Divorce and Remarriage

[1689Dave]

Does the “except clause” in Matthew 19:9 allow remarriage after divorce based on adultery?


“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matthew 19:9) (KJV 1900)

On the surface, it appears that Jesus approves of remarriage if we divorce our spouse on grounds of adultery. But this cannot be. The innocent wife (a), divorced from an adulterous husband (a), commits adultery when she remarries husband (b). And husband (b) also commits adultery.

Paul teaches death alone, breaks the marriage bond Romans 7:3.

 

[Josiah]

IMO, there are two VALID reasons for divorce (not that either is good or God's will - just permitted)
1. Adultery by one or both parties.
2. "Desertion."

The first is fairly clear. The second is if one party physically leaves (a fairly common thing in the ancient world; this doesn't mean leave on a trip or in military service or that sort of thing, but packs up and LEAVES the spouse with no intent of returning. Today, many understand this also applies when a spouse is forced to leave due to physical violence to self or children.

Both of these are VALID and thus can be reasons to end the bond.

IMO, there are two VALID ways that a marriage is terminated:
1. Death
2. Divorce.

The question of remarriage is another topic.



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[Albion]

Does the “except clause” in Matthew 19:9 allow remarriage after divorce based on adultery?

“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matthew 19:9) (KJV 1900)

On the surface, it appears that Jesus approves of remarriage if we divorce our spouse on grounds of adultery. But this cannot be. The innocent wife (a), divorced from an adulterous husband (a), commits adultery when she remarries husband (b). And husband (b) also commits adultery.

Wait a minute. It's the faithless wife being described above, not the husband. And she is not "innocent."

 

[1689Dave]

Wait a minute. It's the faithless wife being described above, not the husband. And she is not "innocent."

Where does it say she is faithless? And what if she is? She still commits adultery along with her husband (b) even though her husband (a) committed adultery first. Does your church allow this?

 

[Albion]

Where does it say she is faithless?

"except it be for fornication"

And what if she is?

You're asking what if she is a fornicator?

 

[1689Dave]

"except it be for fornication"


You're asking what if she is a fornicator?

Jesus' teaching is pointless if she was the first to fornicate or commit adultery. Besides, you are adding to God's word if you say so. It does not mention her as committing adultery until after her husband does and divorces her. Only then she would commit adultery, even though divorced from an adulterous husband by remarrying.

 

[Albion]

Jesus' teaching is pointless if she was the first to fornicate or commit adultery. Besides, you are adding to God's word if you say so.

Once again, I am faced with what looks like the 'Gospel according to Dave', so far from what the Scripture actually is saying are your interpretations.

It does not mention her as committing adultery until after her husband does and divorces her. Only then she would commit adultery, even though divorced from an adulterous husband by remarrying.

 

[1689Dave]

Once again, I am faced with what looks like the 'Gospel according to Dave', so far from what the Scripture actually is saying are your interpretations.

See if you can find one example in this to confirm your words are true. Also, does your church condone divorce and remarriage? Ths will tell everyone a lot about your problem with this.

 

[1689Dave]

As we move into the New Covenant, God makes no provision for remarriage after divorce.

“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:10–11 (KJV 1900)

Paul finalizes this by showing that death alone breaks the marriage bond.

“So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.” Romans 7:3 (KJV 1900)

Many try to justify remarriage by quoting:

“But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.” 1 Corinthians 7:15 (KJV 1900)

In view of Paul's forbidding remarriage, this applies only to a cessation of husband or wife duties.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Does the “except clause” in Matthew 19:9 allow remarriage after divorce based on adultery?


“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matthew 19:9) (KJV 1900)

On the surface, it appears that Jesus approves of remarriage if we divorce our spouse on grounds of adultery. But this cannot be. The innocent wife (a), divorced from an adulterous husband (a), commits adultery when she remarries husband (b). And husband (b) also commits adultery.

Paul teaches death alone, breaks the marriage bond Romans 7:3.

The Catholic Church eschews divorce followed by "remarriage" because the scriptures eschew it. What others in other religions do is up to them.

 

[1689Dave]

The Catholic Church eschews divorce followed by "remarriage" because the scriptures eschew it. What others in other religions do is up to them.

It's adultery even if religion is not involved.

 

[Josiah]

The Catholic Church eschews divorce followed by "remarriage" because the scriptures eschew it.

One of the things I really respect the Catholic Church for is its willingness to be clear on and stand up for biblical morality.... Way too many Protestant churches seem to have lost their moral compass. We see it with divorce, living together outside of marriage, same gender marriage, homosexual acts and a host of other things.



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[MoreCoffee]

It's adultery even if religion is not involved.

That is the teaching of Christ; to divorce and remarry while one's "former partner" is still living is adultery. That is the teaching of the Catholic Church.

 

[MoreCoffee]

One of the things I really respect the Catholic Church for is its willingness to be clear on and stand up for biblical morality.... Way too many Protestant churches seem to have lost their moral compass. We see it with divorce, living together outside of marriage, same gender marriage, homosexual acts and a host of other things.

One thing at a time; sufficient unto the thread are the theological debates of its Original Post

 

[Albion]

That is the teaching of Christ; to divorce and remarry while one's "former partner" is still living is adultery. That is the teaching of the Catholic Church.

All that's necessary in today's Roman Catholic Church is to pay the Church its fee of some hundreds of dollars, explain why the marriage didn't go so well, and, voila! your marriage is "annulled" by the Church! Input/testimony from the person being cast off isn't required and, in some cases, is barred by the church authorities even though that person is a Catholic in good standing and opposed to the divorce.

Hundreds of thousands of such procedures have been authorized in the past decade in the USA alone, and many of those, if not most, were followed by the divorcees getting remarried and remaining practicing Catholics.

Now, it might be asked why that's wrong, since an "annulment" means that there never was a real marriage in the first place, and if that's so, there couldn't be a "divorce!" Right? Well, no, since there is still a divorce entered by the legal authorities with the full knowledge of the parties. If a non-Catholic were to get a divorce and then remarry, the opinion of the average Catholic would still hold that they aren't free to remarry just because they aren't Catholics.

Recognize also that genuine annulments almost always take place very early in the marriage, whereas many of these RCC annulments come after the parties have been married for many years, including some over 20 years.

 

[Joshua1Eight]

I think Jesus meant unfaithfulness. That includes adultery. But I think that can also include being physically abusive. There are other ways someone can be unfaithful.

 

[1689Dave]

I think Jesus meant unfaithfulness. That includes adultery. But I think that can also include being physically abusive. There are other ways someone can be unfaithful.

Scripture teaches us not to submit to violence. When wars broke out believers got out of town. The same is true of domestic violence. But remaining single is mandatory until reconciliation happens.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I think Jesus meant unfaithfulness. That includes adultery. But I think that can also include being physically abusive. There are other ways someone can be unfaithful.

Some say that Jesus gave implicit support for divorce if one's partner was an adulterer. That may be so or it may not. The Catholic Church teaches now and has taught for many centuries that divorce followed by remarriage is adulterous as long as one's marriage partner lives.