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Ðfor€RLED635€Theological€and€Ethical€Foundations€of€Family€LifeÐ ‰Ù Ðat€Andrews€University,€Berrien€Springs,€MichiganÐ v Æ ÐSummer€2002Ð c!³ ÐÌÌMarch€15,€2003Ð *$z" ÐÌÌÌÔ4‚ Ý œÔÝ‚ ÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôbruceblum@gmx.netÔ6âÔÝ‚ ÍOöƒÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7Ý ;$ÔÐ Þ'.#& ÐP.O.€Box€3424Ð Ë($' ÐLake€City,€CA€96115Ð ¸)%( ÐÌÌÌÐ l-¼(, ÐÑzãÑâ âÑ8€ÀÔXXdídÈ8Ñâ âÑ  ÑÌÓ  Óà@$ìàINTRODUCTIONˆÐ í ÐÌÓÓà  àThere€would€be€no€divorce€and€no€remarriage€in€a€sinless€universe.€€Divorce€andÐ wÇ Ðremarriage€only€occur€in€the€context€of€sin.€€Unfortunately,€now€that€sin€exists€there€is€no€goodÐ Q ¡ Ðor€ð ðrightðð€solution€for€it.€€For€example,€when€a€eight„year€old€girl€is€impregnated€through€theÐ + { Ðabuse€of€an€older€male€relative,€those€close€to€her€must€make€a€heartrending€decision.€€The€girlÐ  U  Ðis€too€young€to€carry€the€child€to€term.€€If€the€baby€is€not€aborted,€both€the€baby€and€the€youngÐ ß/  Ðgirl€will€die,€but€abortion€takes€the€life€of€the€unborn€child.€€What€is€the€ð ðrightðð€answer€in€thisÐ ¹  Ðsituation?€€A€choice€has€to€be€made,€and€either€choice€is€badð!ðto€abort€the€baby€is€to€sin,€yet€to€doÐ “ã  Ðnothing€is€to€condemn€both€baby€and€girl€to€death.€€God€is€in€a€similar€situation.€€After€sinÐ m½ Ðentered€the€scene,€God€had€two€choices,€both€badð!ðto€condemn€us€to€die€or€to€condemn€Jesus€toÐ G— Ðdie.€€How€can€we€say€which€one€is€ð ðrightðð?Ð !q Ðà  àThe€issues€of€divorce€and€remarriage€reflect€the€complexity€of€the€sin€problem.€€BecauseÐ ûK Ðof€this,€I€think€that€to€askð!ðð ðIs€divorce€and/or€remarriage€òòrightóó€or€òòwrongóó€or€òòpermissibleóó?ððð!ðis€toÐ Õ% Ðask€the€wrong€question.€€I€think€that€the€way€the€first€three€authors€in€the€book€òòDivorce€andÐ ¯ÿ ÐRemarriageóó€went€about€proving€their€position€from€various€biblical€texts,€though€convincing€inÐ ‰Ù Ðsome€instances,€sidetracks€readers€from€the€bigger€issue€of€how€to€understand€divorce€andÐ c!³ Ðremarriage€in€the€greater€context€of€the€character€of€God€who€is€both€gracious€and€just€in€dealingÐ =#! Ðwith€sin.€€In€this€paper,€I€will€address€these€issues€in€light€of€that€greater€context.Ð %g # ÐÓÀÓà@44'ìàDIVORCEˆÐ ñ&A"% ÐÌÓÓà  àDue€to€the€nature€of€this€assignment,€and€the€need€for€brevity,€I€will€only€deal€with€twoÐ Ë($' Ðof€the€most€controversial€scripture€passages€on€divorceð!ðMatthew€5:31„32€and€Matthew€19:3„9.€€IÐ ¥*õ%) Ðbelieve€that€the€Bible€writers€were€inspired€by€God€as€they€wrote€and€compiled€their€messages.€€IÐ ° Ðbelieve€that€the€stories€and€illustrations€occur€in€the€order€that€they€do€because€the€author,Ð ŠÚ Ðinspired€by€God,€was€communicating€a€message€about€God€that€is€bigger€than€any€one€story€orÐ d´ Ðillustration€can€convey€alone.€€For€this€reason,€I€will€lean€heavily€on€the€context€of€each€of€theÐ > Ž Ðabove€passages€in€interpreting€what€each€has€to€say€on€the€issue€of€divorce.Ð  h ÐÓÐ ÓÓÓMATTHEW€5:31„32Ð ò B  Ðà  àThis€passage€on€divorce€is€the€third€illustration€in€a€group€of€six€that€Jesus€gives€toÐ Ì  Ðcorrect€current€misunderstandings€regarding€the€nature€of€biblical€law.€€There€is€a€repeatingÐ ¦ö  Ðpattern€throughout€this€section€that€solidifies€the€relationship€of€each€passage€to€its€neighbor.€€InÐ €Ð Ðeach€of€the€six€passages€Jesus€begins€with€the€phrase€ð ðYou€have€heard€that€it€was€saidðð€or€ð ðIt€hasÐ Zª Ðbeen€saidðð€followed€by€ð ðBut€I€tell€you.ðð€€In€each€case,€the€ð ðYou€have€heard€that€it€was€saidððÐ 4„ Ðphrase€reminds€His€listeners€of€some€aspect€of€Old€Testament€law;€then€Jesus€goes€on€to€ð ðtellððÐ ^ ÐHis€listeners€what€it€means€to€break€ð ðone€of€the€least€of€these€commandmentsðð€(Mt.€5:19).€€HisÐ è8 Ðexplanation€of€the€law€should€have€had€the€intended€effect€of€convicting€His€listeners€that€theyÐ Â Ðwere€not€among€the€category€of€the€ð ðgreatðð€(Mt.€5:19)€in€the€kingdom€of€heavenð!ðð ðwhoeverÐ œì Ðpractices€and€teaches€these€commandsðð€(Mt.€5:19)ð!ðbut€instead€were€among€the€ð ðleastððÐ v Æ Ð(Mt.5:19)ð!ðthose€who€break€ð ðone€of€the€least€of€these€commandmentsðð€(Mt.€5:19);€for€who€canÐ P"   Ðdeny€that€he€or€she€has€not€at€times€been€angry€with€a€brother€or€looked€lustfully€at€someone€elseÐ *$z" Ðor€resisted€an€evil€person,€etc?