Study
on Divorce
a
sermon by james e. huffman
pastor,
Christ's Church
Let's
take this subject a verse at a time as we work our way through the scriptures,
seeing what is actually said about 'divorce'
referencing the original languages.
We
start in Deuteronomy 24:
Deuteronomy 24:1 When
a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no
favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him
write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of
his house.
2. And when she is departed out of
his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
The
first concept that presents a challenge is that of "found some uncleanness
in her:" Okay, here's the Hebrew word
translated 'uncleanness.'
We
must also identify the word, "divorcement." twtyrk
K@riythuwth (ker-ee-thooth'); Noun Feminine,
Strong #: 3748 divorce, dismissal, divorcement Anyway,
it says that if some guy decides he has found "nakedness,
indecency, improper behaviour…" in
his wife and therefore she "find(s) no favour in his eyes," he
can divorce her and she can "go and be another man's
wife." I
don't ever remember that being a text for a sermon on divorce! Jesus
was in a dialogue where the Pharisees were trying to trap Him with word
games when He parried with the following: |
Matthew
28.
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart.
31.
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing
of divorcement:
32.
But I say unto you, That 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.
So,
what is this thing called "adultery?"
|
moiceuvw
Moicheuo (moy-khyoo'-o); Moi,
as anyone the least bit familiar with French knows, refers to me
or I.
Moichos
is always translated 'adultery' but has a root meaning of the
chaotic me, or me
in chaos or turmoil. |
The
chaotic me,
or me in chaos or turmoil! Now that is powerful and places a greatly
different perspective on the origins of the word translated 'adultery.'
It
is important to keep in mind that the scriptures using these words were
accusatory and very culturally derived. As you have seen from the scriptures, the stigma was attached to the
woman.
Women
were property. It's
no wonder to me that fundamentalists demand that only men are the interpreters
of the Word…preachers, pastors, clerics, etc., whatever the title, whatever
the religion. I've noticed the tendency of Muslim fundamentalists, Christian
fundamentalists, Hindu fundamentalists, you name it, to have a separate set of
rights for men and boys, while holding mere platitudes for women.
The
Bible was written in such a culture. The Apostle Paul wasn't woman-friendly, as
is evident in his writings. He even held to the theory that marriage was
inferior to remaining single. (1 Corinthians 7:7-40 is printed at
the end of this document if you wish to reference it at this point.)
It is
very important to understand the culture of the people groups to whom various
parts of the Bible was written.
Luke
16:17.
It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a
pen to drop out of the Law.
It is
easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to
drop out of the Law.
All
of heaven and earth was shaken to the foundations of eternity when Jesus took
death, hell and the grave captive. The
Law of Moses was conquered! Grace was brought to all mankind! Equality was
established in Christ Jesus.
So
where does this put us in our discussion of divorce, adultery, etc.?
Divorce
is terrible but was never sin. Moses did establish it because of the hardness of
men's hearts. There were occasions
where it was necessary but sometimes it was just that a man didn't
like his wife.
Those
were times when it was perfectly acceptable for a man to have multiple wives and
to have sex with their wives' female servants. Yes, even those men of whom it
was said that they were "a man
after God'
But,
just let a woman have any other interest and she was promptly led out of the
city and killed by the priests and leaders of the community.
There
were very few sexual taboos for men and there were no limits upon the number of
wives he could have. A wife could have only one husband and he could keep her or
get rid of her as he chose.
She
was thus identified to the community as divorced, the absolute inference being
that whatever the cause of her husband divorcing her, it was her fault and she
wasn't to be acceptable property for any other.
That
was the law of Jesus day. Only His death and resurrection could change these
things. While Greek and then Roman law had brought some degree of variance to
the old Jewish practices, the law of Moses was still the law of righteousness
and the standard of the
The
only ones to whom the actual, original intent of the word adultery (individual
in turmoil and chaos) applied under those religious ideologies of Judaism and
the fundamentalism of today are women.
While
Muslim and Hindu fundamentalists will still kill the women… Christians will
merely ostracize them!
That
is not the God of Grace and Mercy and Justice that we now have access to through
the blood of Jesus Christ.
"…all
are one in Christ Jesus."
Of
course you know that I am not among those who claim to be Biblical Literalists.
I believe the Bible was written, and Jesus taught, largely in parables,
allegories, and oral narrative for the purpose of revealing God's plan for
humanity.
That
His plan was repeatedly thwarted, suppressed, twisted and maliciously applied is
evident as we read the Bible. I challenge anyone to read the Book of Judges and
explain how that portrays the image of the coming Christ, or the foreshadowing
of the Church - the Body of Christ. Nor can much better be said of the actions
of David, Elijah, etc.
Nope,
I will stick with the end product being a narrative of God's dealings with
mankind leading to the Redemption of our sinful nature through His Grace and
that wonderful Grace bringing forgiveness and healing for each and every hurt
and all wrongs!
It
is better for some to be divorced! It is better for some to remarry! It is
sinful for a man to be abusive to his wife and it is wrong for a 'church' to
condemn or ostracize a woman for leaving an abusive husband for her safety and
emotional/spiritual/mental well-being!
Any
minister or church that would protect and justify a man who is abusive to his
wife ought to be removed from office and shut down!
What
I see repeatedly through scripture is God's love for the defenseless and
oppressed. I also see His disgust with the religiosity of man.
If
churches are serious about wanting to cut down on the rate of divorce, they need
to start teaching and demanding that love and respect be the absolute rule for
everyone, without categorical exceptions.
Scripture
references referred to, but not printed in the Study on Divorce.
Matthew
19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto
him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4.
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at
the beginning made them male and female,
5.
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave
to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6.
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined
together, let not man put asunder.
7.
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement,
and to put her away?
8.
He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to
put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9.
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for
fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth
her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10.
His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is
not good to marry.
Mark
10:2
And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away
his wife? tempting him.
3.
And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
4.
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her
away.
5.
And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote
you this precept.
6.
But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8.
And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one
flesh.
9.
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
10.
And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
11.
And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another,
committeth adultery against her.
12.
And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she
committeth adultery.
Luke
17.
It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a
pen to drop out of the Law.
18.
"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery,
and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
I
Corinthians 7:7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift
from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8.
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay
unmarried, as I am.
9.
But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to
marry than to burn with passion.
10.
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not
separate from her husband.
11.
But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.
And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12.
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a
believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13.
And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live
with her, she must not divorce him.
14.
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the
unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise
your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15.
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not
bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
16.
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know,
husband, whether you will save your wife?
17.
Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to
him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the
churches.
25.
Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one
who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
26.
Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you
are.
27.
Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a
wife.
28.
But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not
sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to
spare you this.
29.
What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have
wives should live as if they had none;
30.
those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not;
those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;
31.
those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this
world in its present form is passing away.
32.
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about
the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord.
33.
But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can
please his wife--
34.
and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about
the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and
spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how
she can please her husband.
35.
I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live
in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36.
If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and
if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as
he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
37.
But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no
compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not
to marry the virgin--this man also does the right thing.
38.
So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her
does even better.
39.
A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies,
she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
40.
In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too
have the Spirit of God.