20/12/2010 - DIVORCE

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“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9)

Many things happen in our midst and yet they weren’t planned by God. One of them is the divorce which, by the way, has become a very common practice nowadays, but it shouldn’t be this way. Now, I’ll ask you this question: Is it a sin or not to get divorced? The answer to that is both “yes” and “no”, since it depends on the reason that caused a couple to break the marital commitment they made before the Lord.

It is important that you read the verses written before the one mentioned above so you can a broader view of this subject. Anyhow, it would be good if nobody ever used the exception to that rule allowed by our Master, I mean that specific case in which divorce’s allowed. In case of prostitution on the part of one of the spouses, it’s clear that the innocent part can use that exception after all how can anybody be tied up to someone who does not respect his/her marital vows and has been unfaithful so many times?

If our Master hadn’t said the following: “Except for prostitution”, divorce would never be allowed. So, when He said that He was pointing out to the fact that the betrayed part can effectively get the divorce. If there was no infidelity, whoever marries a divorcee commits adultery.

The worst thing spouses can do to each other is to be unfaithful because they sin against their soul mate since both are one sole flesh now. It’s clearly stated in the book of Proverbs chapter 6, from verse 32 to 36 what will happen to unfaithful spouses. I remember the first time I read those verses. I was a little boy and though I wasn’t able to understand the meaning of the word “betrayal” in marriage, I was impressed at that revelation and so I decided to say this prayer: “Father, I don’t want that in my life. Never let that to happen to me”.

The whole world, that lies under the sway of the wicked one (I John 5:19) makes jokes out of such an immoral and filthy practice. The worldly people tend to abuse those who have been cheated on by calling them “cuckold” as though they were to blame for the mistake their spouses made. Those who are unfaithful should take that adjective which disqualifies them because they didn’t keep their bodies and, therefore, they disregarded the presence of God which is strong enough against temptations. I’m absolutely certain that the Holy Spirit had done everything He could in order for that disastrous step to be avoided. The unfaithful person shook in fear at the first enticing look but then one day he/she started to give in until eventually they yielded, although the Heavens were shouting for them not to do that. Those who go deaf to the Heavenly warning will surely pay a high price!

So, in case of infidelity, and if love cannot overcome it, divorce is allowed based on the verse above. Yet, the best thing is that the unfaithful repent and that the betrayed spouse forgives!

In Christ, with love

R. R. Soares