A Biblical View of Divorce and Remarriage
Between Mark 9 and Mark 10 is an event
that is recorded in
Luke 9:51-62 that we should read that
will help set the tone for the sermon this morning.
Jesus did not come to destroy
men's lives but to save them. (vs 51-56)
Jesus' life and ministry
required a crucified life. (vs 57-62) cf Mark 10
I. The Teaching of
Jesus (vs 1)
Jesus by teaching and preaching was
setting forth a Gospel witness of the Kingdom of God.
Mt 7:24-29 / Lk 4:17-22, 32, 36,
II. The Tempting of the
Pharisees (vs 2)
A. Their pride - Love to be seen of men
B. Their pursuit of lust
2 sects were within the Pharisees,
1) Shammai,
followed the strict law of Moses
2) Hillel,
following the traditions as with law
Hillel would
go from town to town teaching and promoting themselves and would
get a "new wife" each time they went to a new place.
Ever wondered why the Pharisees did
not question Jesus about Malachi 3:11-16?
Jesus asks what sayeth Moses? - Why?
III. The Testimony of
Moses (vs 3-4)
A. Ex
20:14 Thou shalt not
commit adultery.
B. De
5:18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
C. Le
20:10 ¶ And the man that committeth adultery with another man's
wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife,
the adulterer and the adulteress shall
surely be put to death.
D. Dut 24:1-4 – Read verses
carefully - uncleaness = nakedness
IV. The Thoughts of God
(vs 5-12)
A. The Attitude of the heart (vs 5) cf
(Luke 16:1-18)
B. The Authority of the Creator (vs 6) cf
Rom 1
C. The Announcement of the Savior (vs 7-9)
Moses not God gave the precept.
D. The Asking of the Disciples (vs 10-11)
cf Mt 19:10-12
The
Exception Clause
Mt
5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him
give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But
I say unto you,
That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving
for the cause of fornication,
causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is
divorced committeth adultery.
It
is safe to assume that any person committing adultery was to be put to
death, so Jesus was not speaking of that when he spoke of putting
away.
What
is Fornication? Acts 15:15-31 – cf Lev 17-18
This
is a biblical definition that fits within the rest of scripture.
Here
are some Bible reasons to accept the no divorce position.
It
supports the commands and wisdom concerning vows
De
23:21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou
shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require
it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
Ec
5:4 ¶ When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for
he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
It
supports the Biblical picture of Christ and the Church
Ephesians
5 –
Is
the church always faithful? No
Was
Israel always faithful? No! Jer 3 / Hosea
It
supports the Biblical position of restoration
1Cor
7:10-11 / Gal 6:1
It
supports the Biblical teaching of the immanence of Christ's return
1Cor
7:29-35
It
supports the Biblical nature of interpretation
1Peter
1:19-21 / Following Scripture rather than the social criteria of
the day
It
supports the biblical teaching of priority
Heb
3:1-13 God is greater than Moses
Moses
the Servant but Christ the Son
Three Christian concepts that must be considered
Grace
Here
is a question that every person needs to ask themselves. Is God and
his grace sufficient to meet the needs of an individual?
1)
Can a person who is circumstantially led to live a single life enjoy
God and be content in that place?
2)
Can the person who is wasted physically in a horrible accident and
finds them selves disfigured and hindered from a normal life able to
live within the grace of God?
3)
Can a person who finds themselves wronged in life through a
departing spouse and tragic circumstances trust the living God to be
the source of satisfaction of all of their needs?
It
is amazing what things we allow God's grace to be sufficient for
certain aspects of life but not for others!
Love
Rom
13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill,
Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt
not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly
comprehended in
this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as
thyself.
Account
Heb
13:17 Obey them that have the
rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls,
as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and
not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. What would the ramifications be
on the day of Judgment, if a pastor married a bunch of his members
into adultry?
