Divorce

Scripture: Mar 10:2-12 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away [his] wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put [her] away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you 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 more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same [matter]. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Observation: After Jesus gave this message, his disciples came to him afterwards and told him "this is a hard saying". Today, this is still a hard saying. We have cases of abuse, neglect, and various other crimes committed in marriage. With our divorce rate over 50%, marriage is in trouble!

Application: This scripture, combined with others on the subject gives us a fairly complete instruction on marriage, separation, and divorce. In this scripture, we see that divorce is clearly called out as being wrong. In all cases, divorce is sin. One partner or the other is always in sin. And in most cases, both are in sin. This is a hard teaching, but it is the truth. When we try to gloss over, or adapt the truth into something it is not because it is difficult, we get into all sorts of trouble. There are other scripture on this subject that allow, and even encourage, separation. Separation is a Godly alternative to Divorce, and it is Biblical. If someone is already divorced, this should be handled like any other sin; confessed, forgiven, and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. If we are divorced, or married, or single, we are admonished to be content in that state.

Prayer: Dear God, help us to have marriages that reflect well on you. Help us to take your love, and give it to each other. Help us to forgive those who have sinned against us. Let us be content where we are. In Jesus Name.