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These verses about divorce have sparked much debate. It appears that Jesus is not making a comprehensive rule book for divorce but rather is siding on a contextual discussion. He honors and protects the ideal of covenant loyalty, and at the same time stands on the side of those with less power. So, with this tension. where does that leave us today and how can we be wise in interpretation? Divorce: It's not God's ideal. Sometimes it's wise. It always involves sin somewhere. It always hurts. And in Jesus, there is hope and healing.
Message Notes 22/07/2024
Insights from Stats SA
Peak Ages for Divorce in the 40s for Men, 30s for Women
Women More Likely to Initiate Divorce (55%)
More than half of Divorces Involve Minor Children
Most Divorces from First Marriages of Less than 10 Years (42%)
An Increase in Divorce Rates YoY (10.9%)
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:31-32
• Jesus is referencing one of the 10 commandments but something in the Torah:
1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, Deuteronomy 24:1
The debate at the time of Jesus was about what "something indecent" was
There were two prominent rabbinic schools
Hillel Akibah - any reason, e.g. spoiling the food, or appearance
Shammai - stricter interpretation, i.e. marital unfaithfulness
3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” Matthew 19:3-9
Jesus' answer here is less about the rules for divorce and more about dealing with religious men who were trying to trap him to discredit him
Jesus shifts the conversation to God's ideal Creation - covenant, and loyalty. He is not adding anything new, but rather reminding us of what was. (NB to note that both Jesus & Paul have high views of marriage and singleness.)
They challenge, trying to trap him again - why did Moses permit divorce?
Jesus explains the Concession (the certificate was for protection as women had very little rights; divorce was brutal. Dallas Willard explains the adulterous status -without a certificate - refers to a degraded sexual condition that was a consequence of the time, and the options were either not remarry and live with family, or be re-married as damaged goods, or be a prostitute.
NT Scholar Jeannine Brown talks about this tension as the Prototype & Proviso
Jesus' point is without the hardness of heart they wouldn't even be having the conversation. Jesus highlights the consequences of a hard heart that divorces out of selfishness. It's not an accident Jesus deals with a divorce after anger contempt and lust…!
Conclusion: Jesus is not making a comprehensive rule book for divorce but siding on a contextual debate. He
• Honours and protects the ideal of covenant loyalty - Genesis account
• He shows his heart to protect women from injustice - being discarded by hard-hearted men. This is a reoccurring theme we see in how Jesus treats people.
So, with this tension. where does that leave us today - how can we be wise in interpretation?
1/ What does covenant loyalty look like to you?
2/ Would you rather be right, or righteous?
3/ What could you do to make your marriage great?
4/ Do you think Jesus would want you to stay in an endangering environment?
5/ Where could you find wise counsel?
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed Prov 15:22
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