Matt. 19:3-9 MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, REMARRIAGE & THE DIVORCED AND REMARRIED WHO WOULD COME TO GOD 1 Original lesson by Joe Price – Renamed with Additions & Revisions by Glendol McClure

 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? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 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. Matt. 19:3-9 2

 Marriage Instituted by God!  From the beginning!  Matt. 19:3-6; Gen. 2:18-24  The joining of a man & a woman!  Adam called his wife Eve – Gen. 3:20  Not Steve!  For Man’s benefit!  An “help meet for him” (KJV), Gen. 2:18  “a helper comparable to him” (NKJV)  God brought the woman to the man!  “…brought her to the man”  Gen. 2:21-23  For Life!  Matt. 19:5-6; Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2 Gen. 2:28-24 A Divine Institution from the Beginning 3

 One of the three Institutions ordained by God:  Marriage!  Matt. 19:3-9  Civil Government!  Rom. 13:1-7; Mark 12:17  The Lord’s Church!  Matt.16:18; Acts 20:28  Man has tampered with and corrupted God’s plan regarding all three!  Prov. 16:25; Isa. 55:8-9; Prov. 14:34 Gen. 2:28-24 A Divine Institution from the Beginning 4

 Godly Marriage is Honorable!  Heb 13:4 - (ASV) “Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”  One of the qualification of elders and deacons!  1 Tim. 3:2; 12; Titus1:6  All marriages are not honorable!  Society has disgraced and dishonored this institution of God!  1 Cor. 7:1-2; Mk. 6:14-19  Only marriages that meet God’s approval are honorable! Heb. 13:4 Marriage is Honorable! 5

THISTHIS Philip Herodias Not This Herod “every man have his OWN wife” “every woman have her OWN husband” God’s law would NOT join them! Matt. 19:9 - Mark 6:18 “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife” (Mark 6:17, 18). 1 Corinthians 7:2 Applied to Mark 6:17-18 “It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother Phillip’s wife” Mk. 6:

Who can divorce? Matt  “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.”  “For fornication” is the one and only exception allowed by Jesus for one to divorce (“put away”) their mate! 7

Matt Who can divorce? 8 "DIVORCE" HONORABLE DISHONORABLE EXCEPT (If & Only If) For FORNICATION Matt 5:32 Matt. 19:9 Personal Dislike Burns The Bread Can’t Get Along No Sexual Gratification Irreconcilable Differences etc. Only ONE Exception – “Except it be for fornication.”

 Only a Man and a Woman!  Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:3-6; Rom. 1:24-32  A man and woman who have never been married!  Matt. 19:4-5; Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:9, 28  One whose mate has died!  Rom. 7:3  One who put their mate away because of fornication by the mate!  Matt. 19:9  A man and woman reconciling a lawful marriage!  1 Cor. 7:11 Gen.2:24 Matt. 19:9 Heb.13:4 Rom. 7:3 1 Cor. 7:11 Who Does God Permit To Marry? 9

1 Cor. 7:17-24 THE DIVORCED AND REMARRIED WHO WOULD COME TO GOD 10

 “Can a person become a Christian if that person has been divorced and remarried?”  Yes, every sinner is saved who:  Believes in Jesus Christ!  Confesses faith before men!  Repents of past sins!  Baptized for the remission of sins!  Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38, 41; 8:35-38; 17:30; 22:16; Rom. 6:1-4; 10:9-10; Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:21 “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” Acts 2:21 WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED ? 11

 “What are the divorced and remarried to do who wish to be saved from their sins?”  If one’s divorce and remarriage violates the word of Christ, then he must repent of that sin, too!  Matt. 19:9 (Acts 10:34-35)  Two issues: 1) Was the remarriage God- approved? 2) What is repentance and what does it demand of the sinner? “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” Acts 2:21 THE REAL QUESTION 12

IS SIN! EVERY REMARRIAGE THAT VIOLATES MATTHEW 19:9… 13

Matthew 19:4-6 (5:32) Hebrews 13:4 Romans 7:1-3 Mark 10:11-12 SINFUL DIVORCE AND REMARRIAG E Marriage, ordained by God, is for life and is not to be sundered! Matt. 19:4-6 (Heb. 13:4) It is possible to live in adultery! Rom. 7:1-3; Col. 3:5-7 Sinful marriage or remarriage is committing adultery thus living in sin! Matt. 19:9; 5:32; Mark 10:

