Biblical Answer

What did Jesus say about divorce?

Jesus taught clearly that Gods original intent was permanence in marriage, and that divorce was not permitted except for unfaithfulness. This is evident in Matthew 19:3-9, where Jesus responded to a question from the Pharisees about divorce. They asked if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause, and Jesus replied that they had not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So then they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate (Matthew 19:4-6). Jesus then pointed out that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of their hearts, but that this was not Gods original intention (Matthew 19:8).

Jesus' teaching on divorce is uncompromising

Jesus' teaching on divorce is uncompromising, and he forbids divorce except on the ground of unchastity. This is evident in Matthew 5:31-32, where Jesus said that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery. Jesus also taught that even lust is adulterous, and that divorce contravenes Gods will (Matthew 5:27-32). In Matthew 19:9, Jesus suggested that sexual immorality was a basis for dissolving a marriage, and that a divorce only recognizes the dissolution that has already occurred.

Jesus' teaching on divorce is not permissive

It's also important to note that Jesus' teaching on divorce is not permissive, and that Christians today must take Jesus' words about the permanence of marriage seriously. While Jesus allowed an exception for sexual immorality, this does not mean that divorce is permissible for other reasons. Jesus' teaching on divorce is clear, and it emphasizes the importance of preserving the marriage relationship. As Jesus said, what God has joined together, let not man separate. This teaching is still relevant today, and it provides a clear guide for Christians who are dealing with issues of divorce and remarriage.