MDR

MARRIAGE

[To “Leave” and “Cleave;” the Joining of “Twain” to become “One Flesh”] 

Matthew 19:4-6, “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 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” (chorizo). Cf. Gen. 2:24 

DIVORCE

[Putting Asunder (Separating) the “One Flesh” Relationship] 

I Corinthians 7:10-11, “And unto THE MARRIED (gameo) I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife DEPART (chorizo) from her husband: 11 But and if she DEPART (chorizo), let her remain UNMARRIED (agamos), or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband PUT AWAY his wife.” Cf. Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9 

REMARRIAGE

[Reuniting the Twain, Whose Relationship Was Sundered (Separated) Back into “One Flesh”]

I Corinthians 7:10-11, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or BE RECONCILED to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.” 

*Man can also wrongfully REMARRY ANOTHER (Mt. 5:32b; 19:9; Mk. 10:11-12; Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:3). 

Those who teach the FALSE HOPE that the put away person can “put away” for post-divorce fornication and REMARRY ANOTHER are not only defying Matthew 19:11-12 but also advocating ADULTERY (Mt. 5:32b; 19:9b; Lk. 16:18b; Rom. 7:3)!

 

GOD’S BINDING LAW
(Puts Under Obligation)

Romans 7:1-4, “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) HOW THAT THE LAW HATH DOMINION OVER A MAN as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is BOUND BY THE LAW TO her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is LOOSED FROM THE LAW of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN, she shall be called an ADULTERESS: but if her husband be dead, she is FREE FROM THAT LAW; so that she is no adulteress, though she BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become DEAD TO THE LAW by the body of Christ; that YE SHOULD BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER, EVEN TO HIM WHO IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” 

THE POINT IS, we are “bound” (obligated) by God’s Law in obedience to our Spiritual Husband (II Corinthians 11:2-3) for as long as we live (Cp. w. Matthew 16:19; 18:18)! 

Cf. I Corinthians 7:39, “The wife is BOUND BY THE LAW as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is AT LIBERTY TO be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” 

THE LAW OF GOD is the standard by which one is BOUND (obligated),
and the same standard by which one is LOOSED (at liberty to marry another)!

 BOUND

 BOUND (# 1210), “To bind, i.e. put under obligation, s.c. of law, duty, etc. To be bound to one: of a wife, Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:27, 39” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, p. 131). 

This is why our wedding vows state, “Until Death do Us Part” and “For Better or For Worse

 

THE RULE & THE EXCEPTION

The Rule 

Romans 7:2-3, “For the woman which hath an husband IS BOUND BY THE LAW TO HER HUSBAND SO LONG AS HE LIVETH; but if the husband BE DEAD, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then IF, WHILE HER HUSBAND LIVETH, SHE BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN, SHE SHALL BE CALLED AN ADULTERESS: but if her husband BE DEAD, she is FREE from that law; so that she is NO ADULTERESS, though she be married to another man.” 

The One and Only Exception 

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.” 

Is PUTTING AWAY Done While MARRIED or UNMARRIED

The put away person commits “ADULTERY” when they remarry ANOTHER while their original partner lives because they are “bound” for life to their original mate. Scripture never teaches that it is possible after one has been wrongfully divorced, to be loosed from their obligation to their original mate, apart from their bound partner’s death! Nowhere does scripture teach that man can subsequently sunder a marriage (put away their man/woman) for fornication that occurs after the fact!

 

There Are Only Two Classes of People

Who May Lawfully Remarry “Another”

1) Those whose mates have died:

Romans 7:3, “So then if, while her husband liveth, she BE MARRIED to ANOTHER man, she shall be called an ADULTERESS: but if her husband BE DEAD, she is free from that law; so that she is NO ADULTERESS, though she BE MARRIED to ANOTHER man.”

2) Those who have lawfully put away their “one flesh” mate:

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.” (cf. Matthew 19:5-6)

The put away person falls into neither of these categories:

  • The woman’s “husband” has not died.

  • The woman did not put away her husband for fornication (instead, he put away his wife and sundered their “one flesh” relationship).

 

THE CONTEXT OF PUTTING AWAY

THE PHARISEES’ QUESTION 

Matthew 19:3, “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?” 

THE LORD’S ANSWER & DIVINE DECREE 

Matthew 19:4-6, “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 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 (chorizo).” 

