Teaching about Divorce
Read: Matthew 19:1-12
We see from the beginning of the chapter that Jesus is now moving out of Galilee and is making His
way to Jerusalem. He knows the crucifixion is on the horizon. Yet He still teaches with authority as
conflict arises among the Pharisees who question Him, attempting to try to get Jesus to incriminate
Himself through misinterpreting the Law. Divorce was a hot topic of the day as varying Pharisaical
parties debated the correct interpretation of Moses’ divorce regulations in Deut. 24:1. It is important
to remember that the issue was not divorce in the modern sense but rather the right of the man
to reject his wife by a simple unilateral declaration against which there was no appeal. Jesus
describes marriage (the positive) instead of focusing on divorce (the negative) in verses 5-6. He
speaks of the principles laid by God in Genesis 1:27 and 2:24 which show that sexual union is
God’s creation purposed for man but also that union is exclusive and unbreakable. “One flesh”
vividly expresses a view of marriage that is much deeper than either human convenience or social
convention. After further questioning, Jesus explains that divorce was not commanded but allowed
and this concession was an accommodation to human hardness of heart. Jesus refuses to let a
concession to human sinfulness be elevated to a divine principle. The ideal is rather to be found
in going back to first principles, to what was in the beginning. An ethic that is truly to reflect God’s
will must be built, not on concessions, but on basic principles. An implication is drawn that divorce
and remarriage is adultery, since it substitutes a new sexual union for that indissoluble union which
God has created. But here again an exception is made in the case of a divorce that is the result
of sexual immorality since the marriage has already been broken. Christian ethics will always be
subject to sinful situations and therefore sometimes it is impossible to implement the ideal so in
some cases we must choose the best course open to us. Jesus’ answer provokes the disciples to
conclude in verse 10 that it may be better not to marry at all. Jesus’ reply does not so much put
celibacy as the ideal but rather that whether one is married or not is not a matter of better or worse
but of God’s gift, which is not the same for all disciples.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Thank the Lord for the institution of marriage that He established, that He has created the “one
flesh” union to be celebrated and honored.
2. Pray that God would strengthen the marriages in our church, that those who are struggling
would find help through marriage ministry.
3. Thank the Lord for His compassion and mercy, that His ways are higher than our ways and
that He knows what’s best for us.
