’s sight. Defining “Sexual Immorality” (porneia) • Broad term covering any illicit sexual activity—adultery, fornication, incest, prostitution (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Hebrews 13:4). • In the marriage context it points to a decisive, covenant-breaking sexual sin. • Jesus deliberately narrows the field: only unrepentant sexual immorality breaks the one-flesh bond (see Jeremiah 3:8 for similar covenant language). What Jesus Permits • If a spouse commits porneia and remains unrepentant, the offended spouse may: – Pursue reconciliation (preferred, Galatians 6:1; Hosea 3) – Or lawfully seek divorce without sinning (Matthew 19:9) • After such a biblical divorce, the innocent party is free to remarry without committing adultery (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:15). What Jesus Forbids • Divorce for “any cause” (the liberal Shammai/Hillel debate of the day) is outlawed. • Remarriage after an unbiblical divorce constitutes adultery, because God still sees the first marriage as binding (Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18). Supporting Passages • Malachi 2:14-16—God hates divorce because it “covers one’s garment with violence.” • Romans 7:2-3—Marriage binds “as long as he lives,” illustrating the permanence principle. • 1 Corinthians 7:10-11—Commands married believers not to separate; if they do, they must remain unmarried or be reconciled. • 1 Corinthians 7:15—Adds abandonment by an unbelieving spouse as a Pauline clarification, not a contradiction, of Jesus’ teaching. Summary of Biblical Grounds 1. Sexual immorality (Matthew 19:9) 2. Abandonment by an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:15) Outside these, Scripture offers no further permission. Practical Takeaways • Marriage is a lifelong covenant—divorce is never trivial. • Churches must uphold both grace and truth—pursuing repentance and reconciliation first. • Believers contemplating divorce need careful pastoral counsel grounded in these texts. Scripture is clear, consistent, and sufficient: except for sexual immorality (and abandonment by an unbelieving spouse), divorce and subsequent remarriage violate God’s design and constitute adultery. |
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