€€I€believe€Jesus€intended€His€words€to€convict€His€hearers€thenÐ &T!$ Ðand€us€today€of€our€unrighteousness€and€our€need€for€a€greater€righteousnessð!ðone€that€ð ðsurpassesÐ Þ'.#& Ðthat€of€the€Pharisees€and€teachers€of€the€lawðð€(Mt.€5:20)ð!ðthat€is€deeper€than€external€obedienceÐ ¸)%( Ðto€the€Old€Testament€law.Ð ’+â&* Ðà  à€I€think€Matthew€5:17ð!ðð ðDo€not€think€that€I€have€come€to€abolish€the€Law€or€the€Prophets;Ð ° ÐI€have€not€come€to€abolish€them€but€to€fulfill€themððð!ðwhich€introduces€this€entire€section,€pointsÐ ŠÚ Ðus€to€the€source€of€our€righteousness€and€thus€is€key€to€a€correct€interpretation€of€this€entireÐ d´ Ðsection,€including€our€passage€on€divorce.€€In€Matthew€5:17€we€understand€that€Jesus€came€toÐ > Ž Ðfulfill€the€law;€in€the€next€verse,€there€is€a€reference€to€ð ðeverythingðð€being€accomplished;Ð  h Ðfollowing€this,€Jesus€explains€what€it€means€to€be€ð ðleastðð€and€ð ðgreatðð€in€the€kingdom€of€heaven;Ð ò B  Ðthen€finally€He€emphasizes€our€need€for€a€righteousness€superior€to€that€of€the€Pharisees€andÐ Ì  Ðteachers€of€the€law.€€I€think€these€four€verses€are€linked€for€a€reason.€€I€believe€Jesus€came€toÐ ¦ö  Ðð ðfulfillðð€the€law€and€to€accomplish€everything€that€needs€to€be€accomplished.€€I€also€believe€thatÐ €Ð ÐJesus€is€the€only€person€who€has€ever€lived€and€who€will€ever€live€who€can€truly€be€calledÐ Zª Ðð ðgreatðð€in€the€kingdom€of€heaven€because€only€He€did€truly€practice€and€teach€these€commands.€Ð 4„ ÐFinally,€only€Jesusðð€righteousness€has€surpassed€that€of€the€Pharisees€and€teachers€of€the€lawÐ ^ Ðbecause€only€He€truly€kept€both€the€letter€and€the€spirit€of€the€law.€€None€of€the€rest€of€usÐ è8 Ðqualify.Ð Â Ðà  àIn€Romans€7:7€we€read€that€the€law€reveals€to€us€what€sin€is;€here€in€Matthew€5€JesusÐ œì Ðmakes€it€clear€from€the€law€that€sin€is€more€than€external€ð ðrightðð€behavior,€and€that€we€all€areÐ v Æ Ðguilty€of€transgression€and€in€need€of€a€ð ðgreaterðð€righteousness.€€In€Galatians€3:23„24€we€readÐ P"   Ðthat€the€law€is€to€do€more€than€point€out€our€sinful€condition€and€great€need€but€to€also€ð ðlead€usÐ *$z" Ðto€Christ,€so€that€we€may€be€justified€by€faith.ðð€€The€question€still€remains,€how€do€theseÐ &T!$ Ðpassages€which€point€out€our€great€need€lead€us€to€Christ€as€the€ð ðfulfillmentðð€of€the€law?Ð Þ'.#& Ðà  àI€suggest€that€Jesus€picked€these€specific€six€passages€from€the€Old€Testament€law€toÐ ¸)%( Ðgive€us€a€vivid€picture€of€exactly€how€He€ð ðfulfilledðð€the€law€as€described€in€Romans€13:10Ð ’+â&* Ðwhich€states€that€ð ðlove€is€the€fulfillment€of€the€law.ðð€€If€we€look€at€each€of€these€passages€in€theÐ ° Ðcontext€of€the€life€of€Jesus,€we€see€clearly€how€mankind€has€miserably€failed€to€keep€the€law,€butÐ ŠÚ Ðhow€Christ€succeeded€in€loving€us€even€in€the€midst€of€our€failure.€€I€will€deal€here€only€with€theÐ d´ Ðfirst€three.Ð > Ž Ðà  àChrist€loved€when€people€were€angry€with€Him,€angry€enough€to€plot€to€murder€Him.€Ð  h ÐHis€life€was€of€little€worth€to€these€men€(See€Mt.€26:4€and€John€11:50„53).€€Christ€lived€the€lawÐ ò B  Ðin€this€case€by€coming€to€be€reconciled€to€those€who€had€something€against€Him€(Mt.€5:23„24).€Ð Ì  ÐBut€man€chose€to€reject€His€terms€of€reconciliation€and€instead€handed€Him€over€to€the€judge,Ð ¦ö  Ðand€to€the€officer,€and€kept€Him€as€a€prisoner€until€He€had€indeed€ð ðpaid€the€last€pennyðð€(Mt.Ð €Ð Ð5:25„26).€€In€fact,€one€of€the€ways€Jesus€demonstrated€His€love€toward€us€is€in€revealing€to€usÐ Zª Ðhow€angry€we€are€and€what€that€anger€has€done€to€Him€as€well€as€how€great€His€mercy€is€inÐ 4„ Ðpaying€ð ðthe€last€pennyðð.€€The€last€penny€in€the€time€of€Jesus€was€a€reference€to€the€smallestÐ ^ Ðcopper€coinð!ðin€other€words,€Jesus€has€paid€the€complete€cost€of€my€sin.Ð è8 Ðà  àChrist€also€loved€the€adulterersð!ðthose€who€look€lustfully€at€another.€€In€Matthew€21:23,Ð Â Ðin€speaking€to€the€chief€priests€and€elders€of€the€people,€Jesus€tells€the€parable€of€the€tenantsÐ œì Ðwho€ð ðlooked€lustfullyðð€after€a€vineyard,€so€lustfully€that€they€killed€the€landownerððs€son€in€orderÐ v Æ Ðto€seize€the€vineyard.