WEBVTT 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:13.919 The scripture reading this morning is found in Matthew's Gospel, chapter 19, and I will be reading the uh first nine verses of that. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:21.039 Let me read uh the other passage that uh really is the catalyst for this message this morning. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:38.880 We've been going through the Gospel of Luke, and in Luke chapter 16, verse 18, um it says this everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:50.159 And now the scripture passage in Matthew 19, and you can find that on page 824 if you're using the Pew Bible. 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:57.520 And as I mentioned, each week it is our desire that everyone have a copy of God's word for himself. 00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:08.879 And so if you don't own a copy of the Bible, uh please, as our gift to you, uh take that Bible home at the end of the service and make it your own. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:16.640 Read it and study it, and I hope and trust that you will come back each week as we study God's Word together. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:21.439 Matthew chapter 19, I will be reading verses one through nine. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:33.040 Now, when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan, and large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:41.040 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:48.000 He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female? 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:55.920 And said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:58.959 So they are no longer two but one. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:04.000 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:11.520 They said to him, Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:20.479 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. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:28.960 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:32.240 Thus ends the reading of God's word. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:44.960 This morning, there are a couple things that I wanted to say before I even go into my notes, and that is, first of all, uh I am going to stick closer to my manuscript than I usually do. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:52.080 Uh so if it comes across a little bit more uh teaching, um, that's the reason why. 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:59.520 And then secondly, um even though I know it's early now, um, there is a lot that I want to say this morning. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:11.039 And so uh, if you will indulge me if I do go over our time, I do think it's important that we go through uh the entire passage and related issues. 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:18.400 I will try not to, uh, but if I do, uh please uh bear with me a few extra moments. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:24.159 This morning we're delving into a very personal and very controversial topic. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:34.560 I know here that this morning there are many who've been touched by this issue of divorce, and the hurt, pain, and emotions run deep. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:46.159 I also know that there are many differences of opinion on this issue, and I want to be respectful of those interpretations of Scripture while sharing what I believe the text of the Bible is teaching on this issue. 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:55.120 It's not my intention to water down God's word, what God's word says, in light of the prevalence of divorce in our culture and even within the church. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:02.639 My desire is to study the text and allow that to guide and govern our understanding of the issue. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:10.000 Also, it's not my intention to add requirements or restrictions beyond what the Bible teaches on this topic. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:18.639 There is no virtue going beyond what the Bible says and adding rules and regulations to appear more spiritual or holy. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:31.600 Also, please be careful to understand that what we talk about this morning in no way sanctions, encourages, authorizes, advises, or promotes ending any marriage. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:42.079 It is my heartfelt conviction that God intends every marriage to be for life, and that was his intention from the beginning when he created the institution of marriage. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:52.560 I also know that many here today have experienced a failed marriage or have seen that happen in their family or close friends. 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:57.199 And I do not want to add to the pain and heartache of that traumatic experience. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:19.199 If, as what you hear today, what you hear said today, you discover that your divorce was not on biblical grounds, God is graciously calling you to repentance, to repent of that sin that you have committed and experience God's forgiveness and acceptance into fellowship with Him and within the life of the church. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:27.120 If you've been sinned against and through no desire of your own have been divorced, I pray that God will bring you comfort and encouragement through his word. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:41.519 Before we even delve into the passage, I also want to share with you some of my principles of interpreting these passages of Scripture and what guide my understanding of what the Bible says on the issue of divorce. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:47.920 First of all, I believe that the Bible is God's inerrant word so that there are no contradictions. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:06:02.959 The Holy Spirit guided every author within the Bible so that what he wrote, even though his own uh it's in through the personality of the human author and his writing style, it is the very exact words that God wanted communicated. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:11.439 We must also understand the grammar, syntax, and historic setting as we understand what Jesus is saying. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:20.560 Having said that, the plain, straightforward understanding is the correct interpretation unless there's compelling reason to reject it and move in another direction. