What Does The Bible Say?
Question: What does the Bible say about divorce?
Answer: The Bible is very clear about what the Lord thinks about divorce. In Malachi 2:16, it says, “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce for it covers one’s garment with violence…. Therefore, take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” In Matthew 19:9- Jesus teaches that the only type of divorce that is acceptable is for the cause of sexual unfaithfulness (one party cheating on the other one by having sexual relations with someone else (adultery)— “I say unto you, whoever divorces his wife, save for the cause of fornication, and married another, commits adultery and he who marries here who is put away commits adultery.” According to the latest surveys taken, 39% of men who pursued divorce regret doing so. Divorce affects health, happiness, lifestyle and outlook on life. Those who are divorced are more prone to many challenges, including clinical depression. It is no wonder that God hates it. Divorce also severely affects children academically, socially, in adapting to change, emotional health, self-esteem issues and feelings of guilt. The effects of divorce have a ripple effect on families for generations.
God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman for life. (Romans 7:2- “…a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as they both shall live, but if he dies, she is released from the bond of marriage.” In Matthew 5:31-32- “whoever divorces his wife except for the cause of fornication causes her to commit adultery and whoever marries the one who is divorced commits adultery.
Many people think that divorce will resolve all problems in relationships because they believe they are “getting rid of the person.” Nothing could be further from the truth. You will still have contact for matters such as alimony and child support (if the couple has children). Visitation with the children and working things out with who gets the kids and who gets the division of properties will continue to bring you in contact and the courts will want you to reach a “resolution” on the particulars of the divorce. If you do not, then the courts and the lawyers will continue to make money and you will not. How much better it would be to work on settling your marriage issues with the one you chose to be your spouse for life. The same patience and unselfishness will be required to do that as there is for resolving custody and money issues and it will not cost you time, frustration and a life of conflict and your kids will be much better off if mom and dad work together to resolve conflict between themselves.
Divorce is a 12-billion-dollar industry in this country. The damage done by it is well-documented. God wants people to work at building a godly home and that demands that they understand what God says about the relationships between husbands and wives. Husbands are to love their wives; wives are to love and submit to the authority of their husbands. Children are to honor their parents and obey them. All couples are to leave father and mother and cleave to one another. Godly homes are homes where a lot of maintenance work is continually done. Commitment to one another and remembering your commitment to God in your marriage helps to sustain it. All married couples need to remember that after they are married, they do not get to go shopping for other prospects and do not need to behave in seductive, flirty ways with others. Honor marriage and God by loving your own husband or wife. If you are struggling in your marriage, contact someone who can help you maintain your marriage. We will do all we can to lead you to God’s solutions.
Please address all questions and comments to What does the Bible Say> C/O Maple St. Church of Christ, PO Box 3086, Liberty, TX 77575 and visit our website, maplestreetliberty.org