The Family & the HomeThe Family & the Home

Lesson 10: Divorce & Remarriage

Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage Many marry, divorce, and remarry without

any consideration of what God’s word teaches; they follow man’s laws, but not God’s laws

Man allows many unauthorized things regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage

Unauthorized practices regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage can also be found among members of the Lord’s church

Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage First, we examined the key passages

dealing with marriage. What positive things can be learned about marriage?

Second, we examined the key passages dealing with divorce. What is God’s over-all attitude toward divorce?

Now, let us examine the key passages dealing with remarriage. What is a person who remarries after a divorce?

Matthew 5:31-32Matthew 5:31-3231 It was said also, Whosoever

shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

When no fornication has been committedThe one doing the putting away (divorcing) is at fault

Matthew 5:31-32Matthew 5:31-3231 It was said also, Whosoever

shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

When no fornication has been committedThe one put away (divorced) commits adultery upon remarriage

Matthew 5:31-32Matthew 5:31-3231 It was said also, Whosoever

shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

When no fornication has been committedThe one who marries the one put away (divorced) commits adultery

Matthew 19:3-9Matthew 19:3-93 And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and

saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

5 and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?

6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.

Is it lawful to put away (divorce)?

No. It is not lawful to put away (divorce)

Matthew 19:3-9Matthew 19:3-99 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.

When no fornication has been committed The one who puts away (divorces) commits adultery upon remarriage

Matthew 19:3-9Matthew 19:3-99 And I say unto you,

Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.

When no fornication has been committedThe one who marries the one put away (divorced) commits adultery

Mark 10:2-12Mark 10:2-122 And there came unto him Pharisees, and asked him, Is it

lawful for a man to put away his wife? trying him.3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses

command you?4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of

divorcement, and to put her away.5 But Jesus said unto them, For your hardness of heart he

wrote you this commandment.6 But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female

made he them.7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,

and shall cleave to his wife;8 and the two shall become one flesh: so that they are no

more two, but one flesh.9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not

man put asunder.10 And in the house the disciples asked him again of this

matter.11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his

wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her:

12 and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.

Is it lawful to put away (divorce)?

No. It is not lawful to put away (divorce)

Mark 10:11-12Mark 10:11-1211 And he saith unto

them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her:

12 and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.

The man who puts away (divorces) commits adultery upon remarriageThe woman

Luke 16:18Luke 16:1818 Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery.

The one who puts away (divorces) commits adultery upon remarriageThe one who marries the one put away (divorced) commits adultery

Romans 7:2-3Romans 7:2-32 For the woman that hath a

husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.

3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.

Remarriage while one’s spouse is still living leads to adultery

Romans 7:2-3Romans 7:2-32 For the woman that hath a

husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.

3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.

Remarriage after one’s spouse is dead does not lead to adultery

1 Corinthians 7:10-161 Corinthians 7:10-1610 But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the

Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband11 (but should she depart, let her remain

unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

13 And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.

16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Do not depart or leave

What to do when one does depart

Summary of Teaching

OT Law (Moses) NT Law (Jesus)

Deut. 24 The cause: “some

unseemly thing” The penalty: “go

and be another man’s”

The husband: “may not take her again”

Mt. 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:11

The cause: “for fornication”

The penalty: “commits adultery”

The husband: “be reconciled to her husband”

Summary of Teaching

Three people, and only three, have a God-given right to marry…

The one who has never been married (Mt. 19:6)

The one who puts away (divorces) their unfaithful spouse “for fornication” (the exception clause of Mt. 5:32 and 19:9)

The one who’s spouse has died (Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:39)

Summary of Teaching

One rule and one exception…

The one rule: marriage is for life; do not put away / divorce; divorce leads to adultery upon remarriage (Mt. 5:32; 19:4-6; Mk. 10:11-12; Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-11, 39)

The one exception: a spouse faithful to their marriage vows may put away / divorce their unfaithful spouse “for the cause of fornication”; remarry and not commit adultery (Mt. 5:32; 19:9)

Summary of Teaching

The one who does the putting away (when no fornication has been committed)…

Makes their spouse commit adultery when their spouse remarries (Mt. 5:32a)

Commits adultery upon remarriage (Mt. 19:9a; Mk. 10:11-12; Lk. 16:18a)

Summary of Teaching

The one who is put away (when no fornication has been committed)…

Commits adultery upon remarriage (Mt. 5:32a)

Summary of Teaching

The one who marries the one who is put away (when no fornication has been committed)…

Commits adultery upon remarriage (Mt. 5:32b; Mt. 19:9b; Lk. 16:18b)

“But what about…?”

Many want to know if the follow persons can marry?

The one divorcing for no cause or any cause

The one guilty of fornication

The one deserted by an unbelieving mate

The one divorced and remarried prior to becoming a Christian

“But what about…?”

Many want to know if the follow persons can marry?

The one who has been divorced and remarried but is now baptized

The one who repents of divorcing and remarrying but remains in the new marriage

There is no scripture authorizing marriage in the above scenarios

Review Questions

1. Who has a God-given right to be married?

2. How long does marriage last?

3. What is the general rule for divorce and remarriage?

4. What is the one exception to the rule?