Does scripture portray putting away as being enacted by those whose “one flesh” relationship
has been “put asunder” – or by those who are “joined together” in a “one flesh” relationship? 

Cf. I Corinthians 7:10-11, “And unto THE MARRIED (gameo) I command, yet not I, BUT THE LORD, LET NOT the wife DEPART (chorizo) from her husband: 11 But and if she DEPART (chorizo), let her remain UNMARRIED (agamos), or be RECONCILED to her husband: and LET NOT the husband PUT AWAY his wife.” 

THEIR COUNTER 

Matthew 19:7, “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?” 

Was this “writing” given and putting away done while MARRIED or UNMARRIED? 

MOSES’ TOLERANCE vs THE LORD’S ONLY EXCEPTION 

Matthew 19:8-12, “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 (cf. vv. 4-6). 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. 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11 But HE SAID unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”  cf. John 12:48; II Timothy 4:3-4

 

THE CONTEXT OF PUTTING AWAY

Was This “Writing” Given While MARRIED or UNMARRIED?

Matthew 5:31-32, “It hath been said, Whosoever SHALL PUT AWAY (apoluo) his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever SHALL PUT AWAY (apoluo) his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that IS DIVORCED (apoluo) committeth adultery.”

Why does the man who wrongfully puts away his woman cause her to commit adultery? It is obviously because an unapproved divorce defrauds one of the benefit that the “one flesh” relationship provides (I Corinthians 7:2-5).

Matthew 19:3, 7, “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it LAWFUL for a man to PUT AWAY (apoluo) his wife for every cause?...7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away” (apoluo)?  See Apoluo Charts

Cp. w. Deuteronomy 24:1, “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.”

Is PUTTING AWAY ever articulated in scripture, as something that is done AFTER the “ONE FLESH” relationship has been separated? Is it ever spoken of in the context of a man and woman that have become “TWAIN” (Matthew 19:5-6) or “UNMARRIED” (I Corinthians 7:10-11)? Such a convoluted application is obviously of men and not of heaven (Colossians 2:8; cf. Matthew 21:25)!

Compare the above affirmation with divine revelation that deals with PUTTING AWAY: Lev. 21:7; Deut. 22:19; 24:1-3, Ezra 10:3, 19; Jer. 3:8; Mal. 2:16; Mt. 1:18-19; 5:31-32; 19:3, 7-9, Mk. 10:2, 4, 11-12; Lk. 16:18; I Cor. 7:10-13, 15

Cf. Robinson’s Greek And English Lexicon, 1825, p. 67, “spoken in reference to the marriage state, and seq. th̀n gunaîxa, etc. to repudiate, to divorce, to dissolve the matrimonial connexion, Matt. 1:19; 5:31, 32. 19:3. Mark 10:4. Pass. And seq. ὰπό cum gen. Luke 16:18.— Diod. Sic. XII. 18.”

 

THE CONTEXT OF PUTTING AWAY

THE PHARISEES’ QUESTION 

Matthew 19:3, “Is it LAWFUL for a man to PUT AWAY his wife for every cause?” 

THE LORD’S ANSWER 

Matthew 19:4-8, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 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 (chorizo)… 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…” 

Positive Statements Indicating Marital Status at the Time of Putting Away: 

1) “For this cause shall a man leave father and  mother, and shall cleave to his wife”

2) “They twain shall be one flesh

3) “What therefore God hath joined togetherCf. Mal. 2:15

Cleave (# 4347): “From 4314 and 2853; to glue to, i.e. (figuratively) to adhere:-- cleave, join (self).”

One (# 3391): “One (irregular feminine of 1520); one or first:--a (certain), + agree, first, one, X other.”

Joined Together (# 4801): “From 4862 and the base of 2201; to yoke together, i.e. (figuratively) conjoin (in marriage):-- join together.”

Negative Statements Indicating Marital Status at the Time of Putting Away:

1) “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (chorizo).”

2) From the beginning it (putting away for every cause; divorce; jhb) was not so.

Cf. I Corinthians 7:10-11, “And unto THE MARRIED (gameo) I command, yet not I, BUT THE LORD, LET NOT the wife DEPART (chorizo) from her husband: 11 But and if she DEPART (chorizo), let her remain UNMARRIED (agamos), or be RECONCILED to her husband: and LET NOT the husband PUT AWAY his wife.”  See Chorizo Charts

 

THE CONTEXT OF PUTTING AWAY

THE PHARISEES’ QUESTION (Mark’s Account)

Mark 10:2, “And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it LAWFUL for a man to PUT AWAY his wife? tempting him.” 

