2. Old Testament Passages About MDR Genesis 2:24—One Man & One Woman For Life. This is the original teaching on marriage. Deut. 24:1-4—Divorce allowed for uncleanness (many believe this to be sexual immorality/fornication). This was allowed by God because of the hardness of the people’s heart. However, “from the beginning” it was not so (Mt. 19:7-8). Ezra 9-10—Those in unlawful marriages must repent to be right with God…and repentance means they must get out of the unscriptural marriage (Ezra. 10:3; Mt. 3:8). Malachi 2:16—God hates divorce. Why? From the beginning it was not so. It is against the will of God on marriage.

3. New Testament Passages on MDR Mt. 5:31-32; 19:1-12—The innocent party may divorce a mate guilty of fornication and be free to remarry. The guilty party may not remarry. Any divorce that occurs for unlawful reasons (other than fornication) demands that both people remain single and celibate or be reconciled to one another (1 Cor. 7:10-11). Luke 16:18—The fundamental teaching of Genesis 2:24 restated. No exception clause mentioned in this text. Mk. 10:11-12—If a husband or wife divorces their mate for unlawful reasons and marries another they are committing adultery. Rom. 7:1-4—A Lawful marriage lasts until death ends it. Jesus taught that marriage is only for this life (Mk. 12:24-25). When either mate in a lawful marriage dies, that ends the marriage bond

4. 1 Cor. 7:10-15 Don’t divorce! If you do those in an unlawful divorce have two options: remain single or be reconciled to one another. Don’t divorce a nonbeliever—you sanctify the marriage (12-14) What if a Christian departs. Don’t give up on Christ! You are bound to Christ. Does this mean you are loosed from your non- Christian mate? No.

5. Objections Answered Baptism washes away unholy unions. Baptism is not a cure all and it never washes away anything you are not willing to repent of in your life (Acts 2:38; 3:19). Example of Homosexual union. God laws on divorce only apply to Christians. Not true. Jesus said, “Whosever”. Marriage existed a long time before Christianity and its rules apply to anyone who enters into marriage.

6. Objections Answered Jesus’ statements on divorce were under the Old Law and do not apply to us. Luke 16:16 teaches us that from the point of John the Immerser forward New Testament principles were being laid down. Christians are taught to remain in whatever state they are in when they obey the gospel. This is a gross misuse of 1 Cor. 7:20. Logically then if you became a Christian and you were an axe murderer, rapist, pedophile or drunk you could remain in that state and pleasing to God.

7. Objections Answered Guilty part is free to remarry. No authority for this in New Testament. Violates the necessary inference of Mt. 19:9. God still binds them to the marriage covenant they made with God, even though their spouse is free to remarry. What if they are children involved in an unlawful marriage. Must you still divorce? Realize this argument is based solely on emotion. In the case of Ezra 9-10 there were children involved and God still commanded them to get out of their unlawful marriages.

8. Objections Answered No reason whatsoever for divorce. Clearly taught to be false by Jesus statement in Mt. 19:9. Divorce and remarry as many times as you like without any consequences. Clearly ignores everything God says about marriage, divorce, and remarriage.