Divorce is discussed in several places in the Bible:
- Deuteronomy 24:1-4: This passage provides instructions on how a man may divorce his wife.
- Matthew 5:31-32: Jesus discusses the law of divorce and adds his own teachings.
- Matthew 19:3-9: Jesus further elaborates on the conditions under which divorce is permissible.
- Luke 16:18: Jesus mentions divorce briefly.
- 1 Corinthians 7:10-15: Paul the Apostle gives advice regarding marriage and divorce.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Matthew 5:31-32
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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.
Matthew 5:31-32
Matthew 19:3-9
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 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.
Matthew 19:3-9
Luke 16:18
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
Luke 16:18:
1 Corinthians 7:10-15
And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
1 Corinthians 7:10-15
What teaching does the Bible leave us about divorce?
The Bible’s teachings on divorce are nuanced and reflect a deep concern for both the sanctity of marriage and the well-being of those involved in such situations. Marriage is viewed as a sacred covenant, designed by God to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman.
In Deuteronomy 24:1-4, the Old Testament permits divorce under certain conditions, allowing a man to write a certificate of divorce if he finds something displeasing about his wife. This passage reflects early Jewish law and serves as one of the initial biblical references to the practice of divorce. Importantly, it emphasizes that once a woman is remarried, she cannot return to her first husband if the second marriage ends. This rule was likely established to protect the dignity of the woman and to prevent her from being treated as property that could be exchanged at will.
Moving to the New Testament, Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5:31-32 and Matthew 19:3-9 take a stricter stance against divorce. Here, Jesus speaks directly to the heart of God’s intent for marriage, affirming that it is meant to be indissoluble. «What God has joined together, let no one separate.» This indicates a return to the original design for marriage, where divorce was not intended. However, Jesus does acknowledge one exception: marital unfaithfulness. In such cases, divorce is permitted, though it is not commanded or necessarily encouraged.
In Luke 16:18, Jesus reiterates his teaching, clearly stating that anyone who divorces and remarries commits adultery, unless the divorce was due to marital unfaithfulness. This underscores the seriousness with which marriage and divorce are to be treated—it’s not merely a legal issue, but a moral and spiritual one.
1 Corinthians 7:10-15 provides additional insights, especially regarding marriages where one partner is a believer and the other is not. The Apostle Paul advises believers to stay married if at all possible, even in mixed faith situations, as long as peace in the relationship can be maintained. «God has called us to live in peace.» However, if the unbelieving partner chooses to leave, the believer is not bound to remain married. This teaching supports the idea that while marriage is sacred, there are circumstances where divorce may be the path to peace and wellbeing.
Overall, the Bible encourages faithfulness, patience, and reconciliation in marriage but also acknowledges that in a fallen world, divorce may sometimes become necessary. The core principle is to approach marriage with reverence, commitment, and a willingness to reflect God’s love and faithfulness in the relationship. This perspective aligns with the fear and respect for God’s teachings, emphasizing that decisions around marriage and divorce should be approached with prayerful consideration and wisdom.