Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mal 2:10-16  Again, the Jews displayed a willingness to repeat previous mistakes…commit the same sins  Despite Ezra having addressed this just 13 to 15 years earlier, intermarriage with pagans plagued the post-exilic Jews again

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mal 2:10-16  The remnant Jews were…  …“profaning the covenant of their fathers” v. 10  …“dealing treacherously with their brothers” v. 10  The situation Malachi had to address was jeopardizing the Jews’ “national distinction” of being God’s people

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mal 2:10-16  The Jews were also guilty of breaking the hearts of the wives they had put away (divorced) in order to marry the pagan women v. 13a  Tears “covering the altar” belonged to their wives  This also affected their worship v. 13b  Principle Ù an O.T. parallel to 1 Pet 3:7?

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mal 2:10-16  The Jews were in denial to Malachi’s preaching  The style of the entire prophecy indicates this  Technically called “Didactic-Dialectic” public speaking  An assertion (charge) is made…an objection is raised to that charge…evidence (proof) is given as support  Ten times this happens 1:2, 6, 7, 12, 13 2:14, 17 3:7, 8, 17

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mal 2:10-16  The Jews say to Malachi “For what reason?” was God no longer accepting their worship 2:14a  The proof was the putting away of their wives… labeled as “treacherous treatment” against the “wife of your youth” and “companion” and “wife by covenant” 2:14b

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mal 2:10-16  God’s role as “Witness” in marriage is an ageless principle for ALL marriages of ALL time  He does the joining Mt 19:6  He is an active Partner in the marriage  Any spouse treated unfairly suffers knowing God is fully aware of such treacherous behavior

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mal 2:10-16  2:15a has various good translations…determining exactly what is being said is difficult  The point from 2:15b is easier to determine  It is an exhortation to refrain from such treacherous treatment of one’s spouse

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mal 2:10-16  God’s own feelings are stated in 2:16  He “hates” putting away (divorce)  Such is “covering one’s garment with wrong”  Knowing how strongly He feels about this should have stopped divorce in both Ezra’s & Malachi’s day… and in our day, too!!

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure  As we prepare to examine N.T. passages, what have we learned from the O.T.?  The O.T. supported God’s original demands of marriage “from the beginning”  Yes…there was a “concession” because of hard hearts Deut 24 cp. Mt 19:8  Yet, the rule has always been the same

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mt 5:31-32  In this section of His Sermon On The Mount, Jesus is not correcting Moses as many believe and teach 5:28-42  He defends the Law 5:17-19 cp. Gal 3:21-24  The problem was shallow Jewish righteousness and “skewed” rabbinic interpretations 5:20

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mt 5:31-32  “You have heard it said…” refers to Deut 24  Another reference to the existence of rampant divorce among 1st century Jews  The prevailing doctrine Ù divorce was “okay” or “permissible” as long as the “legalities” were attended to (certificate of divorce written, put into the wife’s hand, and her being sent away) v. 31

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mt 5:31-32  “But I say to you…” re-establishes God’s original marriage law v. 32  Divorce leads to adultery  Remember…Deut 24 implied the 2nd marriage of the woman previously put way defiled her  Jesus actually states this truth  Jesus also states the 1 exception Ù fornication

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mt 5:31-32  “But I say to you…” re-establishes God’s original marriage law v. 32  It is also important to recognize the kind of divorce Jesus is discussing  Jesus’ mention of the exception forces us to conclude He is speaking of an unlawful divorce…one that was not for the cause of fornication

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mt 5:31-32  Jesus’ teaching assumes a situation most likely to occur Ù the woman’s subsequent remarriage  The 1st marriage had been put asunder for an unlawful reason  Any subsequent marriage would be adulterous and therefore not Divinely approved

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mt 5:31-32  “…makes her commit adultery” v. 32a  The 1st husband did not “make” her remarry  However, the 1st husband put his wife in a vulnerable position when putting her away unlawfully  She would likely do as most would…remarry  Thus, the nature of “stumbling blocks”…they help others toward sin cp. Mt 18:6-7 Lk 17:1-2

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mt 5:31-32  The divorce under consideration = UNLAWFUL (one not for the cause of fornication)  Obtaining a LAWFUL divorce would not “make her commit adultery”  Putting her away for fornication would not make her guilty of what she had already become…an adulteress

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject DIVORCE – A Testament To Failure Mt 5:31-32  A “3rd party” is also addressed v. 32b  Whoever subsequently marries the one unlawfully divorced would also be guilty of adultery  The PRINCIPLE is thus established…A put away (divorced) person can never marry another  The type of divorce (lawful or unlawful) does not matter

Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject