The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 19 Part 1 Divorce, Remarriage And The Gospel

Matthew 19:1-2  And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; 2  And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

At this point in His earthly ministry, Jesus is gradually moving toward Jerusalem and ultimately, the cross of Calvary.

He traveled into the territory known as Judaea, which history shows was governed by the kings of Judah who were King David's descendants. 

Once again, very large crowds came to Jesus for help and He healed all people who were sick, afflicted or disabled in any way.

Whenever Jesus ministered to the people, the power and glory of God with us (Emmanuel) was put on display.

This created much anger and jealousy among self righteous Pharisees and scribes, and of course, they came to confront Jesus.

Matthew 19:3  The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 

The word "tempting" means in a bad sense, to test one maliciously or deceitfully in order to entrap the one who is speaking.

They asked Jesus a question about divorce seeking to catch Christ in some type of error.

Scripture tells us many times before this incident occurred that Jesus knew people's thoughts.

He will never be caught off guard because He is the Son of the Living God.

Matthew 19:4-6  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

Jesus asked the Pharisees "Have ye not read?" and this was a rebuke to them because they made the Word of God of none effect by elevating their man made traditions higher than inspired truth from God!

Jesus' question is also a rebuke for the present age when so many people profess faith in Christ but live like the corrupt world.

VIrtually every survey conducted by polling firms like Pew Research or Barna Research Group shows a woeful ignorance of Bible truth that is widespread among Christ's church today.

Instead of referring to the opinions of men, Jesus called their attention to God's original design for marriage from the scriptures.

Jesus gave the perfect and true answer to perhaps the most foolish and perverse question of our time.

"How many genders are there?" 

God manifest in the flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ,  sets the record straight. 

There are only two genders: male and female.

Teachers unions and public school boards perversely try to persuade young children that they need gender transitioning.

Those who believe God's Word and resist their wicked agenda, are harshly condemned as if we are out of touch neanderthals. 

Many public schools try to indoctrinate our children with unscientific sexual perversion like denying natural gender reality.

Worse, they try to keep what they are doing from the eyes of parents.

We live in an exceptionally wicked culture that is overripe for God's wrath to be poured out. 

Genesis 1:26-28  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 

This is the first scripture Jesus cited while answering the Pharisee's question.

God created everything and evolution is a lie propagated by the Devil.

The universe displays a regular and predictable rhythm that is inexplicable apart from concluding that God did this and He sustains it all (See John 1:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-3).

When God created people, He created a man and a woman, and these are the only true genders!

Those who believe the lie of evolution, meander through this life without purpose and without knowing God.

This is why the gospel of Christ must be preached to those whom we love and to our friends and acquaintances.

The gospel calls unbelievers out of darkness into His marvelous light and a repentant sinner can be born again by the work of God's Spirit and begin walking in newness of life.

The marriage covenant is one man and woman leaving parents and cleaving together for life.

Genesis 2:24-25  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. 

This is the second text that Jesus cited from the book of Genesis, the book of beginnings and it is known as the "Leave and cleave" principle.

This is the covenant of marriage and God's plan for marriage. One man married to one woman for life.

The phrase "Shall leave his father and mother" means that a man shall bind himself more strongly to his wife than he was to his father or mother. 

The marriage connection is more tender than even the family bond which unites us to a parent.

The words "And shall cleave unto his wife" refers to a union of the firmest kind. 

The word "cleave" was used in reference to gluing two pieces of wood together so that they bond into one piece of wood.

Metaphorically, this word means a husband and wife are so firmly joined together that nothing can separate them.

Jesus' argument is that a husband and wife are so united as to be one, and in the beginning God made one woman for one man. 

Therefore, it follows that they cannot be separated except by the authority of God. 

Thus, man may not put away his wife for every cause. because what God has joined together in marriage no man may put asunder.

There is no doubt that when Jesus pointed Pharisees to the truth of scripture, they were shocked because of following man's traditions instead of obeying God's Word.

