Matthew 5:31-32, “31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is helping us understand what the Lord wants is not only right actions but also a pure heart (Matthew 5:8). As we’ve seen already murder and adultery, do not exhaust those particular commandments. Exodus 20:13-14 forbids lust and unjust anger (Matthew 5:21-30). The Law is not ritualistic but must be followed in heart and
Jesus corrections here focus not on every point of the Law that covers each situation. Christ says, “everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matt. 5:22), but He does not mean that anger is always evil, as He Himself will get angry (Matthew 21:12–13) without sinning (1 Peter 2:22). Ungodly anger is what the injunction against murder forbids. We can (rarely) be righteously angry and yet not sin (Eph. 4:26).
The above example helps us understand that Jesus does not give every possible ground for divorce when He allows for it for the reason of “sexual immorality” (Matthew 5:31-32). Additionally, desertion by an unbelieving spouse makes divorce possible (1 Corinthians 7:12-16). The Greek word for “sexual immorality” is
One reason among many why we should be in the local church is the help and wisdom of older Christians, and in particular, our pastors and elders on complicated issues in the Christian life like a particular form of
John Calvin reminds us that “the bond of marriage is too sacred to be dissolved at the will, or rather at the licentious pleasure, of men.” Marriage is hard and can drive spouses to despair and to even contemplate an unbiblical divorce, which is why we must seek help from other Christians in the church at the first sign of trouble in our marriages. If you need biblical counseling, please make an appointment with your pastor. If you know of some other couple who is having problems in their marriage, please encourage them to seek biblical counseling.
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Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
