ICS Daily Devotions
How To See Divorce
Matthew 19:3-9 (NKJV) The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
Is it okay to date and marry a divorcee? The Bible is clear that we can date and marry those who are single or widowed.
God honours covenant; a covenant relationship is the highest form of commitment and love. Commitments made in a marriage covenant are until “death do we part”. A marriage covenant causes two individuals to become one flesh. That oneness enables them to face all challenges in life together, whether financial, work- or health-related. Although there would be issues to work through in a marriage, nothing should be able to separate a couple.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NKJV) Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
Jesus says that Moses only yielded to the people’s request to allow divorce because of the hardness of their hearts; it was never God’s plan because He doesn’t condone divorce. He understands the pain, the separation and the sense of betrayal that can arise from divorce. It can leave behind deep hurt or betrayal in a spouse, and emotional scars in the children involved.
Malachi 2:16 (NKJV) “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
The only instance where divorce is acceptable according to the Scriptures is when one party commits sexual immorality or adultery. If we choose to date a divorcee, we should ask ourselves if that person’s past would influence any future behaviour or affect the new relationship.
Sermon Series: Pastor, I Have Questions For You