€€It€is€clear€in€this€passage€that€those€unfaithful€tenants€represent€the€chiefÐ P"   Ðpriests€and€elders€of€the€people,€those€who€were€to€watch€over€and€nurture€Godððs€people€(theÐ *$z" Ðvineyard)€until€harvest€time.€€Jesus€informs€these€unfaithful€tenants€in€verse€43,€that€the€kingdomÐ &T!$ Ðof€God€will€te€taken€from€them€and€given€to€others.€€This€parable€helps€explain€what€adultery€is.€Ð Þ'.#& ÐAdultery€is€more€than€a€physical€act€of€sexual€digression€by€a€married€person.€€It€seems€to€be€anyÐ ¸)%( Ðtime€we€ð ðlustðð€after€and/or€attempt€to€take€what€is€rightfully€Godððs€and€not€oursð!ðwhether€it€isÐ ’+â&* Ðpower€or€control€or€even€our€desire€to€have€a€good€reputation€as€someone€who€does€great€thingsÐ ° Ðfor€God.€€Ultimately,€our€ministry€and€our€very€lives€belong€to€God,€and€any€time€we€lust€afterÐ ŠÚ Ðthem€for€ourselves,€we€are€committing€adultery.€€Ð d´ Ðà  àJesus€gave€strong€counsel€for€what€to€do€with€adulterers.€€In€Matthew€5,€He€said€that€ifÐ > Ž Ðyour€right€eye€ð ðoffendsðð€you,€it€is€better€to€pluck€it€out€than€to€let€your€whole€body€be€cast€intoÐ  h Ðhell.€€I€understand€from€this€passage€that€the€right€eye€is€the€thing€that€is€ð ðlustingðð€after€another.€Ð ò B  ÐMatthew€21€is€similar€to€Matthew€5€again€in€that€the€tenants€are€to€be€removed€from€theÐ Ì  Ðkingdom€like€the€right€eye€is€to€be€removed€from€the€body.€€I€believe€that€the€right€eye€and€theÐ ¦ö  Ðtenants€both€refer€to€those€who€had€been€instructed€with€the€care€of€Godððs€bride,€his€woman€(Mt.Ð €Ð Ð5:28),€His€vineyard,€but€who€had€failed€as€caretakers.€€From€this€passage€we€read€that€thereÐ Zª Ðcomes€a€time€when€it€is€better€to€lose€one€part€of€the€body€than€the€whole.Ð 4„ Ðà  àI€do€not€think€that€it€is€a€coincidence€that€the€passage€on€divorce€follows€the€passage€onÐ ^ Ðadultery.€€Divorce€is€a€separation€like€the€separation€that€occurs€when€a€body€part€is€cut€out€fromÐ è8 Ðthe€rest€of€the€body.€€From€this€text€it€is€plain€that€there€is€a€point€when€it€is€better€(though€notÐ Â Ðgood€or€right)€to€cut€a€cancerous€or€gangrenous€part€of€the€body€from€the€rest€of€the€body.€€It€is€aÐ œì Ðsevering€that€entails€much€loss€and€pain,€similar€to€the€loss€and€pain€that€occur€as€a€result€ofÐ v Æ Ðdivorce.€€And€just€as€cutting€out€an€eye€or€cutting€off€a€hand€would€be€a€last€resort,€so€shouldÐ P"   Ðdivorce€be€a€last€resort,€only€occurring€if€there€is€no€way€to€remain€in€the€relationship€and€stillÐ *$z" Ðð ðlive.ððÐ &T!$ Ðà  àEven€Jesus€experienced€the€pain€of€divorce.€€Over€and€over€again€He€refers€to€His€peopleÐ Þ'.#& Ðas€an€ð ðadulterous€generation.ðð€€In€Matthew€23€Jesusðð€woes€hold€the€Pharisees€and€teachers€of€theÐ ¸)%( Ðlaw€accountable€for€their€stewardship.€€These€woes€function€like€a€bill€of€divorce€because€ofÐ ’+â&* Ðtheir€unfaithfulnessð!ðthey€had€not€only€lusted€after€what€belonged€to€Him€but€had€not€born€fruitÐ ° Ðunto€righteousness€(Mt.€21:19),€and€ð ðthe€kingdom€of€God€will€be€taken€away€from€[them]€andÐ ŠÚ Ðgiven€to€a€people€who€will€produce€its€fruit.ðð€€(Mt.€21:43)€€Ð d´ Ðà  àIn€issuing€this€ð ðbill€of€divorceðð€Jesus€did€not€ð ðsin.ðð€€As€always,€He€was€fulfilling€the€lawÐ > Ž Ðof€love.€€Love€includes€both€grace€and€truth.€€Jesus€was€honest€with€His€unfaithful€peopleÐ  h Ðregarding€their€sin,€but€He€was€also€gracious€in€refusing€to€let€their€sin€continue€to€affect€andÐ ò B  Ðharm€the€rest€of€His€body.€€Jesus€forebears€long€before€He€judges,€but€when€He€does€judge,€HeÐ Ì  Ðdoes€so€righteously.€Ð ¦ö  Ðà  àThese€passages€on€law€both€reveal€to€us€our€own€unrighteousness,€while€pointing€us€toÐ €Ð Ðthe€love€and€mercy€of€Christ€who€came€to€ð ðfulfillðð€the€law.€€There€is€no€doubt€that€He€is€theÐ Zª Ðgreatest,€and€we€are€the€least.€€Because€we€have€not€and€cannot€live€up€to€the€kind€of€loveÐ 4„ Ðrequired€of€the€law,€exemplified€in€the€life€of€Christ,€we€need€a€righteousness€greater€than€theÐ ^ Ðexternal€righteousness€of€the€Pharisees€and€teachers€of€the€law.€€We€need€the€righteousness€ofÐ è8 ÐChrist.€€The€good€news€is€that€the€righteousness€of€Christ€is€available€for€all€those€who€believe.€Ð  ÐAs€Romans€10:4€statesð!ðð ðChrist€is€the€end€of€the€law€so€that€there€may€be€righteousness€forÐ œì Ðeveryone€who€believes.ððÐ v Æ Ðà  àI€make€my€conclusions€to€this€passage€at€the€end€of€my€section€on€divorce.