1. Welcome to the Open Study Series of the South Livingston church of Christ Subject for tonight: Divorce & Remarriage Lesson 1Introduction: From Creation to Jesus

2. God’s Will Stated From Beginning

3. Genesis 2:18-24 18 And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him... 21 And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: 22 and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

4. God’s Will Summarized * One Man * One Woman * Become One Flesh * Marriage Made For Permanence Divorce & Remarriage Is Not God’s Desire - Rule Opposes It

5. Man Corrupted God’s Will Bigamy (Gen. 4:19) Wife offered (Gen. 12:10-20) Maid (Gen. 16:1-3) Daughters offered (Gen. 19:8) Concubines (Gen. 22:24) By end of Genesis, God’s will very different from man’s practice

6. But God’s Will Was Not Abandoned

7. Matthew 19:3-6 - Jesus Reaffirms It 3 And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

8. Matthew 19:7-9 - Argued & Reaffirmed 7 They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.

9. Observations on Matthew 19 Question asked dealt with “cause” Jesus answered with God’s will as stated in Genesis 2 Pharisees sought looser law of Deuteronomy 24 Jesus said that law was given due to hardness of hearts Original will restated & reinstated

10. What Did Deuteronomy 24 Teach?

11. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 1 When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife; 4 her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Jehovah: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

12. What Did This Law Accomplish? Not initiate practice, but limited it –without it, men dismissed wives at will –women were pawns without recourse Cause limited to “unseemly thing” –KJV: “Some uncleanness” Made man consider action seriously since he could never have her back Intended as “tutor” (Gal 3:24)

13. “Unseemly Thing” of Deut.24 What Was It? Such practices that lead to adultery as noted in Proverbs 7:6-27 –immodest dress –chronic absence from home –kiss, flatter or seduction of another Ancient Jews saw this ground if: –woman spoke secretly with man after warning was given –woman exposed her uncovered head, wore torn clothes or other exposure

14. “Unseemly Thing” Was NOT Adultery One committing adultery was put to death (Lev. 20:10) If no witness and only suspected, law of jealousy (Num. 5:11-31) –not optional, but commanded –if innocent, nothing happened –if guilty, body swelled & thigh fell off (suggests her dying) –even if lived, provable case existed

15. No Remarried Fornicator In Deuteronomy 24 Important to Remember

16. Deuteronomy 24 Was Abused ^ Expanded to any and every cause (See Cyclopedia, McClintock & Strong, “Divorce” & “Marriage”) ^ Mishnah notes differences between schools of Hillel & Shammai ^ Malachi 2:13-16 confirms abuse ^ Matthew 5 & 19 deal with situation where abuse was present

17. But Abuse Did Not Negate Law

18. All Divorce & Remarriage Still Governed by Law Man could not remarry wife after putting away (Deut. 24:1-4) Woman could not remarry husband after put away (Deut. 24:1-4) Man could not put away wife if he falsely accused (Deut. 22:13-19) Man must marry & could not put away one raped (Deut. 22:28-29) Priest could not marry one put away (Lev. 21:7, 13-14) No unlawful marriage to continue (Ezra 10:1-4)

19. Principle Inconsistent With View... è One not in marriage is marriageable è No difference between put away & never married è One always has right to divorce è All existing marriages must be maintained WHY? Divorced people remain under constraint of law!

20. Introduction of Christ’s Law Sermon on the Mount: New Law Announced

21. Setting the Context In Matthew 4:17Kingdom of heaven at hand 4:23Preached gospel of kingdom 4:23fMiracles confirm message 4:17To fulfill law & prophets 5:21f“But I say unto you…” 7:21f“Not all who say to Me...” 7:24f“These words of Mine” 7:28fMultitudes saw difference

22. Inherent Authority of Jesus Asserted

23. Contrast of Laws in Matthew 5

24. Contrast Is Between... * Old Law & New Law ^ Nature of Law = Nature of Kingdom * Carnal Kingdom & Spiritual Kingdom ^Point where violation is judged differs ^Not protected or advanced same way * Distinction in Kingdoms Is Key ^ Difference in attitude noted briefly ^ But nature of kingdoms is emphasis

25. Law of Gospel Announced by Christ in Advance of Taking Effect Next Week: Teaching of Jesus Examined More Closely