A NEW LOOK AT DIVORCE

DIVORCE

 



"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery: and whoso marries her which is put away doth commit adultery."  Matt. 5:32

DIVORCE  apoluo, ap-ol-oo'-o  divorce:--(let) depart, dismiss, divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty.
divorce - put away - set free Matt. 5:32  as also in Matt. 19:6, 9 What God has joined together, (therefore God claims He brought the one to the other), let no man attempt to set free, for re-marriage is almost always being considered. This marriage as well as all marriages originated with God in the beginning and it was to be with a lifetime commitment. Why a lifetime commitment? To put the commitment in perspective eternal life also has no end. The man is being addressed, not the woman as far as the initiating the divorce to set her free; for God does not set one free from the commitment. His sin is adultery because he is joined to her; the one he divorced or set her free. His wife is not then allowed to marry another for God expects as in the case of Israel and Himself to eventually come back together. God being the Lord and Master of John 13:13 is the only One that can set a man or a woman free but He said it was for a lifetime. Another man marrying the divorcee commits adultery also because she is joined to the husband that she is to return to. God is not being considered by either of these males. He is the One they face in judgment.
Because of hardness of men's hearts is why He left only one reason for separation. The Greek word for allowing the separation is porneia porneuo, porn-yoo'-o; from G4204; to act the harlot, i.e. (lit.) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (fig.) practice idolatry:--commit (fornication). Israel being the harlot in God's case. But He takes her back and provides the way for her to return. God always seeks to restore as He has with Israel for thousands of years. And then it is for the sole purpose of restoration not remarriage to another one. His whole Bible is a story of restoration from sin to enjoy Him forever. His Son came to provide the method for return to Him and the cost was great costing His life.
Learn from Hosea and his wife Gomer. God told him to put her away til God had worked her to the point that He told Hosea to take her back. He sent Hosea after Gomer, and said, do what I do. He seeks the sinner, in order to restore.
"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety-and-nine, Are they not enough for Thee?
But the Shepherd made answer, This of Mine Has wandered away from Me,
And although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find My sheep." (Matt. 18:12-13)
He seeks the sinner He loves. He will make no terms with sin. He loves in spite of sin. Then begins Heaven's great movement, God's great enterprise, the quest for the sinner that has cut himself off from God. The one He wishes to marry and spend eternity with.
Oh, the music of it as it comes down the centuries, and sings its song in your heart, "God so loved the world."
True love and a marriage that lasts forever.