Acts 2: Acts 22:16 Acts 22:16 THE ADULTERER IS LOST & NEEDS SALVATION Sin must be washed away by the blood of Christ (Rom. 6:1-4)  Does baptism change the meaning of adultery, thus making it holy?  Or, does baptism remove the sin of adultery after repentance has taken place? (Eph. 4:17, 20-24) 15

Demands ending the present sin of adultery! 16 REPENTANCE

 “To change one’s mind”  Caused by godly sorrow!  Godly sorrow causes one to repent and do the opposite of what was being done! – Matt. 21:28-29  Fruit of repentance is to stop sinning!  Acts 26:20; Rev. 9:20-21  Repentance does not change the nature of sin!  1 Cor. 6:9-11 REPENT 17 Acts 17:30 2 Cor. 7: 9-10 Luke 3: 10-14

Giving permissio n to the divorced and remarried to remain in their sinful relation! 18 OBJECTIONS TO ENDING A SINFUL REMARRIAGE

 What is unclear? The sin of adultery? Matt. 19:9 Repentance of sins? Acts 26:20 What baptism cleanses? Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:1-3 What is expected after conversion? Rom. 6:4-6  If we cannot know, teach and obey the truth on this subject, how can we know, teach and obey the truth on any subject? (Eph. 5:17) 19 “The issue is not that black and white.”

One preacher who was questioned concludes “we can’t be sure.” Questions this preacher was asked:  Do you believe God’s law on marriage is universal in application to believers and unbelievers?  Do you believe one put away for the cause of fornication may scripturally remarry?  Do you believe repentance demands separation for those unscripturally married?  Do you believe 1 Corinthians 7:15 constitutes authority for one who is deserted by an unbeliever to be remarried? His reply in part: “I don’t know whether to envy or pity those who are so sure of themselves on this subject...I don’t want to appear rude, but I won’t be specifically answering your questions.” 20

Can we be “so sure” on these passages?  Amos 3:3 - “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  Matthew 5:20 - “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:3 - “…Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  Luke 13:3 - “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”  John 3:2 - “The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  John 3:3 - “...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:5 - “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” 21

Except when we come to “except”!  “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 22 Can be “so sure” on others, but not this one!

 Assumes divorced & remarried in Acts 2  Assumes every sin is specified in Acts 2  Based on silence, we could equally allow… Live-in partners to stay together Polygamists to stay together Same-sex marriages to stay together  Correct definition of repentance explains the same need of all sinners: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” Acts 2:38 23 “No one in Acts 2 was told to end their marriage, therefore, we should not do so today.”

 Stay unmarried or be reconciled - 1 Cor. 7:11  Israel was expected to “unscramble” sinful marriages - Ezra 9:1-2,14; 10:1-4, Even with children involved - Ezra 10:44  Sinners in Ephesus could “confess” and cease their sinful deeds - Acts 19:18-20 Every sinner must renounce all for Christ Luke 14:33 (9:23) “Eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake” Matt. 19:10-12 (25-26) 24 “We can’t unscramble the sins of the past; just go forward from here.”

 Apply this rationale to 1 Cor. 6:9-11  Context is of non-sinful conditions As God has distributed to each one - 7:17 Circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free A righteous marriage to unbeliever (7:12-14)  Keeping the commandments of God - 7:19 Cannot abide in the “calling” of adultery - vs. 20 (occupation, profession – way of life) Adulterer cannot “abide with God” while abiding in adultery - 7:24 25 “…abide in the same calling in which you were called” (1 Cor. 7:20)

Sin is Sin BEFORE & AFTER Baptism! MUST CEASE ALL SINFUL ACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS! Romans 6:1-23; Acts 2:38 If A Man Is A Car Thief Before, Can He Be a Car Thief After? If You Gamble & Drink Alcohol Before, Can You Gamble & Drink After? If You Are Living In Adultery Before, Relationship Is Adulterous After! 26

 Have your own wife, not another’s!  1 Cor. 7:2; Mk. 6:17-18 (Rom. 7:3)  Abimelech would have sinned had he touched Sarah, Abraham’s wife  Gen 20:3, 6-7, 14  Was God “forbidding marriage”?  No, He was forbidding a sinful marriage! 27 “This is forbidding marriage and commanding divorce.” (1 Tim. 4:3)

 New creatures in Christ must:  Put off the old man of sin  Put on the new man of righteousness  2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 3:5-10  Christians are joined to Christ  We cannot continue in sin and be united with Him – Rom. 6:1-6  Adulterers must cease their adulterous remarriage in order be saved… Repentance demands it! 28 The Divorced and Remarried Who Would Come to God