Biblical Answer

The Bible teaches that divorce is not God's original intention for marriage. In fact, Christ taught that God's original intent was permanence (Matthew 19:4-6). This is reinforced by the fact that marriage was created by God and is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). However, the Bible also recognizes that divorce is a reality and that God has made some exceptions to His general prohibition of divorce. In the Old Testament, divorce was explicitly forbidden in some cases (Deuteronomy 22:13-21, 28-30), and Jesus and Paul recognized that the ideal was not always met and thus set up restrictions and safeguards to protect the innocent.

One of the main exceptions to the prohibition of divorce is when an unbelieving spouse initiates divorce (1 Corinthians 7:15). In this case, a Christian may accept the divorce, but they are not to initiate it themselves. This exception is made because God recognizes that a Christian may be in a difficult situation and that sometimes divorce may be the best option. However, this exception is not a license for Christians to divorce their spouses at will. Rather, it is a provision for those who are in a situation where they are being forced to divorce. Additionally, Jesus taught that divorce is not allowed, except on the ground of unchastity (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9).

The Bible also teaches that divorce is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. In fact, God hates divorce because He sees it as a form of violence (Malachi 2:16). This is why Jesus taught that divorce represents a reversal of God's will (Matthew 19:4-6). Marriage is a lifelong commitment, and divorce should be seen as a last resort. The Bible teaches that Christians should strive to be faithful in their marriages and to work through difficulties together, rather than resorting to divorce. Ultimately, the Bible teaches that marriage is a sacred institution that reflects God's love and commitment to His people, and that divorce should be approached with caution and a deep sense of reverence for God's original intention.