Thursday, February 11, 2010

Allowed by God?

As much as God hates divorce, He does allow it in some circumstances. We will discuss these circumstances over the next few days.

First let's look at Jesus' response to a question from the Pharisees about divorce: "'Why then,' they asked, 'did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?' Jesus replied, 'Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning'" (Matthew 19:7-8).

Dr. Craig Keener says that divorce was permitted by God in Old Testament times. He says, "In the Old Testament we find out in Malachi that God says He hates divorce. In Genesis we find out that it was never God's original purpose. It was His purpose that a husband and wife should be one flesh. As our Lord Jesus says, What God has joined together we have no business putting asunder [Matthew 19:6]."

Scholars state that the divorce permitted in the Old Testament was a formal process to acknowledge divorce-like, sinful behavior that had already occurred "because [their] hearts were hard." It was designed to provide legal protection to the person who was being divorced.

There are situations where divorce is allowed, but just because it is permissible does not mean it is the best thing to do. Choose wisely.

"So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Matthew 19:6).

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