Question:

Where does the assembly stand on divorce? When does Scripture say its OK? Matthew 5:32, Mark 10:4.

Question 27.1 is very interesting. “Where does the assembly stand on divorce?” The assembly accepts (or should accept) the Word of God concerning divorce, as it should on all other subjects. If we form a policy or doctrine of our own regarding any subject, that is error, even if it is based on Scripture. To follow the dictates on Scripture is our only prerogative. Hence, I would spend a few minutes considering the second part of that question: “When does Scripture say it is OK?” The question itself implies that the questioner thinks (or wants) the Word of God to put its approbation on divorce for some reason, or in some cases. This is wishful thinking, for there is absolutely no place in all of God’s Word that condones, approves, or otherwise accepts the thought of divorce. Let’s start by considering the two Scriptures referred to by the questioner.

In Mark 10, the Pharisees tempted our Lord with the question, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? (verse 2). Jesus’ response was, “What did Moses command you?” Their answer was the verse referred to, “Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement and put her away.” This demonstrated that they knew that divorce was not Jehovah’s idea, although there is no indication of His displeasure therein in the giving of the instructions as to “putting away” in Deuteronomy. And Jesus was emphatic in His assertion, verse 9, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” That God does not recognize divorce is evident from the explanation Jesus gave to His disciples in verses 11 and 12:for a divorced person to remarry another person constitutes adultery.

The portion in Matthew 5:32 goes even farther. It states, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” This simple statement reveals, not only that God does not accept or recognize the dissolution of a marriage (“whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery” indicates that the marriage really was not negated.), but also the attempt on man’s part to set aside the marriage makes the first marriage itself an adulterous situation. The setting aside the marriage bond makes that relationship an adulterous affair: the one put away is constituted an adulterer unless already one. It is impossible to cause one to become something he already is.

What, then, are our Lord’s instructions to us regarding divorce? What is His desire for those of His own who are married? One portion will suffice to show us the answer. First Corinthians 7:10, 11 reads, “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.” So God would that those who are married remain married until death separates them. We are told in Ephesians how the husband should love his wife, doing everything that he does for her to the glory of God, just as the Lord loved the church and gave Himself for it. And, in the same manner, the wife should subject herself to her husband just as she does to the Lord. The husband is not given any option if the relationship goes bad, but there is a provision for the wife. She is not to leave her husband, but if conditions get so bad that it is necessary for her to depart, she is to remain unmarried or to be reconciled to her husband. There is no Scriptural acceptance of divorce and remarriage. This may seem very rigid and unbending, but do we want to please our Lord and Savior, or do we want to decide our own morals apart from His directions? We could multiply Scriptures, but these are enough to clearly answer the question, and to show us the Lord’s mind on the subject, at least to my own satisfaction.

(For further information on this important and delicate subject, refer to Does Death Alone Break the Marriage Relation by F. C. Jennings and The Christian and Marriage by Paul L. Canner. These booklets may be obtained from Moments With the Book, P.O. Box 322, Bedford, PA 15522.—Ed.)