Proposition: The Scriptures teach that Jesus' teachings regarding marriage, divorce and remarriage were not applicable (except Matthew 19:3-8; Mark 10:2-9) until the Law of Moses was done away.
Definition and explanation of the Proposition:
By “the Scriptures” I mean the sixty-six books of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments.
By “Jesus’ teachings” I mean the passages that set forth His instructions by statement, command, approved example and/or necessary implication.
By “not applicable” I mean that they were instructions to His disciples that were to become binding when Christ’s church (kingdom) was established.
By “except” I mean that Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:3-8 and Mark 10:2-9 was in reply to the questions of the Pharisees about the Law of Moses.
By Marriage I give God’s definition. Matthew 19:5-6 “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? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
By “divorce “I mean, a recognition by the State (in which he and she reside) of their dissolving of the marriage relationship; giving each of them a legal right (according to the laws of the land) to marry another without being a bigamist. Just because it is “lawful - according to the laws of the land – does not make it lawful in the sight of God.
By “remarriage” I mean, the laws of the land allow anyone (regardless of how many former marriages they have contracted) who does not now legally have a spouse to marry another.
By “were not applicable” I mean that Jesus’ teaching on this subject (except where He was speaking directly to the Jews in reply to their questions) did not apply to those under the Law of Moses.
The Law of Moses was “… our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:24-25) Also in Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”
Let’s observe all the passages (that are applicable to day) that were used by Jesus to teach His disciples on this subject.
Matthew 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.”
Matthew 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.”
Mark 10:11-12 “And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 1 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.”
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.”
Whosoever – would include all people regardless of race or religion.
Put Away – He/she explicitly declares to the mate that he no longer wills to live in marriage with the mate. He releases her; he declares her repudiated. Civil procedure is a process that follows this and often takes much time to complete. In the meantime, the two spouses are separated (unmarried--not living together).”
Except – Jesus gives a rule and then makes an exception to it. Example: Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” The rule: You shall all likewise perish.” Then He makes an exception – which means if they repent they won’t perish.”
The same is true with the divorce question. The rule is, if you put away your wife and marry another, you commit adultery – except (unless) you put her away for fornication. Now if you put her away for fornication the exception Jesus gave is applicable. In which case, you can marry someone who is eligible to have a wife/husband.
Fornication, (from the Greek porneia [porneia] in the New Testament is a general or generic term which means,” sex between unmarried people, homosexuality Jude 7; bestiality, incest, adultery (I Corinthians 5:1). (W. E. Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words).
Adultery, (from the Greek moicois [moichois] in the New Testament is specific. It “denotes one ‘who has unlawful intercourse with the spouse of another’,” (W. E. Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words).
These definitions of fornication and adultery are the general definitions used throughout the Scriptures.
To whom was Jesus speaking in Matthew 5-7 in the Sermon on the Mount? Matthew 5:1 “And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying . . .” Thus, Jesus was teaching His disciples.
Who was Jesus teaching in the other passages (Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18)?
As in numerous instances in the New Testament, you have to get all the accounts in order to get the entire picture. Mark 10:10-12 “In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. "And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." Now in view of the fact that in Matthew’s account after He makes His declaration in 19:9, who questions Him concerning what He said? If you said His Disciples, you are correct. So in view of the statement in Mark’s account it is necessarily inferred that Jesus was speaking to His disciples in Matthew’s account also. Matthew 19:10 “His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.”