Ð P"   ÐÓÓÓÓMATTHEW€19:3„9Ð *$z" Ðà  àI€think€that€Larry€Richards€does€a€good€job€of€interpreting€how€this€passage€on€divorceÐ &T!$ Ðfits€within€its€context.€€The€context€teaches€that€spiritual€greatness€consists€not€in€good€worksÐ Þ'.#& Ðbut€in€humility€and€forgiveness€(see€Richardsðð€argument€in€òòDivorce€&€Remarriageóó,€pages€220„Ð ¸)%( Ð222).€€I€think€the€context€teaches€that€spiritual€greatness€includes€honesty€and€justice€as€well.Ð ’+â&* Ðà  àIn€Matthew€18€there€are€three€clear€references€to€judgment.€€First,€if€a€part€of€the€bodyÐ ° Ðcausing€you€to€stumble,€it€should€be€cut€off.€€I€dealt€with€this€issue€in€the€section€on€Matthew€5,Ð ŠÚ Ðso€I€will€not€address€it€further€here€except€to€note€again€that€there€seems€to€be€a€point€at€whichÐ d´ Ðseparation€is€needed€for€the€good€of€the€entire€body.Ð > Ž Ðà  àMatthew€18€also€gives€advice€for€dealing€with€someone€who€has€sinned€against€you.€Ð  h ÐAgain,€Jesus€is€the€prime€model€for€how€to€live€this€counsel,€for€He€vulnerably€came€alone€toÐ ò B  Ðthis€earth€to€be€honest€with€us€about€how€our€sin€problem€is€affecting€us€as€well€as€the€rest€of€theÐ Ì  Ðuniverse.€€In€Jesusðð€counsel€in€Matthew€18,€there€reaches€a€point€in€the€relationship€whereÐ ¦ö  Ðseparation€occurs.€€There€is€a€point€when€someone€who€has€been€a€family€member€(Mt.€18:15)Ð €Ð Ðshould€be€acknowledged€as€somehow€outside€of€the€family€fellowship€(Mt.€18:17).€€ThisÐ Zª Ðseparation,€though€painful,€like€cutting€off€a€hand€or€foot,€should€not€be€done€in€anger€orÐ 4„ Ðbitterness.€€On€the€other€hand,€we€should€love€the€separated€member€as€Christ€loved€taxÐ ^ Ðcollectors€and€pagans.Ð è8 Ðà  àMatthew€18€concludes€with€a€powerful€parable€about€the€love€and€forgiveness€of€God€asÐ Â Ðwell€as€the€consequences€of€rejecting€that€love€and€forgiveness.€€The€servant€in€the€parable€isÐ œì Ðsimilar€to€the€offending€brother€in€Mt.€18:15„17€(who€ð ðrefuses€to€listenðð).€€The€servant€€seems€toÐ v Æ Ðnot€have€€listened€or€heard€what€the€king€said.€€Although€the€king€forgave€his€debt€and€freed€him,Ð P"   Ðhe€turned€around€and€attacked€someone€who€owed€him€a€pittance.€€The€choking€behavior€of€thisÐ *$z" Ðman€is€similar€to€the€offensive€behavior€of€the€hand€or€foot€in€Mt.€18:7„10.€€When€harmfulÐ &T!$ Ðbehavior€like€this€occurs€it€is€right€for€God€to€judge,€so€that€others€are€not€unnecessarily€hurt.€€ToÐ Þ'.#& Ðbe€both€gracious€and€just€God€offers€forgiveness€freely€but€judges€those€who€refuse€that€grace.Ð  ¸)%( Ðà  àI€think€that€this€context€is€significant€for€a€correct€understanding€of€divorce€in€MatthewÐ ° Ð19:3„9.€€Jesusðð€ideal€is€clearly€for€marriage€to€be€permanent;€in€this€passage€He€validates€theÐ ŠÚ Ðð ðone€fleshðð€concept€of€marriage.€€But€because€of€sin€there€are€occasions€when€one€part€of€theÐ d´ Ðbody€becomes€dangerous€to€the€survival€of€the€rest€of€the€body.€€Jesus€identifies€the€root€of€thisÐ > Ž Ðproblem€as€hard€heartedness,€illustrated€in€the€context€by€those€who€refuse€forgiveness€orÐ  h Ðreconciliation.€€When€forgiveness€and€reconciliation€are€rejected,€and€it€becomes€clear€to€manyÐ ò B  Ð(the€church€and€the€kingððs€other€servants€in€these€two€stories€become€involved)€that€a€person€hasÐ Ì  Ðbecome€a€danger€to€the€health€of€others,€then€separation€may€be€the€ð ðbetterðð€of€two€bad€options.Ð ¦ö  Ðà  àIf€I€am€to€be€fair€to€the€context,€then€I€must€conclude€that€the€ð ðmarital€unfaithfulnessððÐ €Ð Ðdescribed€in€the€context€is€equivalent€to€the€behavior€of€those€who€reject€Godððs€grace€andÐ Zª Ðforgiveness€outright€(previous€context)€as€well€as€those€who€reject€it€through€their€reliance€onÐ 4„ Ðtheir€own€goodness€or€works€to€get€eternal€life€(following€context).€€Like€the€passage€in€MatthewÐ ^ Ð5€it€is€clear€that€adultery€is€more€than€just€a€sexual€act.€€It€is€an€attitude€of€the€heart.Ð è8 ÐCONCLUSIONÐ Â Ðð!ðSin€is€more€than€external€behavior;€Jesus€makes€it€clear€in€Matthew€5€that€one€can€keep€all€theÐ œì Ðexternals€but€still€be€too€dangerous€to€be€allowed€into€the€kingdom.€€In€the€case€of€divorce,€weÐ v Æ Ðcannot€ð ðnot€sinðð€just€by€not€getting€a€piece€of€paper€certifying€divorce.€€God€is€not€ð ðfooledðð€byÐ P"   Ðour€outward€ð ðrightðð€behavior.