Four Questions on Marriage, Divorce, & Remarriage
Hugo McCord
A close Bible student asks four questions relating to Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage:
(1) Comment on The Levirate law (Deut. 25:5-10) as contrasted with God’s original design for marriage (Gen. 1 & 2) one man-one woman, etc.
The Bible does not tell why "God’s original design for marriage" was modified by the Levirate law. Jesus said that Moses permitted (epitrepo) divorce because of "hardness of heart" (Matthew 19:8). Hardness of heart may explain why God’s original design for marriage was modified to allow to allow polygamy (Deuteronomy 21:15; 1 Kings 11:3).
(2) James Bales’ use of "but to the rest" (1 Cor. 7:12). Thus attempting to nullify universal nature of Matt. 19:9 (Christ addressing only those in covenant in covenant relationship).
Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 discusses three situations among the believers at Corinth: (1) those "unmarried"; (2) those married to believers; and (3) those married to unbelievers. The verses have no relationship with Jesus’ teaching that "whoever (hos an) divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9). His universal "whoever" includes all mankind, male and female (cf. Mark 10:11-12). Anyone who limits the "whoever" of Jesus makes himself an authority on marriage and divorce.
(3) Comment: John and Sue are married. John divorces Sue despite her objection. Sometimes later, John marries again. Some say, he’s not married in "God’s" sight yet Matt. 19:9 says "marrieth" and "shall marry." Are they not thus "married" in God’s sight? (Though not an "acceptable" marriage). Suppose Sue later remarries. Is she not the very person described in he last statement of Matt. 19:9 "whoso marrieth her which is put away committeth adultery"?
But Sue was not put away because she had committed adultery. Now she, though an unwilling divorcee, sees her ex-husband commit adultery by remarrying, and consequently she now has put away her husband because of his fornication, and so is not guilty of adultery by remarrying, according to the first statement of Matthew 19:9.
(4) Same John and Sue situation. John dies. Is Sue free to marry even though John was remarried and no longer her husband?
But John’s remarriage was adulterous, which gave Sue Jesus’ one exception for a remarriage (Matthew 19:9). She did not have to wait until John died.
September 2000