Restoring God’s Plan for the Family (8). What is God’s Will on Divorce?
Last week, we talked about how divorce is not lawful. Divorce was not an option from the very beginning when God created man and woman. However, the Pharisees — who were testing the authority of Jesus — posed another question: “Why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Rev. Jeremiah Cheung continues to expound on the dialogue in Matthew 19:7-10 to help us uncover God’s will on divorce.
by Rev. Jeremiah Cheung
Discussion questions
1. The Pharisees used Deuteronomy 24:1-4 to justify divorce. But if we look at the scripture passage carefully, these four verses were actually conditions for remarriage rather than permission for divorce. From these four verses, please point out the conditions for remarrying.
2. The Pharisees used Deuteronomy 24:1 to justify divorce, saying that as along as a man can find something indecent with his wife he may divorce her. What is the real meaning of indecent? (Please refer to Deut 23:12-14) How did the Pharisees erroneously interpret the Bible? Why did they interpret the Bible in that way?
3. Jesus said: “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” Why did Moses allow the Jews the option of divorce? If they were not allowed to divorce, what would be the result?
4. Jesus told the Jews, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” This tells us that divorce is permissible when there is adultery. Why is this so?
5. Why is it that when a person marries someone who had committed adultery then he/she also commits adultery? If someone took part in another person’s sin, what advice can you give him/her?