€€He€sees€the€ð ðheartðð€adultery€within€the€marriage,€the€resentment,Ð *$z" Ðthe€bitterness,€the€control,€and€the€hate€that€lie€hidden€under€the€surface,€and€He€holds€usÐ &T!$ Ðaccountable€for€these€attitudes.Ð Þ'.#& Є„There€comes€a€time€when€divorce/separation€is€the€better€of€two€bad€optionsð!ðwhen€to€do€lessÐ ¸)%( Ðthan€separate€would€do€more€harm€than€good.Ð ’+â&* ÐÑ OY Ñâ  âѰ°Ñâ  âÑ  Ñð!ðThe€decision€to€divorce€should€not€be€entered€into€any€more€readily€than€one€would€decide€toÐ ° Ðcut€off€a€body€part.€€The€questionð!ðð ðIs€divorce€okay€or€right?ð!ðseen€in€this€context€becomes€anÐ ŠÚ Ðabsurd€question,€as€absurd€as€askingð!ðð ðIs€it€okay€or€right€to€cut€off€my€hand?ðð€€The€obviousÐ d´ Ðanswer€is€ð ðNo!ððð!ðit€is€wrong€to€cut€off€a€body€part,€though€it€might€become€a€last„ditch€effort€toÐ > Ž Ðsave€oneððs€life.Ð  h ÐÓ<ÓÓÓð!ðBecause€the€issues€of€adultery€and€divorce€are€so€complex,€it€is€difficult€to€determine€whenÐ ò B  Ðdivorce€may€be€the€better€of€two€evils.€€We€cannot€make€up€any€ð ðruleðð€that€applies€to€everyÐ Ì  Ðsituation.€€When€we€start€making€rules€about€which€evil€thing€to€do,€we€have€missed€the€point.€Ð ¦ö  Ðà  àI€think€that€if€people€understood€the€seriousness€of€the€sin€problem€as€well€as€the€mercyÐ €Ð Ðand€grace€of€God,€there€would€be€far€fewer€divorces.€€If€people€admitted€their€need€and€receivedÐ Zª Ðthe€forgiveness€of€God€in€practical€everyday€situations,€they€would€become€more€safe€to€beÐ 4„ Ðaround,€and€as€a€result,€their€marriages€would€improve.€€Unfortunately,€I€do€not€think€mostÐ ^ Ðpeople€truly€recognize€their€need€or€are€in€a€position€to€receive€mercy.€€They€are€often€blinded€toÐ è8 Ðthe€love€of€God€by€their€own€pain.€€Many€of€these€people€choose€to€divorce,€hoping€that€this€willÐ Â Ðease€their€pain.€€To€divorce€is€a€serious€and€painful€decision,€but€I€believe€Christððs€righteousnessÐ œì Ðis€available€for€those,€who€for€issues€of€life€or€death,€make€that€painful€choice.€€It€would€be€goodÐ v Æ Ðfor€the€rest€of€us€to€remember€that€just€as€we€would€show€compassion€to€someone€who€hasÐ P"   Ðexperienced€an€amputation,€so€should€we€show€the€same€compassion€to€those€who€divorce.€€€Ð *$z" ÐÓSÓÓ  ÓREMARRIAGEÐ &T!$ ÐÓ%YÓÌÓÓà  àGod€is€in€the€business€of€revealing€something€about€His€character€through€marriage.€€HeÐ Þ'.#& Ðuses€the€metaphor€of€marriage€throughout€scripture€to€reveal€His€covenant€mercy€andÐ ¸)%( Ðfaithfulness€to€Israel€as€well€as€His€commitment€to€righteousness€and€holiness€within€theÐ ’+â&* Ðrelationship.€€As€seen€earlier€in€this€paper,€there€came€a€time€in€history€when€GodððsÐ ° Ðlongsuffering€came€to€an€end,€and€He€ultimately€chose€another€woman€to€be€His€bride.€€InÐ ŠÚ ÐRevelation€we€can€read€about€the€celebration€that€will€occur€when€God€finally€marries€HisÐ d´ Ðintended.€€So,€even€though€God€has€experienced€the€pain€of€separation€and€divorce,€He€alsoÐ > Ž Ðlooks€forward€to€a€ð ðremarriageðð€ceremony.Ð  h Ðà  àWhether€this€fact€makes€remarriage€ð ðrightðð€or€ð ðpermissibleðð€is€still€the€wrong€question.€Ð ò B  ÐRemarriage€only€occurs€in€the€context€of€divorce,€and€it€is€plain€that€divorce€is€wrong.€€I€think,Ð Ì  Ðhowever,€that€we€can€learn€a€lesson€about€God€through€His€painful€relationship€with€ð ðGomerðð,Ð ¦ö  Ðand€His€ð ðremarriageðð€to€spiritual€Israel.Ð €Ð ÐROMANS€7:1„6Ð Zª Ðà  àI€think€that€remarriage€as€presented€in€Romans€7:1„6€gives€an€insightful€picture€of€GodððsÐ 4„ Ðmercy€and€justice€in€dealing€with€our€sin€problem.€€Paul€uses€marriage€and€remarriage€in€thisÐ ^ Ðcontext€to€illustrate€to€his€readers€what€it€means€to€die€to€the€law€and€to€live€to€God.€€Paul€beginsÐ è8 Ðthis€chapter€by€saying€that€ð ðthe€law€has€authority€over€a€man€only€as€long€as€he€livesðð€(Rom.Ð Â Ð7:1).€€The€implication€here€is€that€the€law€does€not€have€authority€over€a€man€if€he€has€died.€Ð œì ÐPaul€uses€marriage€to€illustrate.€€He€notes€that€a€woman€is€bound€to€her€husband€as€long€as€herÐ v Æ Ðhusband€lives,€but€if€her€husband€dies,€then€she€is€free€to€remarry€without€becoming€anÐ P"   Ðadulteress€(Rom.€7:2,€3).€€Similarly,€Paul€says,€we€have€died€to€the€law,€through€the€body€ofÐ *$z" ÐChrist,€so€that€we€can€belong€to€Christ€(Rom.€7:4).€€Remarriage,€according€to€this€passage,€is€notÐ &T!