Why God Hates Divorce Malachi 2:14-16; Mark 10:2-12 Part 2

2 Not from God, Mk. 10:2-12 Not from God, Mk. 10:2-12 – God hates the treacherous treatment of wives – Law of Moses regulated divorce due to hardened hearts, Matt. 19:7-9 (5:31); Deut. 24:1-4

3 Moses is contrasted with Jesus, Matt. 19:7-9 Moses is contrasted with Jesus, Matt. 19:7-9 Whoever sunders what God has joined together faces eternal wrath, Heb. 13:4 Whoever sunders what God has joined together faces eternal wrath, Heb. 13:4

4 Why God Hates Divorce Violate marriage vow, Mal. 2:14-16 Violate marriage vow, Mal. 2:14-16 – Lessens the sanctity of the marriage vow, Eccl. 5:4-5 – Oath & covenant, Ezek. 16:8, 15, 32, 59 (Prov. 2:17; Mal. 2:14)

5 Marriage Vows (Eccl. 5:5; Prov. 20:25) Do you, ______, take this woman whose hand you now hold to be your lawful and wedded wife? Do you promise to love and cherish her in sickness and in health, and to provide for her in prosperity and adversity, to be faithful to her, and forsaking all others, cleave unto her and to her alone until death you do part?

6 Do you, ______, take this man whose hand you now hold to be your lawful and wedded husband, and pledge to do by him the part of the faithful wife? Do you promise to love and honor him in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity, to be faithful to him, and forsaking all others, cleave unto him and to him alone until death you do part? Marriage Vows (Eccl. 5:5; Prov. 20:25)

7 “With this ring I thee wed, will all my goods I thee endow, my name, my heart, my life, my all, and I promise you, your faithful husband to ever be, until death we do part.” “With this ring I thee wed, will all my goods I thee endow, my name, my heart, my life, my all, and I promise you, your faithful husband to ever be, until death we do part.” “With this ring I thee wed, and pledge to you, the loyalty of my life, the love of my heart, and the devotion of my soul, and I promise you, your faithful wife to ever be, until death we do part.” “With this ring I thee wed, and pledge to you, the loyalty of my life, the love of my heart, and the devotion of my soul, and I promise you, your faithful wife to ever be, until death we do part.” Marriage Vows (Eccl. 5:5; Prov. 20:25)

8 Why God Hates Divorce Violates marriage vow, Mal. 2:14-16 Violates marriage vow, Mal. 2:14-16 – Downplays sanctity of marriage vow, Eccl. 5:4-5 – Oath & covenant, Ezek. 16:8, 15, 32, 59 (Prov. 2:17; Mal. 2:14) – God is involved; Obligation before God and to God (Rom. 7:2)

9 Why God Hates Divorce Defiles what God loves, Mal. 2:10-12 Defiles what God loves, Mal. 2:10-12 – God loves marriage, Gen. 2:18 – Sundering it insults God, Heb. 13:4

10 Why God Hates Divorce Consequences, Rom. 7:2-3 Consequences, Rom. 7:2-3 – To the spouse, Mal. 2:13 Spiritual trauma (Matt. 5:32; 1 Cor. 7:11) Spiritual trauma (Matt. 5:32; 1 Cor. 7:11) Emotional trauma Emotional trauma Financial trauma Financial trauma

11 Why God Hates Divorce Consequences, Rom. 7:2-3 Consequences, Rom. 7:2-3 – To the family (Eph. 6:1-2, 4) – To the local church, 1 Cor. 3:16-17 (Matt. 18:6-7; 1 Pet. 2:11-12; Titus 2:5, 7-8) – To oneself, Matt. 19:12 (5:16)

Destroys children, Ezek. 16:20-21 Destroys children, Ezek. 16:20-21 – “Passed through the fire” – Distorts & retards development – Safety & security of family – Hindrance & provocation, Matt. 18:6; Col. 3:21 Why God Hates Divorce

13 Honor Marriage Permanency of marriage Permanency of marriage God hates divorce God hates divorce Cannot destroy what God ordains, blesses, loves & honors without judgment Cannot destroy what God ordains, blesses, loves & honors without judgment Save marriages Save marriages Put God first, Matt. 19:27-29; 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23 Put God first, Matt. 19:27-29; 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23