Now is the time to make Corrections Regarding Marriage!

We don’t know why it is but it would seem that so many people are unwilling to see the truth regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage that is right before them. They seemingly are oblivious to this truth.

Is it hard to understand? We do know that there are aspects of divorce and remarriage that are somewhat difficult. However, for the most part, we believe that the truth is clear enough to be understood. Will we accept it or seek to either deny it or explain it away?

There are a number of passages of Scripture that refer to this subject, but notice only one of them. Jesus declared, “Whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9). Isn’t this clear? Isn’t it plain? It would seem that one needs “professional help” to misunderstand so many of these important passages of Scripture.

Who is Jesus referred to? The answer is “whoever” and this would include a professing Christian or a pagan. “His wife.” This would include a woman to whom a man is married, doesn’t it? “Immorality”? Most Greek lexicons will define this term as “unlawful sexual relations.” Is this hard to understand? “And marries another woman.” This would be a woman other than the original wife whom God has given. “Commits adultery”? Most lexicons will define this term as immoral sex with another. It refers to sexual  relations with a person who is not the wife (or husband). Is this hard to understand?

Yet we know that many people don’t understand it or refuse to accept it. It is clear. Yet there are literally millions of people who refuse to accept it. They divorce and remarry. I can’t look into their heart, but I assume that they either don’t believe Scripture (after all, some are total unbelievers). Or they push it out of their mind and heart and merrily go their way. Or they may have a strange belief that if they do enough good deeds or profess a belief in Jesus Christ, that somehow God will overlook their continual sin and immorality. They surely think that their second marriage is a way to find security, pleasure, or peace in this life. But does it—really?

Perhaps you are mentally challenged. Or maybe you are very young, so young that you don’t understand. Or it may be that you married again (committing adultery) before you came to Christ.  (I’m sorry to confuse you or disturb you, but generally remarriage is not a godly thing to do and involves adultery.) But for people old enough to understand and accept, what Jesus has declared should be clear to our understanding. Shouldn’t it?

To recap, in case you overlooked something, we offer this: If you (or anyone) legitimately marries (from God’s standpoint, the couple are married), and then finds someone else, and marries that “someone else,” that person is committing adultery with the second partner. Isn’t this what Jesus said? Isn’t it what Scripture says?

Friend, do we realize how serious it is to commit adultery? Scripture says that the adulterer “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). In another place, we read that “God will judge” the adulterer (Hebrews 13:5). Other passages say likewise. We are trying to keep this presentation simple—even ultra-simple in a way that cannot be misunderstood. To repeat, if one who is legitimately married chooses to divorce his spouse (not for fornication) and then marries another person, that person is committing adultery. And no adultery can enter God’s kingdom.

Is this difficult to understand? Yes, we know that there are many extenuating circumstances and many passages might confuse us. But we know that it can be hard to accept. Is it difficult to read with understanding? Is there something hard to understand about it? Now, to be honest, we must say that some of the teaching about divorce and remarriage can be somewhat hard to understand (see Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7; etc.). But, basically, we think that Matthew 19:9 is clear enough. Now, if this is so, will you accept it?

It really is not worth rejecting our Lord’s command here. You may only have another 50 or 30 or 10 or fewer years left. Christ could come at any time! And then looms out before you, eternity! Is it worth it to reject Christ’s will here? Will you overlook or deny God’s will and pursue your own will? We know that some spouses are difficult to deal with. Some husbands are malicious, deceptive, and evil. Some wives are disobedient, loud, and untrustworthy. We are sad that it is this way. However, God has joined you to your husband or wife and He wants you to remain together—for life.

Years ago, we went to a marriage event and toward the end, the speaker pointed to Ephesians 6:8: “Whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord” (see also Colossians 3:24). He pointed to the fact that even if one must endure a bad situation in a legitimate marriage (of course, he must leave an adulterous “marriage”), God will honor this. It is true that our life may be miserable here, but think of eternity that lies out before us! We will live trillions of years in either horrible, unremitting anguish or in utter eternal blessedness! We look forward to the reward from the Lord.  Will you persevere and do God’s will? It will be worth your efforts! You may need to endure many earthly disappointments and sorrow, but it will be worth it all!