$ Ðequated€with€the€sin€of€adultery€if€someone€has€diedð!ðthe€spouse€or€the€person€him/herself.Ð Þ'.#& Ðà  àRemarriage€is€equated€with€adultery,€according€to€Paul,€if€someone€remarries€whileÐ ¸)%( Ðhis/her€spouse€is€still€living.€€There€is€no€exception€here€that€allows€remarriage€for€any€reasonÐ ’+â&* Ðother€than€death,€even€remarriage€for€the€ð ðinnocentðð€spouse€who€experienced€a€divorce€becauseÐ ° Ðof€the€adultery€of€the€previous€spouse.€€In€fact,€I€have€found€no€clear€unambiguous€statement€thatÐ ŠÚ Ðequates€remarriage€after€divorce€with€anything€less€than€adultery.€Ð d´ Ðà  àWhy?€€Why€is€it€so€wrong€to€remarry€if€the€previous€spouse€is€still€alive?€€Why€does€PaulÐ > Ž Ðequate€remarriage€in€this€context€with€adultery?€€I€think€that€the€context€in€Romans€7€answersÐ  h Ðthis€question.€€In€Romans€7:7„25,€Paul€gives€a€powerful€example€of€what€spiritual€adultery€looksÐ ò B  Ðlike.€€Paul€writes€in€these€verses€of€the€struggle€he€experienced€while€his€mind€and€body€wereÐ Ì  Ðdividedð!ðwhile€his€mind€wanted€to€live€to€God€and€his€body€wanted€to€live€to€sin.€€This€illustratesÐ ¦ö  Ðthe€division€that€occurs€when€someone€tries€to€live€in€a€new€marriage€(a€marriage€to€Godððs€lawÐ €Ð Ðin€this€context)€while€the€previous€spouse€is€still€alive€(Paulððs€sinful€nature€that€was€very€muchÐ Zª Ðalive€within€him€at€this€point).€€Paul€parallels€adultery€in€this€context€with€trying€to€be€married€toÐ 4„ Ðthe€righteousness€of€Godððs€law€while€allowing€the€law€of€sin€within€us€to€still€live.€€It€does€notÐ ^ Ðwork.€€This€kind€of€remarriage€only€results€in€struggle,€division,€and€frustration.Ð è8 Ðà  àGod€knows€this,€and€so€He,€in€His€mercy,€has€provided€a€way€of€escape€for€us.€€GodÐ Â Ðwants€us€to€belong€to€Him,€but€He€knows€that€this€cannot€happen€as€long€as€we€remain€marriedÐ œì Ðto€our€sinful€natures.€€So€God,€in€the€body€of€Christ,€put€our€old€selves€to€death€(Rom.€7:4€&€8:3„Ð v Æ Ð4).€€God€is€both€just€and€merciful€in€doing€this.€€He€is€just€in€putting€us€to€death.€€He€is€mercifulÐ P"   Ðbecause€he€puts€us€to€death€in€Himselfð!ðHe€died€so€that€we€could€live.€€I€am€amazed€at€how€GodÐ *$z" Ðalways€lives€up€to€His€own€counsel€in€scripture.€€According€to€the€most€plain€interpretation€ofÐ &T!$ Ðscripture,€the€only€ð ðrightðð€context€for€remarriage€is€if€one€of€the€spouses€has€died.€€God€opened€aÐ Þ'.#& Ðway€up€for€us€to€remarry€Christ€by€putting€our€old€marriage/self€to€death,€but€He€was€only€able€toÐ ¸)%( Ðaccomplish€this€by€dying€Himself.€€This€is€the€gospel€in€the€issue€of€remarriage.€€God€wanted€usÐ ’+â&* Ðso€badly€that€He€died€so€that€we€may€experience€freedom,€not€division,€in€a€new€marriage€toÐ ° ÐHimself.€€The€way€for€us€to€experience€this€new€life/marriage€is€through€belief.€€Paul€writes€thatÐ ŠÚ Ðwe€must€ð ðcount€[ourselves]€dead€to€sinðð€(Rom.€6:11).€€This€faith€activity€frees€us€from€our€oldÐ d´ Ðdead„end€marriage€(that€only€results€in€death€[Rom.€6:21])€so€that€we€may€join€ourselves€in€aÐ > Ž Ðnew€marriage€to€Christð!ða€marriage€that€is€full€of€life€and€fruitfulness.€€ÔSk » hÔÓ SÓÔ‡ô4ãòXXÔÔ‡Lô4ãòòô4ãÔÐ k » ÐÓaYÓÓ€ J (ÿÿ03NÓÔ#†LXÀÔXòLô4ãep#ÔÔ#†XÀÔXXLXÀÔ„p#ÔÓÓà  àIn€this€context,€it€makes€sense€that€remarriage€would€be€equated€with€adultery€as€long€asÐ ˜è  Ðthe€previous€spouse€was€alive.€€God€is€wise€and€merciful.€€He€does€not€want€us€to€be€divided€inÐ r  Ðour€loyalties.€€He€wants€us€to€experience€true€freedom€and€joy€in€Him.€€I€think€that,€just€as€anyÐ Lœ  Ðother€physical€model€given€by€God€(such€as€the€Old€Testament€sanctuary)€marriage€is€primarilyÐ &v Ðsupposed€to€teach€us€something€about€Godððs€character.€€Marriage€and€remarriage,€seen€in€thisÐ P Ðlight,€do€just€that.Ð Ú* Ðà  àSo€how€do€we€take€this€spiritual€message€and€apply€it€to€the€very€real€issue€of€remarriageÐ W Ðin€a€concrete,€physical€sense?€€Honestly,€I€am€not€totally€sure.€€I€am€definitely€uncomfortableÐ á1 Ðwith€a€legalistic€application€that€is€focused€on€mere€externals.€€I€think€that€such€applicationÐ »  Ðmisses€the€point€or€the€principles€that€remarriage€is€designed€to€teach.Ð •å Ðà  àThe€inconsistency€of€a€legalistic€application€is€clearly€seen€in€the€following€example.€Ð Â! ÐImagine€that€an€older€man€remarries€after€his€spouse€of€forty€years€dies.