Today we are reading Matthew 19. In this chapter Jesus is challenged about issues concerning marriage. The keyword for this chapter is “a-po-lu-o”. The definition is “to release, to divorce”.
“And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”
He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”” Matthew 19:3, 8-9 ESV Divorce is very common in our modern culture. As a concession to their hard hearts Moses permitted Israelites to give their spouse a certificate of divorce which in fact protected the wife from accusations and punishment for adultery. What are some of the reasons you have heard for divorce? How do they compare with the standard Jesus teaches? What is the overarching idea that Jesus is teaching concerning marriage and divorce? May God bless you with His unconditional love for your spouse! Pastor Tim