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit and it is a scalpel in His hand dividing asunder and revealing the thoughts and intents of our hearts (See Hebrews 4:12).

Matthew 19:7  They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 

Deuteronomy 24:1-2  When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2  And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. 

Pharisees were guilty of permitting a divorce for any reason and this was a common practice among both pagans and Jews during the time of Jesus.

They relied on what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 24:1-5.

Notice that Moses gave this instruction regarding divorce, but the text does not ever say this is a command from God.

Divorce was an ancient cultural norm observed by many different people groups and what Moses wrote is a recognition of that reality.

His instructions were also designed to protect the wife from being trapped in an abusive relationship.

Matthew 19:8  He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 

Once again, Jesus exposed scribes and Pharisees' corrupt teaching about marriage and divorce.

Moses gave guidelines regarding divorce which was commonly practised by the Egyptians and certainly rubbed off on the Hebrews who were their slaves for 400 years.

Jesus said that Moses permitted divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts."   

Moses perceived that if divorce were not permitted, in many cases, a wife would be exposed to great hardship because their husband's hearts were hard.

Deuteronomy 9:13  Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 

Deuteronomy 31:27  For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death? 

Rebellion and hard hearts of the Hebrews and later, the nation Israel, is well documented in scripture.

The LORD told Moses that He saw how entrenched their rebellion and hard hearts were. 

He called them a stiffnecked people.

Later, before the LORD called him home, Moses was concerned that their great rebellion against the LORD would become even worse after his death.

Thus, Jesus reminded them why Moses granted permission for divorce and what God intended for marriage.

Matthew 19:9  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. 

One school of rabbinical thought maintained that divorce might be done for any cause, no matter how trivial or harsh.

Another school of rabbis maintained that only one spouse committing adultery could justify a divorce. 

The harsh reality is that the husband exercised the right of divorcing his wife at his pleasure. 

He was like a judge presiding over it and dismissed his wife when he wanted to and for whatever reason he chose.

Therefore, Jesus gave a strong correction that divorce was only permitted in cases of adultery.

This is the same teaching that He taught in the Sermon on the Mount (See Matthew 5:31-32).

Jesus spoke as God manifest in the flesh and with all heaven's authority when He stated "And I say unto you." 

Christ's words are as authoritative as "Thus saith the LORD."

This decree of our Lord was not well received by these men. 

Jesus removed their ability to put away their wives  in order that they might take another wife who pleased them better.

Jesus declared that they could not be remarried while the divorced person was still alive, and that those who did remarry in that circumstance were adulterers.

Christ restored protection to the woman and elevated the marriage covenant back to the way God intended it to be.

This teaching is very relevant in our culture since marriage has become like a commodity where you can discard your spouse for practically any reason.

One other sobering reality is that the national rate of divorce is at 40% of all marriages; however, the divorce rate among professing Christians is almost as high, at 38%. 

Matthew 19:10  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 

Jesus' disciples were surprised at this account of things because His doctrine was contrary to what they had been taught, and very different from the general practice and the Jewish people.

Therefore, they said it would be better to remain single.

Matthew 19:11-12  But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 

"All men cannot receive this saying" is Christ's wise answer well suited to the present circumstances of the disciples. 

Neither marriage or being unmarried are condemned. 

If you marry, you do well  and this is accord with the will  of God. 

Remaining unmarried might be good in certain circumstances such as in times of persecution, trials, or for the sake of serving God without the care and burden of a family. 

It might be good for many to live unmarried as some of the apostles did,  but it was not for all people (See 1 Corinthians 7:1-40).

Matthew 19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Jesus proceeds to state that there were some people who were able to receive that saying and to remain in an unmarried state. 

Some men were born eunuchs while others were castrated by the cruelty of their captors. 

Some eunuchs voluntarily abstained from marriage for the kingdom of heaven’s sake, so that they might devote themselves entirely to gospel ministry. 

Often, eunuchs rose to offices of great authority, such as the Ethiopian eunuch Philip witnessed to in Acts 8:26-40).

