1. Divorce & Remarriage Matthew 19:1-12

2. Divorce Harms Many 15 years AFTER divorce only 10% of children felt good about it The Effects of Divorce on America, Fagan & Rector, 2000

3. Divorce Harms Many The emotional effects of divorce can impact the child’s life for the next 3 decades The Effects of Divorce on America, Fagan & Rector, 2000

4. Divorce Harms Many Following divorce children are more likely to stop practicing their faith The Effects of Divorce on America, Fagan & Rector, 2000

5. Testing God Pharisees’ question by traditionPharisees’ question by tradition Jesus’ answer by the WordJesus’ answer by the Word

6. The Unhappy Marriage Divorce for “any cause?” (Deut. 24:1-4)Divorce for “any cause?” (Deut. 24:1-4) "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce

7. Beginning at the Beginning Marriage is God’s GlueMarriage is God’s Glue –God’s Covenant Divorce is Man’s KnifeDivorce is Man’s Knife

8. Proverbs 2:11,16,17 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you…16 To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words… 17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.

9. Matthew 5:32 "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

10. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

11. Permitted vs. Exceptional Permission by Moses for Hard hearts (3)

12. “The HEART of the matter is the heart IS the matter” the heart IS the matter”

13. Heart of the Matter Hardness is seen in: –Loose commitments (Matt. 19:8) –Weak faith (Mark 16:14)

14. Malachi 2:14-16 The LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

15. Malachi 2:14-16 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring.

16. Malachi 2:14-16 deal treacherously 15 Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

17. Malachi 2:14-16 "For the LORD God of Israel says that He HATES divorce

18. Malachi 2:14-16 For it covers one’s garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts.

19. Malachi 2:14-16 do not deal treacherously "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously."

20. Permitted vs. Exceptional Permission by Moses for Hard hearts (3) Exception by Jesus for Sexual Sin (9)

21. Living Single Exception by Jesus for Sexual Sin (9) The disciples hard conclusion (10) Jesus’ commendation of celibacy (11-12)

22. What if I’ve been divorced? Understand your sinfulness –"You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matt. 5:27-28 –1 Cor. 6:9-11—“such were some of you…”

23. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 fornicators adulterershomosexuals sodomitesDo you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

24. What if I’ve been divorced? Experience godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10) For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

25. What if I’ve been divorced? Confess the sin –1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

26. What if I’ve been divorced? Call on God’s grace –John 8:11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.“ –John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

27. What if I’ve been divorced? Choose righteousness –John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.“

28. What if I’ve been divorced? Choose righteousness –Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

29. What if I’ve been divorced? Choose righteousness –1 Peter 1:15-16 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."