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 one that 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 ripple through families for generations.
God intended for marriage to be one man, 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 5:3132- “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.
Divorce is a 12-billion-dollar industry in this country. The damage it causes 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 help sustain your marriage. 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.
Do not be deceived by thinking that divorce will give you less time and less pressure with the spouse you are divorcing from. Perhaps if people would spend the time and money spent on divorce, into mending and sustaining the marriage, everyone would be better served and God would be better pleased.
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.