Honestly, I think God wants me to blog about this. The other day, I picked up my Teen Bible – which I love and have missed using since I stopped being a teenager (two years ago, of course), and I opened it to a random page – The book of Mark, Chapter 10. It was talking about divorce. I read Verses 1 to 12, which were the verses that discussed divorce. After reading it, I started studying my bookshelf in admiration. It was the last part of the house that I needed to organize, so since doing that, I have had a strange affection toward it.
Shelf by shelf, I did a mental calculation of the books I have read and the ones I haven’t. Then I got to the book, “60 Things God Said About Sex,” (by Lester Sumrall), and I picked it up and flipped it open. And what would you know, it opened on page 68: “God’s word on divorce.” So I said, okay, God, I’ll read it. I know it’s a funny story, and I know that skeptics, cynics, doubters, disbelievers – whatever they call themselves these days – will say that it is mere coincidence. But I don’t believe in coincidence.
According to the book of Mark, when the Pharisees asked Jesus if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife, Jesus told them that it was because their hearts were hard that Moses gave them the law to divorce their wives if they found any “uncleanness” in her. In reality – according to my boo, Jesus (in verses six to nine) – “…At the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Jesus also went on to say that “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and married another man, she commits adultery.” When Moses said people could divorce their wives if they find uncleanness in her, he was referring to infidelity, not today’s “irreconcilable differences” approach.
On remarriage after divorce, the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 24, verse 2 to 4 says, “And if after she leaves his house (first husband’s house), she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband who divorced her is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled.”
See, I’m just a learner in this issue, and I myself do not completely understand what the bible is talking about. I have some questions:
1. We have all heard that what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. But when I read this passage, I could not help but wonder about the “man” Jesus was referring to. Was he talking about the man who causes wahala in the marriage – like friends, family, neighbors? Or was he referring to the person who officiates the divorce – like the judge, clerk, etc? Or both maybe?
2. The bible talks about infidelity as being a valid reason for divorce – although not necessarily one that God likes – but what about other issues? Like would physical abuse be reason enough to God for divorce?
3. I don’t understand what Jesus is saying about divorced people remarrying and committing adultery. Does that mean that every divorced person who has gone on to get married again to someone else is committing adultery?
4. About remarrying, does that mean that once you have divorced and remarried, you cannot reconcile with your first spouse?
Tell me, what do you think? What are your thoughts on divorce?
Supporting Scripture for this post: Mark 10:1-12; Deut 24: 2-4.
Me thinks , it’s like saying anyone who takes what does not belong to them is a thief. Is that a sin ? Yes. Is divorce a sin?yes ,just like any other.but that doesn’t mean it’s unforgivable sin,if you know the sin you have commuted confess and God is able to forgive,after all Christ died for our sins abi? I’m not saying get into marriage with an exit plan,but if you have to I’m pretty sure God understands. Thats just how i see it.My own 2 cents. Hope it makes sense.
Jubekwe, thanks a lot for your comment. Reading your comment, I am reminded of a verse in the bible: Romans 6:1 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?”
One thing I know for sure is that there is so much I do not yet know or understand.
committed*
1. “Man” in general refers to anybody, especially the husband and wife. They must do all can do to maintain their marriage and not allow in anybody including themselves to breakup their marriage which was ordained by God.
2.The only grounds for divorce in a marriage is fornication. But if their is abuse, or a man not providing for his family, etc then there can be a separation. 1 Corinthian 7:11
Hmmm. Very interesting. Just read 1 Cor 7:11 … and although it does not specifically say anything about abuse/negligence, I do see that it talks about separation.
After writing plenty things Internet destroyed my prose, hidiot.
I agree with Jubekwe, God hates divorce as much as He hates other sins but He will also forgive. That tho is no ground for deliberately sinning…..
The issue I’ve always had is the reconciliation concept. I still don’t get it. I ask God to help me cos it’s such a huge issue for me.
Bible is a very delicate issue. I try my best to read to my understanding and not to over dig for more because I guess the more your dig the more you see more questions.
The bible is clear on divorce, however, the remarrying part is unclear to me as well. So I’m just trying my best (and praying for grace) to do it right the first time around 🙂
In this post Vera, you really sound like a skpetic.
The bilble is clear.
God hates divorce. But if you divorce, d key is DO NOT REMARRY.
Their are very very few exxceptional cases like abuse. So if its me, I will just seperate bt not divorce