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:29.439 That being said, we must interpret the Bible, particularly the gospels, in a way that harmonizes the teaching of the Lord. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:34.720 We should not pit one passage against another as if there is a conflict. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:42.399 Rightly understood, they agree with one another, and collectively they teach the full understanding of an issue. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:48.879 Having said that, the question arises: are the shorter passages normative? 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:56.639 And must we find therefore another explanation for the fuller teachings, or is it the other way around? 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:05.120 And it's my conviction that more detailed andor longer passages of Scripture explain and expand on shorter passages. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:13.839 This is an important consideration because Jesus says more in Matthew's Gospel on this issue than he does in the Gospel of Mark and Luke. 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:22.720 In other situations, the fuller teaching informs us of things that the other writer may not have included or may not have had in view. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:28.879 For instance, and let me give you some examples outside of this issue before us today. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:34.480 In Matthew chapter 6, verses 9 through 13, we find a full account of the Lord's Prayer. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:41.759 In Luke chapter 11, verses 2 through 4, we find an abbreviated version the Lord gives on another occasion. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:49.040 These are not in conflict, and the longer passage expands and adds to what Jesus says in the shorter one. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:08:02.399 Another example in a different context, in Matthew chapter 8, verse 28, the Bible says that Jesus was approached by two demon-possessed men as he traveled through the garden, through the country of the Gadereans. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:10.160 Mark chapter 5, verse 2 only mentions one man who was demon-possessed and talked to Jesus. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.480 Are these passages in conflict? 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:13.120 No. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.759 Is one of them incorrect? 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:16.399 No. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:25.920 Matthew gives the fuller account telling us that there were two, and Mark reveals that only one of the two speaks and interacts with Jesus. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.160 Another example can be found at the end of Matthew's gospel. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:35.519 In Matthew 28:1, we are told that two women went to Jesus' tomb on the first day of the week. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:40.559 But in Mark 16, 1, he mentions three women who went to the tomb. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:44.399 So the question is, was it two women or was it three? 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:49.679 It was three women, but Matthew in his gospel only mentions two of them. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:55.200 Doing that does not preclude the fuller revelation of Mark or contradict it. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:57.440 And let me give you a personal example. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:12.879 If I were to share with somebody and we were talking about my daughter Grace and how is she doing, and I said, Well, you know, last night we put up the tent downstairs and Grace slept downstairs in the tent and we had a camp out in our basement. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:18.960 And then a few minutes later you overheard me talking with somebody else, and they said, Oh, well, what did your kids do last night? 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:24.320 And I said, Oh, well, Grace and Alex were downstairs and they and they camped out. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:28.320 Now, you might think to yourself, was that a contradiction? 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:32.879 But upon further reflection, you would say, no, that wasn't a contradiction. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:42.320 Only mentioning one child at one point does not preclude a fuller explanation of that story at another time and another point. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:45.600 Why belabor this point? 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:56.240 Because many people say that we must take the shorter passages of Mark and Luke and find another explanation for the words of Jesus in Matthew's gospel. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:07.120 Mark and Luke's gospel in no way contradicts Matthew, and I believe, rightly understood, they are in harmony saying the same thing on the issues that they address. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:17.519 Although other passages touch on the issue, there are five main passages in the New Testament that deal with the issue of marriage and divorce, and they are these. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:27.600 Matthew chapter 5, verses 31 and 32, Matthew chapter 19, verses 3 through 9, the passage in view this morning. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.600 Mark chapter 10 verses 3 through 12. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:38.080 And then Luke chapter 16, verse 18, the other passage that I read this morning. 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:49.919 And 1 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 10 through 16, the passage that we will deal with and examine next week to see how it fits with what we have seen this morning. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:59.279 And so this morning we're going to look at what Jesus is teaching in the Gospels, and next Sunday we'll see how Paul's comments fit within the larger context of this issue. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:24.000 So we will be basing our study primarily on Matthew chapter 19, verses 3 through 9, because it is parallel in teaching to Mark, and it brings in all of the issues under consideration in Luke and in the earlier passage and addresses some issues that aren't addressed elsewhere, namely the issue of remarriage in some circumstances or a circumstance of divorce. