[Biblemat] S) GOD HATES DIVORCE

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

GOD HATES DIVORCE

"For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that He hateth putting
away..."  (Mal. 2:16).

Introduction: -- We often hear people say, "I'm getting a divor-
ce, but I don't plan on getting remarried."  It seems that many
think God allows divorce so long as there is no remarriage.
We wish to show that God hates all divorce and only tolerates
it in the event of fornication.

I. That God Hates Divorce Is Taught In Malachi 2:16: --

     A. Even under the Old Covenant God did not approve of
          divorce.

     B. It is likely that the "tears" of verse 13 which "covered
         the altar" and caused God to refuse their offering, were
         the tears of those wrongfully put away.

     C. Divorce creates pain and suffering.  If not today, then
          down the road.

II. That God Hates Divorce Is Taught In Mark 10:4-9. --

     A. "And they said, Moses suffered you to write a bill of div-
          orcement, and to put her away.  And Jesus answered
           and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he
           wrote yu this precept.  But from the beginning of the
           creation God made them male and female.  For this
           cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and
           cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: 
           so then they are no mor twain, but one flesh.  What
           therefore God hath joined together, let not man put
           asunder."

     B. From the beginning God intended for there to be one 
         man for one woman and one woman for one man for life

     C. What God has joined, man is forbidden to "put asun-
          der."  When a man (or woman) separates what God has
          joined, they sin.

III. That God Hates Divorce Is Taught In Matthew 5:31,32. --

     A. "It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife,
           let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say 
           unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, sav-
           ing for the cause of fornication, causeth her to comm-
           it adultery: an whosoever shall marry her that is divor-
           ced committeth adultery."

     B. If on divorces his wife for any cause other than fornicat-
          ion he places her in a position of temptation to commit
          adultery and if she does, he is a party to her sin.

     C. On the other hand, if he puts her away for the cause of
          fornication, he has put her away for the one allowable
          cause and is then not a party to her sin.

IV. That God Hates Divorce Is Taught In Matthew 19:8,9 --

     A. "He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness
           of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives;
           but from the beginning it was not so.  And I say unto
           you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for
           fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adult-
           ery; and who marrieth her which is put away doth com-
           mit adultery."

     B. God never approved of divorce, but rather "suffered" or
          permitted it under the law with the writing of the bill of
          divorcement.

     C. God does not approve of divorce today, but has said
          He will tolerate, suffer, or permit it in the event of forni-
          cation.

             1. The passage does not say, "Whosoever hath a 
                 spouse that hath committed adultery go out and
                 get a divorce."  It does not encourage divorce even
                 when infidelity comes into the picture.

             2. In the case of adultery, though, God tolerates that
                 which He hates without charging the "innocent
                 party" with the sin of adultery.

             3. The guilty party, however, is not here permitted to
                 remarry.

V. That God Hates Divorce Is Taught In 1 Corinthians 7:10 --

     A. "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the
           Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband."

     B. Here notice that believers are "commanded" not to de-
         part from their mate.

             1. Verse 11 does not contradict the command found
                 verse 10.

             2. Some might disobey the command, in which case
                 a sin has been committed (1 Jno. 3:4).

             3. If a person plans and plots the action found verse
                 11, then he/she is guilty of wilful disobedience 
                 (Heb. 10;26).

     C. Verse 15 does not give another cause for divorce and
          remarriage, but teaches that the believer is not bound
          to all the marital duties.

             1. Married couples are instructed to "dwell together"
                 (1 Pet. 3:7).  "Separation" is sin except for one
                 cause (1 Cor. 7:5)!  Notice that Paul refers to the
                 cessation of physical relations for fasting and pray-
                 er adn ending in reconciliation!

             2. Married couples must meet one another's physical
                 needs (1 Cor. 7:3-5).

             3. Married couples must love one another (Eph. 5:25;
                 Titus 2:4,5).

Conclusion: -- We each have one opportunity in marriage.  We can use it 
wisely and inherit the blessings of it.  Or use it
unwisely and forfeit the blessings.  Some may ask if repent-
ance and subsequent forgiveness does not then permit rem-
arriage.  Repentance erases guilt, but does not restore opportunity.       
------- The Epistle, June, 1988.  Via the Sower
Vol. 53, No. 2, March/April, 2008.   </HTML>
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