€€According€to€aÐ œ#ì  Ðlegalistic€interpretation€of€remarriage,€this€man€has€not€sinned.€€But€what€if€that€same€man€afterÐ v%Æ " Ðgetting€remarried€never€lets€his€previous€wife€ð ðdie.ðð€€Imagine€he€hangs€unto€her€by€keeping€allÐ P' "$ Ðher€old€thingsð!ðher€clothes€remain€in€the€dresser,€her€dishes€remain€in€the€cupboard,€etc.€€ThisÐ *)z$& Ðman€has€made€no€space€for€his€new€wife.€€Because€he€is€hanging€on€to€the€old,€like€PaulððsÐ +T&( Ðexample€of€hanging€onto€the€sinful€nature,€this€man€is€divided.€€He€is€unable€to€be€truly€marriedÐ ° Ðto€his€new€wife,€because€he€is€not€free€of€the€old€marriage.€€A€legalist€would€say€that€this€manÐ ŠÚ Ðhas€kept€the€law.€€Unfortunately,€this€man,€though€outwardly€correct,€has€missed€the€point€thatÐ d´ ÐPaul€was€making€in€this€passage.€€This€man€has€kept€the€letter€of€the€law€but€missed€the€spirit€ofÐ > Ž Ðthe€law.€€As€we€saw€above€in€Mt.€5,€Christ€makes€it€clear€that€keeping€the€letter€of€the€law€doesÐ  h Ðus€no€good€if€we€have€missed€the€spirit€of€the€law.Ð ò B  Ðà  àMy€struggle€in€applying€remarriage€is€in€taking€this€example€to€the€opposite€extreme.€€IsÐ o  Ðremarriage€justified€if€a€person€can€honestly€claim€that€they€have€said€a€final€ð ðgoodbyeðð€to€theirÐ ùI  Ðold€spouse,€if€they€claim€that€their€old€spouse€is€as€good€as€dead€in€their€minds?€€Would€thisÐ Ó# Ðmake€such€a€person€free€to€remarry€without€experiencing€the€division€of€Paul€in€Romans€7?€Ð ­ý ÐWould€such€a€marriage€be€free€of€adultery?€€What€about€a€divorced€person€who€has€trulyÐ ‡× Ðrepented€of€the€sin€that€contributed€to€the€failure€of€his/her€previous€marriage,€has€accepted€theÐ a± Ðdeath€of€Christ,€and€claims€Galatians€3:20„21€personally?€€Is€that€person€free€to€remarry€anotherÐ ;‹ Ðperson€physically€just€as€he/she€is€free€now€to€experience€a€new€union€with€Christ?€€I€am€notÐ e Ðsure.€€How€could€I,€a€sinful€frail€human€being,€judge€whether€a€person€was€truly€free€of€theÐ ï? Ðprevious€marriage€or€not?€€If€I€started€judging,€I€would€never€be€able€to€stop.€€There€is€no€way€IÐ É  Ðcan€make€up€enough€rules€for€the€immense€variety€of€situations€that€people€experience.€€For€meÐ £"ó  Ðto€begin€such€a€process€would€be€to€become€like€the€Pharisees.Ð }$Í" Ðà  àI€think€it€would€be€better€for€me,€instead€of€thinking€up€all€sorts€of€rules€for€every€kind€ofÐ ª&ú!$ Ðexception€to€divorce€and€remarriage,€to€spend€my€time€considering€how€serious€of€aÐ „(Ô#& Ðcommitment€marriage€is.€€Through€the€concrete€model€of€marriage,€God€is€trying€to€teach€meÐ ^*®%( Ðhow€serious€He€is€about€having€a€lifelong€and€righteous€relationship€with€me.€€He€is€so€seriousÐ 8,ˆ'* Ðabout€this€relationship€that€He€would€rather€die€than€lose€me.€€He€is€so€serious€about€protectingÐ ° Ðme€from€harm€that€He€chooses€at€times€to€cut€part€of€His€body€off€to€spare€the€rest.€€He€is€soÐ ŠÚ Ðserious€about€having€a€fruitful€and€healthy€relationship€with€me€that€He€puts€my€old€self€to€deathÐ d´ Ðso€that€I€can€experience€undivided€freedom€and€joy€in€my€new€life€with€Him.€€In€light€of€thisÐ > Ž Ðkind€of€love€the€questionð!ðð ðIs€divorce€and/or€remarriage€òòrightóó€or€òòwrong€óóor€òòpermissibleóó?ððð!ðseemsÐ  h Ðso€trivial.€€Off€course€they€are€wrong.€€It€is€wrong€for€God€to€have€to€cut€off/divorce€part€of€HisÐ ò B  Ðbody€to€have€to€gain€the€rest.€€It€is€wrong€for€God€to€have€to€die€in€order€to€marry€me.€€Death€isÐ Ì  Ðwrong.€€Sin€is€wrong.€€But€God,€because€He€is€God,€is€able€to€teach€us€something€powerful€aboutÐ ¦ö  ÐHis€mercy€and€His€justice€with€both€the€issue€of€divorce€and€the€issue€of€remarriage.€€€Ð €Ð Ðà  àIn€conclusion,€I€believe€that€both€the€letter€and€the€spirit€of€the€law€are€important.€€ChristÐ ­ý Ðkept€both€the€spirit€and€the€letter€of€the€law,€and€so€should€we.€€I€think€that€the€letter€of€the€lawÐ ‡× Ðprotects€us€physically/externally€while€the€spirit€of€the€law€protects€us€spiritually/internally.€€TheÐ a± Ðletter€of€the€law€guards€me€from€being€murdered€or€from€murdering€someone€else,€from€stealingÐ ;‹ Ðor€from€having€things€stolen€from€me,€etc.€€The€spirit€of€the€law€guards€my€heart€from€feelingÐ e Ðanger€and€covetousness€and€other€evil€desires€that€hurt€me,€even€though€others€may€never€knowÐ ï? Ðthose€feelings€exist.