Expert: Paul Walker - 3/18/2004

Question
How do Jesus's teachings of divorce, such as in matthew 5:31-32 apply today?  

Answer
Dear Amanda,

Your question is one that is certainly in need of an answer in todays world. I firmly believe the verse you mention, Mat 5:31-32, applies to us today or at anytime in history. Marriage is a part of the creation plan, not Church doctrine.

    Mark 10:6-9 But FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION God  made
    them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his
    father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they  twain
    shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but  one
    flesh. 9 WHAT THEREFORE GOD HATH JOINED  TOGETHER,  LET  NOT
    MAN PUT ASUNDER.

As I see it from my studies, there are three legitimate reasons for divorce. Fornication, as in the verses mention so far, death, which is a form of divorce:

    Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is  bound  by
    the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth;  but  if  the
    husband be dead,  SHE  IS  LOOSED  FROM  THE  LAW  OF  [HER]
    HUSBAND.

There is one more special case according to the grace of God given to newly saved saints. That if their spouse will have none of it and leaves them they are free to marry again.

    1 Corinthians 7:15 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.

Naturally, you need to look at the context of the verse.

We live in a sad day when there is so much corruption with in that which is called Christian, where the saints have no desire toward God. It is for us that desire to be faithful to suffer for his name sake in such things as this.

I hope this helps.

Your Servant In Christ Jesus,

Paul Walker
ysicj@aficj.org