Marriage Divorce Remarriage Matthew 19:3-9

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?

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?

Scholars are unable to determine what the “uncleanness” is. It is not adultery since that sin was punishable with death (Deut. 22:22; Lev. 20:10) Pharisees are concerned with Deut. 24:1-4—the “uncleanness” and the “writing of divorcement” Historical evidence shows the diversity of thought among Jews as to the cause (“uncleanness”)

Rabbi Shammai “...he has found some unchastity in her, for it is written, ‘Because he hath found in her indecency in anything’”

Rabbi Hillel “He may divorce her even if she spoiled a dish for him, for it is written, ‘Because he hath found in her indecency in anything’”

Rabbi Akiba “find no favor in his eyes” meant that he had found another more favorable to him and could divorce the first for the second

The Answer of Jesus Matthew 19:4-6a And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 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? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh

In The Beginning Genesis 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them Genesis 2:24: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh

What Is Marriage? Private agreement Public acknowledgement Joining together (socially) Betrothals (Matt. 2:18; Lk. 2:5) Wedding feasts (Jn. 2:1-2; Matt. 25:10)

What Is Divorce? Using Deut. 24:1 as guide “…it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes…” “…then let him write her a bill of divorcement…” “…send her out of his house…”

What Is Divorce? Private problem Public acknowledgement She is publicly sent from the house

What about the question in Matthew 19:3? Is it lawful for any cause? The answer of Jesus was: “No”

What about the question in Matthew 19:3? Wasn’t lawful in the beginning Wasn’t lawful under Moses Is not lawful under Christ

Jesus’ answer to the question in Matthew 19:3? Not according to Rabbis Goes back to the beginning Offers one exception—for the cause of fornication (Matt. 19:9)

Matthew 19:3 Question KJV “for every cause” ASV “for every cause” NKJV “for just any reason” NASB “for any reason at all” NIV “for any and every reason” ESV “for any cause”

Matthew 19:9 Exception KJV “fornication” ASV “fornication” NKJV “sexual immorality” ESV “sexual immorality” NASB “immorality” NIV “marital unfaithfulness”

The Answer of Jesus 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

The Answer of Jesus 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

Where Is The Re-marriage? 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

Exception Allows Re-marriage 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

The Answer of Jesus 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

The Answer of Jesus 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

Where Is The Re-marriage? 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

Exception Allows Re-marriage 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

Definition (Webster) Sexual intercourse between two persons other than a man and his wife : sexual intercourse between a spouse and an unmarried person

Definition (Thayer) PORNEIA Illicit sexual intercourse: from 1 Cor. 6:12, we learn how leniently converts among the heathen regarded this vice and how lightly they indulged in it

Definition (Arndt & Gingrich) PORNEIA prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse

Usage In New Testament It is a sin (1 Cor. 6:9-11, 18; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19-21) Transgression of law (1 Jn. 3:4) New Testament reveals as: Homosexuality (Jude 7) Adultery (Matt. 19:9) Pre-marital sex (1 Cor. 7:1-2) Incest (1 Cor. 5:1-2)

What about…….? I’m not happy Mate is a slob Won’t provide Is abusive I don’t love him/her anymore In the way Can’t get along Go home to Mama Change in appearance Immature Hasn’t grown with me Has different interests Selfish

Jesus said, “except it be for fornication” What about…….? I’m not happy Mate is a slob Won’t provide Is abusive I don’t love him/her anymore In the way Can’t get along Go home to Mama Change in appearance Immature Hasn’t grown with me Has different interests Selfish

The Application Of Matt. 19:9 The exception (fornication) only allows divorce and re-marriage for the innocent Divorce w/o exception is not approved Re-marriage w/o exception is not approved

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