Matt. 19:9

INTRODUCTION: MDR CONTROVERSY A. Many Different Views Arising B. Division Occurring, Lines Drawn C. Attempts To Appeal To Scriptures BUT WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY?

I. MATTHEW 19:9 “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery..” A. Except = Saving, Only, But (Mt. 14:17) B. For = On Account Of, On Ground Of, Upon, In Connection With. Fish “AT thy word” (Lk. 5:5) Healed “BY faith” (Acts 3:16) Persecution “ABOUT Stephen” (Ax 11:19). IF NO FORNICATION, HOW CAN DIVORCE BE “FOR” IT?

I. MATTHEW 19:9 Whenever fornication takes place, the innocent can put away and then remarry. (Weldon Warnock, Bill Cavender, Bill Reeves) If one divorces in order to commit fornication, then the innocent put away one can put away and remarry. (Tim Haile) “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery..”

II. 1 CORINTHIANS 7:10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. A. Same Rule As Matt. 19:9! NO PERMISSION FOR MARRIAGE TO ANOTHER HERE! B. “Depart” Is Passive Voice, I.E. “to be left”. Do not passively allow yourself to be divorced! (Cf. baptism Mk. 16:16) C. If Fornication Not Known – What Options? “Remain Unmarried Or Reconciled”.

II. 1 CORINTHIANS 7:10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. NO PERMISSION FOR MARRIAGE TO ANOTHER HERE! Whenever fornication takes place, the innocent can put away and then remarry. (Weldon Warnock, Bill Cavender, Bill Reeves) If one divorces in order to commit fornication, then the innocent put away one can put away and remarry. (Tim Haile)

II. 1 CORINTHIANS 7:10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. WHERE IS THE AUTHORITY FOR THIS? Do not divorce, nevertheless some circumstances might necessitate a woman leaving her husband, thus “let her remain unmarried”... For example, woman puts away husband for selling cocaine… (Mike Willis)

CONCLUSION: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). Life Is Not Always Fair, But This Life Is Also Temporary! 1. The rule is: No divorce. 2. One Exception: EXCEPT for fornication. 3. Do not be passive & allow a divorce – it will have far reaching consequences If you are put away, then remain unmarried or be reconciled.