He was parked in his chariot, sincerely seeking God while reading from the prophet Isaiah, when the Spirit of God told Philip to go help him understand the scriptures.

Philip led this eunuch to Christ and baptized him in the name of the Lord. 

Apostolic teaching about marital status.

1 Corinthians 7:32-34  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 

An unmarried Christian man more easily cares for the things of God and how he may please God with his life.

A married Christian man is more focused upon providing for his wife and caring for his family and has less time to devote to loving and serving God.

The same is true for a Christian woman who is unmarried. 

She is better equipped to serve and love God than if she was married and seeking to be a Godly helpmeet for her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:38  So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. 

Thus, Christians do well if they marry a believer in Christ, but they do better if they remain single and serve God with their whole heart.

This is why Jesus said not all men can refrain from marriage, nor can all men be eunuchs.

What about the status of those who divorced and remarried before being born again?

1 Corinthians 7:20-24  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. 23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. 

1 Corinthians 7:27  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 

Many people married, divorced and remarried before they ever heard the gospel and were born again.

Such ones never knew about the marriage covenant as God intended it to be.

They did not know God's view of marriage and the serious nature of it.

Then, one of them or both, came to repentant faith in Christ.

They eventually heard Jesus'  teaching about divorce, remarriage and adultery.

What were these Christians to do? Were they to upend their lives and seek to undo their divorce?

God calls us to salvation where we are, not where we should be.

If someone is married when they become a Christian, even if the path to that marriage involved sin, they are to remain faithful in the marriage they are in now.

The Bible never commands a divorced and remarried person to break their current marriage in order to “fix” the past. 

That would only create more sin and more brokenness.

Instead, Paul teaches us that they begin living faithfully from where they are now

God always meets people where they are, not where they should have been.

A believer who was divorced and remarried before salvation is called to honor their current spouse, live in purity and faithfulness, walk in love and obedience and grow in Christ like any other believer

Their testimony becomes one of grace, not shame.

Thus, unbelievers who divorced and remarried before they came to Christ, are like any other repentant sinner who is born again.

They too, are fully forgiven, fully pardoned, fully accepted in Christ, fully adopted by the Father into His family.

Psalm 103:10-13  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 

All sins of those in Christ have been removed from them as far as the east is from the west. 

God does not sentence us with eternal condemnation and death that we deserve for our sins.

Rather, He deals with us in love and pours out His mercy on all who turn to Christ with repentant faith. 

Therefore, all who are born again have no condemnation because they are now "in Christ" (See Romans 8:1).

John 8:10-11  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. 

There was a woman who was caught in the act of adultery, and the same scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus to see if Christ would uphold the law of Moses.

Jesus said "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (See John 8:7).

Their consciences strongly convicted them because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Therefore, her accusers left one by one, until only Jesus and the woman remained.

Jesus asked her where her accusers were and whether any were left to condemn her. 

She said "No man, Lord" and this indicates she understood that Jesus was willing to forgive and show mercy to her.

Thus, Jesus said "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." 

The idea of "go, and sin no more" refers to being made a new creation in Christ, and starting to walk in newness of life, walking in and being led by the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 2:13-14  13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 

Each Christian's sins were nailed to the cross of Christ and blotted out forever.

Each Christian has been quickened, made alive to God through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost (See Titus 3:4-6).

Each Christian has had all sins, iniquities and transgressions fully forgiven by God.

This is fully in accord with Jesus' teaching during His earthly ministry and later, when He spoke to His Church through His apostles.

Therefore, whatever sins we may have committed before we heard the gospel and trusted Jesus Christ to save us, they are all forgiven and forgotten by the Father.

Let us walk in newness of life and in accord with Christ's teaching.

Those who divorced and remarried before coming to Christ, are called to live faithfully now, in the marriage they are in.

Let us confess our sins to God and express our utter gratitude for His mercy, grace and the gospel of His dear Son, Jesus Christ.

Bob