THE LORD’S ANSWER 

Mark 10:3-9, “And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and TO PUT HER AWAY. 5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man LEAVE his father and mother, and CLEAVE to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be ONE FLESH: so then they are NO MORE TWAIN, but ONE FLESH. 9 What therefore God hath JOINED TOGETHER, let not man PUT ASUNDER” (chorizo). 

Positive Statements Indicating Marital Status at the Time of Putting Away: 

1) From the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this cause
               shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife.

2) “They twain shall be one flesh

3) “What therefore God hath joined togetherCf. Mal. 2:15 

Cleave (# 4347): “From 4314 and 2853; to glue to, i.e. (figuratively) to adhere:-- cleave, join (self).”

One (# 3391): “One (irregular feminine of 1520); one or first:--a (certain), + agree, first, one, X other.”

Joined Together (# 4801): “From 4862 and the base of 2201; to yoke together, i.e. (figuratively) conjoin (in marriage):-- join together.” 

A Negative Statement Indicating Marital Status at the Time of Putting Away:

 1) “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (chorizo).”

 Then later, “In the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter” (Verse 10).

“And he saith unto them, Whosoever SHALL PUT AWAY his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman SHALL PUT AWAY her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery” (Verses 11-12).

Was This Putting Away Done While MARRIED or UNMARRIED?

Cf. I Corinthians 7:10-11, “And unto THE MARRIED (gameo) I command, yet not I, BUT THE LORD, LET NOT the wife DEPART (chorizo) from her husband: 11 But and if she DEPART (chorizo), let her remain UNMARRIED (agamos), or be RECONCILED to her husband: and LET NOT the husband PUT AWAY his wife.”  See Chorizo Charts

 

THE CONTEXT OF PUTTING AWAY

Contrary To Those Advocating Post-Divorce “Putting Away”

Jesus was NOT emphasizing “Cause” in Matthew 5; 19; Mark 10 or Luke 16!

In context, Jesus was revealing what was “LAWFUL!

Matthew 5:31-32, “IT HATH BEEN SAID, Whosoever SHALL PUT AWAY his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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.” Cf. James 4:12

They Asked For The Lord’s Rule (Law) Compared To Moses’ Decree

Matthew 19:3, “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?”

Note Mark’s Parallel Passage: The word “cause” is not even present in the question!

Mark 10:2, “And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it LAWFUL for a man to PUT AWAY his wife? tempting him.”

The Master’s answer in Matthew 19 and Mark 10 was an emphatic “NO” to their original question “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife.” The “exception” to this RULE (Law) was not revealed until they asked a counter question in Matthew 19:7.

The Emphasis is on the Lord’s RULE, NOT on His exception to THE RULE!

 

THE REALITY OF UNAPPROVED DIVORCE

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 19:6, “Wherefore they are no more twain, but ONE FLESH. What therefore God hath joined together, LET NOT man PUT ASUNDER (chorizo).”  Cf. Mark 10:9 

Cf. I Corinthians 7:10-11, “And unto THE MARRIED I command, yet not I, BUT THE LORD, LET NOT the wife DEPART (chorizo) from her husband: 11 But and if she DEPART (chorizo), let her REMAIN UNMARRIED, or be reconciled to her husband: and LET NOT the husband PUT AWAY his wife.” 

“Let Not” (i.e. Should Not) or Cannot? 

Cp. w. Mt. 6:3; Lk. 21:21; Jn. 14:1, 27; Rom. 6:12; 14:3, 16; Eph. 4:26; I Tim. 5:16 

Not only CAN man wrongfully PUT AWAY, he/she CAN also sinfully MARRY ANOTHER

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.” 

Cp. w. Mt. 5:32b; 19:9; Mk. 6:17-18; 10:11-12; Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:3

 

Was THE PUTTING AWAY In Malachi 2:14-16

Accomplished While MARRIED or UNMARRIED

Malachi 2:14-16, “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not HE MAKE ONE? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore ONE? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that HE HATETH PUTTING AWAY: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”  Cp. w. I Corinthians 7:13-15

Obviously, when the Israelites were “putting away” and admonished to deal not treacherously,”
Malachi was not addressing some kind of post-divorce action against their wives!

