The So-Called Exception Clauses For Divorce Part 2

# 450 - In Today's Living Word, we continue looking at the sin of remarriage after a divorce and why Jesus calls it adultery. Sadly, divorce and remarriage have become widely accepted in the church, but to quote Jesus on this matter, “but from the beginning it was not so.” (Mt 19:8)

But what about the so called exceptions of adultery and desertion? The exception passages that people use for adultery are found in Mt 5:32 "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason EXCEPT FOR SEXUAL IMMORALITY causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

And in Mt 19:9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, EXCEPT FOR SEXUAL IMMORALITY, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

The exception noted is for “sexual immorality.” It's interesting that this exception is not mentioned in any of the other gospels. Mark 10:11 says, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another she commits adultery.” Luke 16:18 says, “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”

No exceptions given in either Mark or Luke! Why? Because the Gospel of Matthew was written primarily for a Jewish audience and the Gospels of Mark and Luke were written primarily for Gentile audiences

The wedding customs of the Jews and Gentiles were different and the exception given in Matthew concerns SEXUAL IMMORALITY during the time of betrothal, not after the consummation of the marriage.

Briefly, here's how the Jewish custom concerning betrothal and marriage worked. The father of the prospective groom, met with the father of the prospective bride, and a price was agreed upon. The groom then went away to prepare a place for he and his bride. When ready, he would come for his bride, a marriage feast would be held, and he and the bride would then slip off and consummate the marriage.

If, on the wedding night, it was discovered that the bride was not a virgin, (had been sexually immoral, unfaithful) the marriage could be ended. This is the exception spoken of by Jesus and why it was only spoken in the Gospel of Matthew.

And by the way, this Jewish custom is a beautiful picture of salvation and eternal life. The Father of Jesus (God) meets with the father of world, (the devil) and purchases His Son's bride. The price God paid was the death of His Son. When it was paid His Son went away to build a mansion for His bride, and one day soon, the Son will return for His bride, (the church....believers) Those who have remained faithful will live in the mansion forever, and those who are unfaithful will be divorced (sent away to hell.)

There is NO EXCEPTION FOR ADULTERY. Marriage is permanent. Is it easy? Of course not, but neither is our walk of faith, and God desires to help us through all the difficulties we might face in our marriage and our walk of faith.

And remember, when adultery is committed through remarriage after a divorce, confess it as sin, stay in the new marriage, and don't divorce again. Go and sin no more.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.