Biblical Answer

Divorce in the Bible

The Bible presents a clear and consistent view on divorce. Christ taught that God's original intent was for marriage to be a lifelong commitment (Matt. 19:4-6). This is reinforced by Moses' words in Deuteronomy, where he allowed divorce only in cases of unchastity (Deut. 24:1-4). However, even in these cases, the intention was not to allow for easy divorce, but rather to provide a safeguard for the innocent party (Deut. 22:13-21, 28-30).

The New Testament reinforces this view, with Jesus and Paul affirming that divorce is forbidden, and remarriage after divorce is not allowed (Matt. 5:31-32, 19:3-9; 1 Cor. 7:10-11). The Pharisees, who sought to justify divorce, were met with a stern warning from Christ that God hates divorce because it is a form of violence (Mal. 2:16). While the Bible does make some exceptions to the general prohibition of divorce, such as when a Christian is married to an unbelieving spouse, God never allows Christians to initiate divorce themselves (1 Cor. 7:15).

In conclusion, the Bible presents a clear and consistent view on divorce, emphasizing the importance of a lifelong commitment in marriage. While there may be exceptional cases where divorce is permitted, these exceptions are not intended to allow for easy divorce, but rather to provide a safeguard for the innocent party. As Christians, we are called to be faithful in our marriages, and to seek to live out God's original intent for marriage, which is a lifelong commitment of love and loyalty between a man and a woman.