Matthew 19:9, Adultery & Jesus’ One Exception Lesson 5: Matthew 19:9, Adultery & Jesus’ One Exception

Considering the Parallel Passages of Matthew 19:9 and Their Unique Emphases God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Mark 10:11 and verse 12. God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Luke 16:18 and includes the put-away spouse. God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Matthew 5:32 & stresses the gravity of putting away. God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Matthew 19:9 & answers “divorce for every cause.”

All of the Parallel Passages, including Matthew 19:9, Discuss “Divorce “Divorce” is severely limited and opposed by the words and commands of Jesus. Divorce was never included or intended in God’s original plan for marriage. Greek apoluo = “to set free, release; let go, send away” Matthew 19:9, apoluo is aorist tense (simple past action) Divorce in the N.T. involved a mental consideration, an intentional decision/action and any legal requirements of the land (doesn’t mean it was approved by God). A reminder of God’s view of divorce – “He hates divorce” (Mal. 2:16)!

All of the Parallel Passages, including Matthew 19:9, Discuss “Remarriage.” “Marriage” or “marries another” is severely limited by the words of Jesus. There is a monumental difference between “married” acceptably in man’s sight and “married” acceptably in God’s sight – one is carnal, the other is eternal! God used human marital terms accommodatingly even when He had not joined them. To Samaritan woman, “You have had five husbands” (John 4:18). “An adulteress” who “married another man” (Rom. 7:2-3). Herod Antipas was “married” to his brother’s “wife” (Mk 6:17-18)

The definition of “adultery” is unambiguous and has been unchanged. All of the Parallel Passages, including Matthew 19:9, Discuss “Adultery.” From beginning to end, the Bible speaks of “adultery” very clearly & very disparagingly. In the Old Testament, “adultery” was a seriously vile and contemptible act. In the New Testament, the Lord is just as clear and just as disapproving. The definition of “adultery” is unambiguous and has been unchanged. The Hebrew term na’aph The Greek term moichos The English word “Adultery” involves a married person having sexual intercourse with a third party.

All of the Parallel Passages, including Matthew 19:9, Discuss “Adultery.” Yet, some have tried to make “adultery” mean something less than the sexual act. It is falsely taught that adultery is simply “covenant-breaking.” The true definition of adultery sheds tremendous light on God’s view of marriage. Whoever divorces and remarries commits adultery. Whoever marries a divorced person commits adultery (Mt. 5:32). The second marriage is adulterous in God’s eyes! It is critical to understand the force of Jesus using the present tense, “commits adultery.” “Commits adultery” is in the Greek present tense, which denotes continuous action.

In the phrase “except for fornication”: Matthew’s Account Is the Only One That Discusses the “Exception for Fornication.” God’s overall rule on MDR is whoever divorces and remarries commits adultery. If no exception was given, there could be NO divorce and remarriage without adultery. In Matthew 19:9 and 5:32, Jesus gives the only reason one may divorce and remarry. In the phrase “except for fornication”: “Except” means “if and only if.” There’s one and only one exception! This is it! “For” is a “marker of basis for an action” (BDAG 364). This can be the only basis! “Fornication” is the only basis/reason for divorce and must be that basis/reason.

Matthew’s Account Is the Only One That Discusses the “Exception for Fornication.” Jesus gave “fornication” as the only grounds for an innocent party to divorce & remarry. “Fornication” (from the Greek porneia) is a “generic” term: “every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse…sexual unfaithfulness” includes all sexual activity that is not between a husband & wife “Fornication/sexual immorality” must be taken very seriously! In order for an innocent party to have God’s approval to divorce and remarry: He/She must be an innocent party, not having committed fornication himself/herself. Fornication must be the actual reason/cause for taking the action of divorce. Fornication is not a reason/cause that can be applied later after a divorce.