Biblical Answer

The Bible's Teaching on Divorce

The Bible's teaching on divorce is clear and consistent. Jesus taught that God's original intent was for marriage to be permanent (Matthew 19:4-6). However, He also made an exception for divorce in the case of unchastity (Matthew 5:31-32, 19:3-9). This exception is also supported by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:15, where he says that a Christian may accept a divorce initiated by an unbelieving spouse. However, God never allows Christians to initiate divorce themselves, even in the case of unchastity.

The Old Testament's Teaching on Divorce

The Old Testament also has a lot to say about divorce. In Deuteronomy 22:13-21, 28-30, divorce is explicitly forbidden in certain cases. For example, if a man marries a woman and then discovers that she is not a virgin, he is not allowed to divorce her. Similarly, if a woman is caught in adultery, she is not allowed to be divorced. Moses, Jesus, and Paul recognized that the ideal of a permanent marriage was not always met, and thus set up restrictions and safeguards to protect the rights of both men and women.

The Consequences of Divorce

The Bible views divorce as a tragic and difficult option. When God's directives are disregarded, people often find themselves in a no-win situation. Their initial sin has made it impossible to cleanse themselves with God's forgiveness. In Romans 2, Paul warns that rejecting God's teachings on divorce and remarriage risks God's wrath and anger. Marriage involves a lifelong commitment of a man to a woman, and any practice of divorce represents a reversal of God's will. As the prophet Malachi says, God opposes divorce very strongly, seeing it as a form of violence (Malachi 2:16). Therefore, divorce should not be taken lightly, and couples should seek to work through their problems and maintain their commitment to each other.