Biblical Answer

What did Jesus say about divorce?

#### Teaching on Divorce

Jesus taught that God's original intent for marriage was permanence. He emphasized that marriage is a lifelong commitment between a husband and wife. In Matthew 19:3-9, Jesus explains that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of people's hearts, but God's intention is for marriage to be a lifelong union between one man and one woman. This teaching is consistent with the Old Testament, where God's original intention for marriage is described as a lifelong commitment (Genesis 2:24).

#### Grounds for Divorce

Jesus taught that divorce is only permissible in the case of unfaithfulness. In Matthew 19:9, Jesus says, "Whoever divorces his wife, except for unfaithfulness, and marries another, commits adultery." This teaching is repeated in Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18. Jesus' hearers were shocked by the strictness of this teaching, indicating that Jesus was not compromising on the issue of divorce.

#### Exception for Unbelieving Spouses

In 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, Paul discusses the issue of divorce when married to an unbeliever. He quotes Jesus as saying, "A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes - but she will be happier if she stays single" (1 Corinthians 7:39). This passage suggests that Jesus allowed an exception for divorce in the case of an unbelieving spouse, but only if the believing spouse is not forced to continue the marriage against their will. However, Jesus' teaching on divorce is still clear: marriage is a lifelong commitment, and divorce should only be considered in the case of unfaithfulness.