# 451 - In Today's Living Word, we continue looking at the sin of remarriage after a divorce and why the Bible calls it adultery. Specifically today I want to talk about the so called “exception” clause found in the Gospel of Matthew. These passages, are only found only in Mt 5:32, and 19:9 are used by Christians as grounds for divorce in cases of sexual unfaithfulness. But is that what is being said? In both cases the King James uses the word “fornication” not adultery.
Let's look at them again: Mt 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of FORNICATION, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Mt 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for FORNICATION, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
The New Revised Standard version of Scripture uses the term “unchastity,”which fits even better in light of yesterday's blog on this matter.
Remember the Holy Spirit chooses His words very carefully in Scripture. He could've used the word adultery here, but He chose the word fornication. Why? Fornication is illicit sex BEFORE the consummation of a marriage, and adultery is illicit sex AFTER the consummation of a marriage.
Matthew's Jewish audience would've understood this passage to mean that any illicit sexual activity during the time of betrothal would be grounds for calling off the marriage because it was the sin of fornication. Damaged goods were grounds for calling off the marriage.
These were the grounds Joseph thought he had with Mary and why he considered putting her away quietly. To put her away “loudly” would've meant to expose what he thought at the time was Mary's sin, and that would've resulted in death by stoning for Mary.
They took the sin of living together far more seriously in those days than we do in New Testament times. Thankfully, we no longer stone people to death for this sin. However, that does not mean that we should take the sin of fornication lightly. It needs to be dealt with in the church through church discipline, with the goal of restoring the offenders to a right relationship with God through repentance and renewal. Our sons and daughters (and others) are in grave spiritual danger when they engage in this sin for it is plainly stated in 1Co 6:9,10, that such offenders are cut off from the kingdom of God.
“ Do 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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God..”
Such offenders however are not without hope, for the very next verse tells us, “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..”
“Such were some of you.” You and I have an opportunity by the grace of God to renounce all the sins on that list, as we surrender our lives to Jesus and follow the Holy Spirit.
I didn't mean to get off the main subject here, but the sin of fornication is a very serious matter in the church today.
Now, back to the matter at hand. Adultery is a terrible sin, a horrible breach of trust and mutual love, but it is not grounds for divorce. Marriage is permanent, and when the sin of adultery is committed it needs to be worked through and dealt with just as Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery. He forgave her and told her to go and sin no more.
I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.
No comments :
Post a Comment