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:35.759 And so turn with me, we'll begin looking then at Matthew chapter 19 and beginning in verse 3, the passage that I read earlier. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:45.759 And the first thing that we note in chapter 19, verses 3 through 6 is the perfect standard for marriage. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:48.720 And this is really what we talked about last week. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:51.919 The Pharisees ask an inappropriate question. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:56.559 The Pharisees came to Jesus desiring to test him. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:04.559 They wanted to give a controversial issue, and most likely they were trying to justify their own sinful practices. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:11.600 And so we see in verse 3, they asked this question: Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:19.759 In Jesus' day, there were two schools of thought regarding divorce by different rabbis. 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:27.679 One rabbi, the school of thought, following Rabbi Shemai, took a more conservative view. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:44.080 He saw the passage from Moses where Moses makes a concession for divorce, and he saw that there was one acceptable reason, which was unchastity of behavior short of adultery. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:50.080 And so that was the reason that Rabbi Shemmai gave for divorce. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:55.600 The other rabbinic school in Jesus' day was led by Rabbi Hillel. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:01.679 And he was a religious liberal that held that a man could divorce his wife for any reason whatsoever. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:14.320 In fact, let me share with you a few of the reasons that he gave that were justifiable grounds for divorce, according to this liberal school of thought by Rabbi Hillel. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:23.919 He said some of the examples, some of the reasons that a man could divorce his wife, if she spoiled his dinner by adding too much salt. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:38.240 If she were seen in public with her head uncovered, if she talked with other men on the street, if she spoke disrespectfully to her husband's parents. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:09.279 But ultimately we're going to see that both schools misunderstand what Moses taught in Deuteronomy chapter 24, verses 1 through 4. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:14.639 Well, Jesus here answers their question and he gives them an emphatic answer. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:18.720 And so look at what Jesus says in the following verses. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:28.879 He answers them, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female? 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:37.360 And said, Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:45.200 So they are no longer two, but one flesh, which therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:22.960 And so if you weren't here last week, or if you would like to review what was said on this portion of the passage, I do want to encourage you to go online and listen to that message again in its entirety, or if you don't have access to the internet, you may purchase a copy at the information desk following the service. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:35.039 But let me just highlight what we talked about last time and what Jesus says here in no uncertain terms regarding God's intention for the marriage union. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:45.360 And Jesus here says that from the beginning of creation, God's design for marriage is one man and one woman for life. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:16:02.480 That God's design and his intention for this marriage relationship is that a man and a woman would come together in a covenant relationship of marriage, pledging themselves to one another, and that relationship would be for life. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:12.240 God's intention, therefore, for marriage is that it is to be indissoluble and permanent, a permanent relationship as one flesh. 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:27.279 And so from the creation, God's design intention for marriage is that it be permanent and not be dissolved, and that they be one flesh. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:38.960 And we also saw last time, and we spent a great bit of time talking about this last time, is that marriage is a covenant relationship before God, and ultimately it is God who has joined the two people together. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:17:06.079 And Jesus again emphatically tells us that this is not merely a human institution that we can decide and define on our own, but that God is the one who has joined these two people together, God is the one who has designed the marriage relationship, and that it is to be a covenant relationship before God, pledging each person to the other for the other's good, for life. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:16.319 And so this is the context where Jesus addresses this answer by talking about the reality of the perfect standard for marriage. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:20.880 This is God's intention for marriage. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:25.039 But now there's a question that is asked. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:33.039 A question that is asked by these Pharisees who are trying to trap Jesus. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:41.680 They say to him, why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:45.119 Now notice the phrasing of this question. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:48.319 This is a second inappropriate question that they ask here. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:55.119 They're distorting what Moses said in Deuteronomy. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:09.200 And keep in mind here, and this is important to our understanding, the context of what Jesus is saying here is in addressing the questions that they ask in regards to this passage in Deuteronomy chapter 24. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:17.920 And so they're asking him, and they're saying, well, Moses commanded them, uh, commanded one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:28.559 And the implication here is there are some circumstances in which there is an imperative that the husband must send away the wife under certain circumstances. