What is the meaning of Luke 16:18? Anyone who divorces his wife • From creation God intended marriage to be lifelong: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). • God openly declares, “I hate divorce” (Malachi 2:16), underscoring how seriously He views the breaking of the covenant. • Jesus confirms the permanence of marriage in Matthew 19:6—“So then, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate”. • Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, commanding husbands and wives not to leave each other, or, if they do, to remain unmarried or be reconciled. and marries another woman • Remarriage while a first spouse is still living disregards the “one flesh” union. Romans 7:2-3 states that a woman “is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage”. • Mark 10:11-12 parallels Luke’s thought: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.” • Matthew 19:9 mentions an exception in the case of sexual immorality, yet Luke records the absolute principle to stress the gravity of dissolving a God-given bond for personal convenience. commits adultery, • Adultery violates the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14) and defiles what Hebrews 13:4 calls “the marriage bed.” • Scripture treats adultery as a sin that wounds both the body and the soul (Proverbs 6:32-33) and demands repentance and forgiveness (1 John 1:9). • By labeling remarriage after unjustified divorce “adultery,” Jesus underscores that a civil decree cannot overturn God’s moral decree. and he who marries a divorced woman • The Lord lays responsibility on the new spouse as well, echoing Matthew 5:32: “Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” • Herod Antipas’s marriage to Herodias, condemned by John the Baptist (Mark 6:17-18), illustrates this principle—both parties were guilty. • Marriage choices therefore must consider God’s prior covenant claims, not merely civil eligibility. commits adultery. • Both partners in such a union stand accountable before God. James 2:10-11 reminds us that breaking even one command makes a person “guilty of all.” • First Thessalonians 4:3-5 calls believers to sanctification, “that each of you learn to control his own body in holiness and honor.” • Genuine repentance involves turning from the sin, seeking forgiveness, and, where possible, making things right (Luke 19:8-9). summary Luke 16:18 declares that divorce does not dissolve the one-flesh covenant in God’s eyes; therefore remarriage after an illegitimate divorce brings the parties into ongoing adultery. Jesus upholds God’s design from Genesis, warns against casual dissolution of marriage, and calls His followers to honor lifelong covenant faithfulness. |
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