Biblical Answer

The Problem of Divorce in the Old Testament

The Old Testament presents a complex picture of divorce, with both explicit prohibitions and implicit allowances. Deuteronomy 22:13-21 and 28-30 explicitly forbid certain types of divorce, while Moses' provision for divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 suggests that it was not entirely forbidden. This nuance is further complicated by the fact that Jesus and Paul recognized that the ideal of lifelong marriage was not always met, and thus made provision for divorce in certain circumstances.

God's Permissive Role in Divorce

Jesus himself attributed the allowance of divorce in the Old Testament to the hardness of the human heart (Matthew 19:8-9). This suggests that God permits divorce as a concession to human frailty, rather than as an expression of His will. Similarly, the Old Testament passage in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 does not command divorce, but rather sets up guidelines for its occurrence. This permissive role of God in divorce is further underscored by the fact that the Old Testament itself condemns divorce as a form of violence (Malachi 2:16).

The Ideal of Lifelong Marriage

Despite the allowance of divorce in certain circumstances, the ideal of lifelong marriage remains a central theme in the Old Testament. Jesus taught that God instituted marriage so that the two should become one flesh, and that divorce is only permitted in cases of adultery (Matthew 19:3-9). This ideal is further emphasized by the fact that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), and that Christians are not permitted to initiate divorce themselves, even if an unbelieving spouse does so (1 Corinthians 7:10-11). In this sense, the allowance of divorce in the Old Testament is seen as a concession to human frailty, rather than as an expression of God's will.