Jesus Christ challenged the liberal approach to divorce taken by some rabbis of his day, and upheld the idea of marriage as a lifelong commitment. Remarriage after divorce is generally classed as adultery and, where possible, divorced parties should seek reconciliation. There are circumstances, however, where remarriage is permissible.
The liberal attitude to divorce
Matthew 19:3 See also Deuteronomy 21:14, Deuteronomy 24:1
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
The undesirability of divorce
God's plan for marriage
Matthew 19:4–6 parallel Mark 10:6–9 See also Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Ephesians 5:31
Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘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 flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Divorce is permitted because of human sinfulness
Matthew 19:8 parallel Mark 10:5
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.
Christians should not seek divorce
1 Corinthians 7:10 This command, echoing Jesus Christ's words, applies where both parties are believers. See also 1 Corinthians 7:12–14
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
Remarriage after divorce
Believers should seek reconciliation
1 Corinthians 7:11 See also Deuteronomy 24:2–4 Marriage to another after divorce prevents reconciliation.
But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
Remarriage after divorce is classed as adultery
Luke 16:18 parallel Mark 10:11–12 This is a general rule, though there may be exceptions (see below). See also Romans 7:2–3; 1 Corinthians 7:39
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Remarriage may be permissible
1 Corinthians 7:27–28 “unmarried” means literally “freed from a wife” and thus may be applied to those widowed or properly divorced. It is no sin for them to (re)marry.
Possible grounds for divorce and remarriage
Matthew 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15 See also Jeremiah 3:8 God divorced Israel because of her adultery; Matthew 1:18–19, Matthew 5:32
Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.