 

AFTER AN UNAPPROVED DIVORCE

Matthew 19:11-12, “But HE SAID unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there BE EUNUCHS, which have MADE THEMSELVES EUNUCHS for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

Cf. I Corinthians 7:10-11, “And unto THE MARRIED I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife DEPART (chorizo) from her husband: 11 But and IF SHE DEPART (chorizo), let her REMAIN UNMARRIED, or BE RECONCILED to her husband…” 

Verses 15-16, “BUT IF THE UNBELIEVING DEPART (chorizo), LET HIM DEPART (chorizo). A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but GOD HATH CALLED US TO PEACE. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, WHETHER THOU SHALT SAVE THY HUSBAND? or how knowest thou, O man, WHETHER THOU SHALT SAVE THY WIFE?” 

It’s tragic enough when the one who wrongfully departed
from his/her spouse subsequently marries and commits ADULTERY (Mt. 19:9a).

However, it’s sadder yet when brethren encourage the “innocent” victims
of such divorce to marry and commit ADULTERY, as well (Mt. 19:9b). 

Does one wrong justify another?

 

PITTING ONE VERSE AGAINST ANOTHER

Matthew 4:5-7, “Then THE DEVIL taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 AND SAITH UNTO HIM, ‘If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’ 7 JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, ‘It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’” Cp. w. Psalm 91:11-12; Deuteronomy 6:16 

Above is an Illustration of Satan Pitting One Scripture AGAINST Another
(Failing to Harmonize Scripture – II Timothy 2:15)
!

Jesus indeed gave an exception to His rule against putting asunder/away (Matthew 19:6, 9). This exception authorizes the innocent marriage partner in a divorce for fornication to MARRY ANOTHER while their previously bound partner still LIVES. However, this authority was only given to those who PUT AWAY (sunder the intact, ONE FLESH marriage relationship) for just cause! This authority/exception was never extended to those who are already put asunder/away (or divorced, Matthew 5:32b; cf. 19:9b). 

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.” 

Part A 

Whosoever
SHALL
Put Away
(for fornication) – Marries Another NO ADULTERY
SHALL
Put Away
(not for fornication) Marries Another Commits ADULTERY

Part B

Whoso
IS
Put Away
Remarries Commits ADULTERY
[Includes both categories of put away people described in the first half of this verse]

NOTE THE CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN: 

The One Who SHALL Put Away
And
The One Who IS Put Away 

Hence, the exception clause is NOT applicable after THE MARRIAGE is sundered!

 

THE SADDUCEES’ METHOD OF TEACHING

Acts 23:8, “For THE SADDUCEES say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.” 

Matthew 22:23-29, “The same day came to him THE SADDUCEES, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” 

The Sadducees’ approach was simple: If the scriptures did not teach their philosophy, they made up stories and scenarios designed to deny the unequivocal truth of God’s word! 

By trusting in their hypothetical situation(s), they denied God’s clear teaching (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; cf. Titus 1:16; II Peter 2:1). 

IN LIKE MANNER

Those who deny the necessity of water baptism tell their stories about the isolated poor soul in the Amazon jungle who has “never heard the gospel” and/or about the one who was killed on the way to be baptized. Hence, they deny that water baptism is essential! 

Furthermore, our institutional brethren also deny what God commanded regarding the individual’s responsibility, transferring that charge to the burden of the church (I Timothy 5:16; cf. Galatians 6:10; James 1:27). They also prejudice others against the truth by claiming that those who oppose their misapplication of God’s word are unloving and uncaring “antis.” 

Moreover, among us, there are those who assert emotional scenarios to make what Jesus specifically stated in Matthew 5:32b; 19:9b and Luke 16:18b regarding the “innocent” put away person seem unjust, thus implausible. However, when the Lord decreed (without exception) that a put away person commits ADULTERY when they marry ANOTHER, it is necessarily implied that this result holds true for as long as their obligated man/woman “liveth” (Romans 7:2-3). There is absolutely NO EXCEPTION to this DIVINE DECREE!

 


Home | Search This Site


Last Updated:  Thursday, January 26, 2006 12:41 PM

www.mentaldivorce.com