Understanding The Issue Matthew 19:3-9

Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Matthew 19:3 Question  KJV “for every cause”  ASV “for every cause”  NKJV “for just any reason”  NASB “for any reason at all”  NIV “for any and every reason”  ESV “for any cause”

The Answer of Jesus Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery

The Answer of Jesus Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery

Where Is The Re-marriage? And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery

Exception Allows Re-marriage And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery

Matthew 19:9 Exception  KJV “fornication”  ASV “fornication”  NKJV “sexual immorality”  ESV “sexual immorality”  NASB “immorality”  NIV “marital unfaithfulness”

Definition (Webster) Human sexual intercourse other than between a man and his wife : sexual intercourse between a spouse and an unmarried person : sexual intercourse between unmarried people--used in some translations…of the Bible…for unchastity…or immorality…to cover all sexual intercourse except between husband and wife or concubine

Definition (Thayer) PORNEIA Illicit sexual intercourse: from 1 Cor. 6:12, we learn how leniently converts among the heathen regarded this vice and how lightly they indulged in it

Definition (Arndt & Gingrich) PORNEIA prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse

What about the question in Matthew 19:3?  Is it lawful for every cause? The answer of Jesus was (and is): “No”

What about…….?  I’m not happy  Mate is a slob  Won’t provide  Is abusive  I don’t love him/her anymore  In the way   Can’t get along   Go home to Mama   Change in appearance   Immature   Hasn’t grown with me   Has different interests   Selfish

What about…….?  I’m not happy  Mate is a slob  Won’t provide  Is abusive  I don’t love him/her anymore  In the way   Can’t get along   Go home to Mama   Change in appearance   Immature   Hasn’t grown with me   Has different interests   Selfish Jesus said, “except it be for fornication”

What Is Marriage?  Private agreement  Public acknowledgement  Joining together

What Is Divorce?  Private problem  Public acknowledgement  Marriage severed

Comparison Marriage Private Public Joined Divorce Private Public Severed

Positions in Debate Fornication Divorce Innocent party may re-marry Divorce Fornication Innocent party may re-marry

Positions in Debate Fornication Divorce Innocent party may re-marry Divorce Fornication Innocent party may re-marry

Where Does It Occur? Divorce MarriedSingleEngagedSingle Fornication

Where Does It Occur? Divorce MarriedSingleEngagedSingle Fornication

The Application Of Matt. 19:9  Divorce w/o exception is not approved  Re-marriage w/o exception is not approved  The exception (fornication) only allows divorce and re-marriage for the innocent party

Matthew 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it

Matthew 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it