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:31.599 And that is what they're asking. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:39.039 But then he says to them, um So they're saying this. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.799 They said to him, Why did Moses command? 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:50.400 And Jesus answers them, and he says, Because of your hardness of heart, Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:58.319 So Moses never commanded divorce, um, is what Jesus says here. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:05.519 I want to show you another parallel passage just to address a question that may come up if you're comparing the passages uh together. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:15.279 If you look at Mark chapter 10 for a moment, and let me just draw your attention because it may seem like there's a contradiction in the text. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:19.440 There isn't, but it may seem so on a surface reading of the text. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:27.839 And so I want to draw your attention to it uh now uh in case you go back later and compare these various passages of Scripture. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:49.680 So in Mark chapter 10, uh we have the conversation and clearly uh representative of a longer conversation that's here, uh, but we see this interchange that is going on between Jesus and the Pharisees, and the Pharisees uh ask, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:56.319 And Jesus answers him, verse 3, What did Moses command you? 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:14.240 And so it may look on the surface that Jesus is saying here the same thing that Jesus is challenging them in Matthew's gospel, but a closer reading of this passage reveals that that isn't the case. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:30.799 If you notice, if you keep your finger here and you notice what Jesus says in Matthew's gospel, Matthew, the the Pharisees ask, why did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:39.039 And so the Pharisees are asking, Jesus, what is your interpretation of Deuteronomy chapter 24, verses 1 through 4? 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:46.480 Now, Jesus, on the other hand, when they bring up this issue, what Jesus asks is a more general question. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:49.599 Jesus asks, what did Moses command you? 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:56.640 And we need to keep in mind that Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament called the Pentateuch. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:21.519 And what Jesus is asking is not particularly what did Moses write in Deuteronomy chapter 24, but what is the whole of Moses' teaching on the issue of marriage in his writing, beginning in Genesis chapter 1, and particularly, I believe, Genesis chapter 2 in view. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:42.640 And so what Jesus is drawing their attention to is not just this one passage of Scripture, but the whole body of writing that Moses gave, including the original institution of marriage to Adam and Eve, found in the book of Genesis, chapter 2. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:48.799 And so there isn't a conflict here between what the Pharisees say and what Jesus says. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:51.920 Jesus is pointing out a broader issue. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:22:06.720 The Pharisees here in Matthew's account of this are addressing a particular question, namely, why did Moses command a certificate of divorce and to send the person away. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:20.640 And so there is a difference here in what Jesus says and what the Pharisees say, and so there is no conflict in how Jesus addresses this question found in Matthew. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:27.279 What they're asking is the question of Moses commanding divorce. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:33.440 Jesus is answering the question of what does Moses as a whole say. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:40.640 Now, this is going to be important for us understanding what Jesus says and our interpretation of Jesus' answer here. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.960 And this is something that's that is often overlooked. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:53.920 I already read at the beginning Luke's passage, Luke chapter 16, verse 18. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:23:01.440 If we were to look again at that Mark passage, we notice that it is in the same context as our Matthew passage. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:15.599 And the question is in regards to the book of Deuteronomy, in particular, what is Moses saying in regards to marriage and divorce? 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:24.400 And so Jesus says in Mark's gospel, Moses allowed them, or they answered Jesus, Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:28.880 And Jesus says, because of your hardness of heart, he wrote this commandment. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:33.359 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:38.319 And so Jesus in Mark is addressing the question of Deuteronomy. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:49.519 We see also, if you turn to Matthew chapter 5, verses 31 and 32, that there is a contrast that we have here. 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:53.680 Matthew chapter 5, verses 31 and 32. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:58.640 Now keep in mind in Matthew chapter 5, this is the Sermon on the Mount. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:14.559 And Jesus is addressing the concept or the misapplication of some Old Testament ideas, and then he is giving a corrective of those ideas. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:29.519 And we see that in this pattern is followed through of you have heard it was said, you have heard it was said, and he goes through, and they had their misunderstandings of certain ideas and teachings in the Old Testament. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:38.400 And Jesus now gives a corrective and he adds greater force to God's ultimate intention in each one of these areas. 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:45.440 So if you were to read through chapter 5, you would see this pattern over and over again in these different areas. