2. Marriage Divorce Remarriage
Matthew 19:3-9

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. Scholars are unable to determine
what the “uncleanness” is. It is
not adultery since that sin was
punishable with death (Deut. 22:22;
Lev. 20:10)
Pharisees are concerned with Deut. 24:1-4—the “uncleanness” and the “writing of divorcement”
Historical evidence shows the diversity of thought among Jews as to the cause (“uncleanness”)

6. Rabbi Shammai
“...he has found some unchastity in her, for it is written, ‘Because he hath found in her indecency in anything’”

7. Rabbi Hillel
“He may divorce her even if she spoiled a dish for him, for it is written, ‘Because he hath found in her indecency in anything’”

8. Rabbi Akiba
“find no favor in his eyes” meant that he had found another more favorable to him and could divorce the first for the second

9. The Answer of Jesus Matthew 19:4-6a
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

10. In The Beginning
Genesis 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them
Genesis 2:24: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh

11. What Is Marriage? Private agreement Public acknowledgement
Joining together (socially)
Betrothals (Matt. 2:18; Lk. 2:5)
Wedding feasts (Jn. 2:1-2; Matt. 25:10)

12. What Is Divorce? Using Deut. 24:1 as guide
“…it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes…”
“…then let him write her a bill of divorcement…”
“…send her out of his house…”

13. What Is Divorce? Private problem Public acknowledgement
She is publicly sent from the house

14. What about the question in Matthew 19:3?
Is it lawful for any cause? The answer of Jesus was:
“No”

15. What about the question in Matthew 19:3?
Wasn’t lawful in the beginning
Wasn’t lawful under Moses
Is not lawful under Christ

16. Jesus’ answer to the question in Matthew 19:3?
Not according to Rabbis
Goes back to the beginning
Offers one exception—for the cause of fornication (Matt. 19:9)

17. 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”

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. Definition (Webster)
Sexual intercourse between two persons other than a man and his wife : sexual intercourse between a spouse and an unmarried person

28. 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

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

30. Usage In New Testament
It is a sin (1 Cor. 6:9-11, 18; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19-21)
Transgression of law (1 Jn. 3:4)
New Testament reveals as:
Homosexuality (Jude 7)
Adultery (Matt. 19:9)
Pre-marital sex (1 Cor. 7:1-2)
Incest (1 Cor. 5:1-2)

31. 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

32. Jesus said, “except it be for fornication” 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

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

34. 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