€€In€the€case€of€remarriage,€I€think€that€there€are€both€physical€and€spiritualÐ É  Ðreason€to€avoid€getting€remarried.€€I€have€already€noted€some€of€the€spiritual€reasons€above.€Ð £"ó  ÐThere€are€also€many€physical,€concrete€reasons€why€remarriage€is€not€a€good€idea,€especially€ifÐ }$Í" Ðthe€previous€spouse€is€still€living.€€As€long€as€the€previous€spouse€is€alive,€there€will€be€dividedÐ W&§!$ Ðloyalties,€as€much€as€a€person€may€try€to€be€single„minded€and€loyal€in€the€new€marriage.€€Often,Ð 1(#& Ðchildren€are€involved,€and€the€old€and€new€marriages€get€all€mixed€together€in€trying€to€raise€theÐ  *[%( Ðchildren.€€This€juggling€of€the€old€and€new€is€hard€on€children€just€as€it€is€hard€on€the€parents.€Ð å+5'* ÐOften€the€old€marriage€is€brought€into€the€new€marriage€through€the€spouseððs€thoughts€andÐ ° Ðhabits.€€Much€of€relationship€occurs€in€the€mind.€€And€when€people€remarry€they€take€theirÐ ŠÚ Ðminds€with€them.€€They€bring€into€the€new€marriage€all€the€bad€habits,€all€the€controllingÐ d´ Ðbehaviors,€all€the€selfish€desires€that€contributed€to€the€misery€of€the€previous€marriage.€Ð > Ž ÐBecause€of€this,€the€previous€marriage€is€still€very€much€alive€in€the€new€marriage.€€This€resultsÐ  h Ðin€struggle€and€frustration€in€the€new€marriage.€€For€such€reasons,€remarriage€is€often€not€a€goodÐ ò B  Ðidea.Ð Ì  Ðà  àWhether€this€means€that€remarriage€is€never€a€good€idea,€I€cannot€tell.€€There€may€beÐ ùI  Ðsome€cases,€where€like€divorce,€remarriage€is€the€better€of€two€bad€options.€€I€think€of€singleÐ Ó# Ðpoverty„stricken€women€trying€to€raise€their€children€alone.€€Many€of€them€get€remarried€solelyÐ ­ý Ðfor€the€sake€of€their€children.€€Much€of€my€reading€on€this€issue€notes€the€serious€effects€thatÐ ‡× Ðeconomic€poverty€has€on€children€as€well€as€the€need€for€father€figures€in€childrenððs€lives.€€IsÐ a± Ðremarriage€under€such€conditions€advisable?€€Perhaps.€€In€any€case,€remarriage,€like€divorce,Ð ;‹ Ðshould€not€be€viewed€out€of€black€and€white€lenses.€€These€issues,€like€sin,€are€bigger,€moreÐ e Ðcomplicated,€and€go€deeper€than€we€are€often€aware€of.Ð ï? Ðà  àI€think€that,€rather€than€focus€on€the€ð ðrightnessðð€or€ð ðwrongnessðð€of€divorce€and/orÐ !l Ðremarriage,€we€should€first€focus€on€what€they€can€teach€us€about€the€character€of€God.€€TheseÐ ö"F  Ðissues€should€remind€us€of€the€seriousness€of€our€sin€problem.€€They€should€convict€us€of€theÐ Ð$ " Ðfolly€of€thinking€we€can€avoid€sin€simply€by€following€external€rules.€€And€as€these€issuesÐ ª&ú!$ Ðconvict€us€of€our€great€need,€they€should€also€reveal€to€us€the€great€goodness,€the€great€mercyÐ „(Ô#& Ðand€grace,€as€well€as€the€great€justice€and€righteousness€of€the€God€we€serve.Ð ^*®%( ЇCONCLUSIONÐ ° Ðð!ðTo€remarry€while€the€previous€spouse€is€still€living€is€to€commit€adultery.Ð Ý- Ðð!ðIn€saying€that€it€is€adultery€to€remarry€while€a€spouse€is€still€alive,€God€makes€it€clear€thatÐ  Z Ðmarriage€is€a€commitment€that€is€intended€to€last€until€death.€€God€intends€to€communicateÐ ä 4 Ðthrough€the€model€of€marriage€how€serious€He€is€about€the€commitment€He€has€made€with€us.€Ð ¾  ÐCalvary€is€the€clearest€picture€of€how€serious€God€is€about€His€commitments.€€GodððsÐ ˜è  Ðcommitment€is€our€model€for€commitment€within€marriage.Ð r  Ðð!ðSpiritual€adultery,€in€the€context€of€Romans€7,€is€when€someone€tries€to€unite€the€righteousnessÐ Ÿï  Ðof€Godððs€law€with€the€sinful€nature.€€This€results€in€struggle€and€division.€€This€division€inÐ yÉ Ðloyalties€is€similar€to€the€division€that€occurs€when€someone€remarries€while€the€previous€spouseÐ S£ Ðis€still€alive.€€Remarriage,€thus,€serves€as€a€model€for€how€to€better€understand€the€spiritual€life.Ð -} Ðð!ðBoth€the€letter€and€the€spirit€of€the€law€protect€us.€€To€be€consistent€and€healthy,€we€need€toÐ Zª Ðabide€by€both.€€How€to€apply€both€to€remarriage€is€not€an€easy€task.€€Because€remarriage€is€neverÐ 4„ Ða€ð ðgoodðð€option€(remarriage€is€only€possible€if€someone€has€died€or€been€divorcedð!ðneither€caseÐ ^ Ðis€ð ðgoodðð€or€ð ðrightðð),€the€ð ðbetterðð€option€for€some€may€be€to€remarry.€€We€need€to€rememberÐ è8 Ðwhen€applying€this€issue,€that€where€sin€exists,€there€is€often€no€ð ðrightðð€or€ð ðgoodðð€answers.