What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?

Are you worried about your divorce and remarriage? Here are the best solutions. Divorce and remarriage are matters of great sensitivity. Both these are personal as well as complex topics. If someone gets it incorrectly, he or she can have massive consequences. The results can be complicated particularly for a woman if she is trapped in an abusive or unsafe relationship. Divorce is the most difficult decision that one takes in life. When someone takes it in the wrong way it can bring shame and infamy upon the name of Christ. Elders and Pastors therefore have a responsibility to fully know what the Bible says about divorce and remarriage. They have to teach, counsel, lead, cor, etc. ct, and discipline their people according to the teachings of laws.

In this article, we will learn about various perspectives on divorce and remarriage as outlined in the Scriptures.

What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?

In many verses of the Bible, it is clearly said that God hates divorce. Divorce is a subject of great discussion in the Bible, with principles and teachings that offer guidance to believers. God hates divorce. He hates it because it involves unfaithfulness. Divorced couples show disloyalty to the solemn contracts of marriage. Divorce is disliked by God because it brings harmful consequences to those partners and their children (In Matthew 19:6, Jesus reaffirms this by stating, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” In another verse the Bible says

“For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” Malachi 2:16

What Does the Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage?

The Bible addresses the topic of remarriage. The Bible follows divorce with discernment and caution. In some cases, divorce is recognized as a reality of remarriage. Remarriage is approached with consideration for God’s intention for marriage. In Mark 10:11-12, Jesus underscores remarriage after divorce, stating,

“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her”

The Bible says that someone who divorces a woman commits adultery. As in the following verses it is mentioned.

“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”Matthew 19:9

Many verses describe divorce in detail. Such as

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

and said, ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

Christian Divorce

Divorce may be a universal fact of life in our culture, but for many Christians splitting marriages presents a moral dilemma. They stay t in unhealthy and even harmful marriages for the sake of a covenant and vow. Many of them act against their beliefs and seek a divorce. The sharp choices can leave Christians in a kind of limbo. They may no longer feel committed to an irreparable marriage. They are unable to take that step towards a new life. A lot of Christians face many challenges in getting a divorce. Some questions come to the mind of every Christian when they are thinking about divorce.

• Are there any critical circumstances that allow Christians to divorce?
• Are they pushing themselves to hell?
• Are Christians sinning in thinking about divorce?
• Must they suffer through an unloving, disgusting marriage?

These are the questions that every Christian thinks before deciding about divorce.

Biblical Grounds for Divorce

The Bible provides specific examples where divorce may be allowed. Careful consideration and biblical principles are needed before divorce. Some biblical grounds allow you to divorce.

Addiction

Addiction will consume everything in its path if it is not treated. The addicted persons prefer alcohol or drugs over their marriage, children, and job. Such persons destroy the beauty of their relationship. At some stage, the spouse will have to make the difficult decision to protect themselves and their children. They declare the marriage irreversibly broken. Marriage is meant to be a lifelong joy bliss, not a sentence of life in a” cell” with an addicted spouse.

Abuse

We always think of physical abuse. Most often we forget it can be VEBAL and EMOTIONAL as well. Your spouse treats you one way in public, but another way behind closed doors or in loneliness? Does your spouse call you with bad names? He says belittle or bully you? These are a few examples of non-physical abuse. Wise couples will work to root out these problems. However continuous abuse can make a marriage unhealthy and unsafe. Repeated abuse harms a spouse physically or emotionally. It is a violation of the “oneness” that God intends for marriage. This abuse in married life surely leads to brokenness.

Adultery

Adultery is one breakdown Jesus significantly mentions. Adultery has destroyed marriages from ancient times to the present. Adultery is an unbearable truth that a spouse cannot accept. It is the biggest cause of marriage breakdown. In the condition of adultery, the bible allows a spouse to part their way as a result of divorce.

 Abandonment

Finally, divorce can be a result of abandonment. Abandonment can be physical or emotional too. If one spouse has checked out of their marriage vows the spouse isn’t required to stay committed to their vows. Therefore the blessing of marriage turns out to be a curse. When a marital partnership dissolves it feels like an empty shell that denies God’s vision of “oneness.” If you are feeling alone in your marriage despite your best efforts but your divisive issues are not resolving, it may be a matter of great consideration whether your spouse has abandoned his or her duty to be “one” with you. God established marriage to be a blessing but often it turns into an unbearable burden. That isn’t part of God’s design. There are Biblical grounds for divorce when the oneness of marriage has broken down and ignored completely. If you are a Christian and going through an unhealthy or unsafe marriage, consider consulting with a family attorney. A family attorney will share your faith. A Christian attorney will guide you to explore your options. It will help you not only from a faith perspective but also a legal standpoint as well. The complexities of divorce and remarriage demand careful reflection on biblical principles. Divorce is a painful reality for many, Christians are called to approach it with dignity. Following God’s guidance and honoring the sanctity of marriage is crucial. The study of the Scriptures and finding support from their faith community will help them to decide on divorce and re-marriage with faith grace dignity and integrity.