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:50.240 And if you have a Bible that gives dividers, you can see anger in verse 21. 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:52.799 You have heard that it was said to those of old. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:55.519 Verse 27, you have heard that it was said. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.920 Verse 31, it was also said. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:01.359 Verse 33, again you have heard that it was said. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:04.960 Verse 38, but you have heard that it was said. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.640 And verse 43, you have heard that it was said. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:16.319 And Jesus then gives their understanding of an Old Testament concept. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:26.799 This is not saying necessarily this is what the Old Testament taught, but he was addressing their perception and their understanding of what the Old Testament taught. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:33.519 And so Jesus again here brings up this Deuteronomy 24, 1 through 4 passage. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:52.160 It was also said, whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce, but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the grounds of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:26:11.599 And so in three passages here, in this passage in Matthew, in the Matthew 19 passage, and in the Mark passage, what is in view is the understanding of Deuteronomy chapter 24, verses 1 through 4. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:16.640 And so if we're going to understand what Jesus is saying here, let's turn to the Deuteronomy. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:19.599 You may have already been flipping back there. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:26.319 And let's look at what is actually said in this passage that Jesus is addressing. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:36.400 In Deuteronomy, chapter 24, verses 1 through 4. 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:44.319 And I'll make a couple observations on it, and then we will tie it together with what Jesus says. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:27:05.039 In Deuteronomy 24, it says, When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of the house and she departs out of his house. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:33.119 And, verse 2, if she goes and becomes another man's wife, and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband who sent her away may not take her again to be his wife after she has been defiled. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:43.359 For that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:49.200 And so this is the Old Testament passage, and let me make a few observations here. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:53.839 Notice, first of all, that Moses is dealing with a specific issue. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:28:07.200 The question in view is this May a woman who is divorced and has remarried go back to her former husband if her present husband divorces her or dies? 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:09.039 So that is the context. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:12.799 That's the question that Moses is answering. 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:18.799 Secondly, notice that Moses is not commanding or advocating divorce in any way. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:21.680 Divorce was practiced during the time of Moses. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:29.359 It was a practical reality, and Moses is dealing with the particular question in regards to that. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:40.319 So that we can see that divorce was not mandated or commanded, it was not encouraged or authorized, it was not advised or sanctioned. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:46.559 In fact, it is clear that divorce was a concession and it was tolerated or permitted. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:55.920 One author notes this he says, we must distinguish between suffrage and tolerance on the one hand and divine approval or sanction on the other. 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:59.839 Permission, suffrage, tolerance was granted. 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:03.839 But underlying the very notion is the idea of wrong. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:12.319 We do not properly speak of toleration or sufferance granted or conceded in connection with what is intrinsically right or desirable. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:29.599 And then this author concludes, when we say that divorce is intrinsically wrong, it's not just in the specific circumstances of divorce, but he goes on, but in the very act of divorce itself, there is an intrinsic wrong not compatible with the absolute standard of right. 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:39.279 And so divorce is granted, if you notice the passage, uh, for some indecency, it says in verse 1. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:43.440 Literally, uh it says the nakedness of a thing. 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:49.839 And we know, and we can know with certainty, that whatever is in view here, it is not adultery. 00:29:50.160 --> 00:30:00.559 And we can know that with 100% uncertainty, because the Old Testament uh gives the punishment of death for cases of adultery. 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:08.799 In Leviticus chapter 20, verse 10, in Deuteronomy 22, 22, uh, chapter 22, 23 through 27. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:27.039 So in the case of adultery, uh the guilty party was put to death, and the innocent party in that relationship was therefore freed to remarry because her former or his former spouse uh was uh put to death. 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:41.119 We also know that the Mosaic law had provisions for other types of uh of sexual immorality uh that uh that the that give a remedy other than divorce. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:43.680 In the Mosaic law, there's other provisions. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:47.039 For instance, for a woman accused of adultery without enough evidence. 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:55.759 Uh in Numbers chapter 5, verses 11 and following, uh there's there is uh uh uh direction on what to do in those circumstances. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:31:04.160 Or if a newlywed is charged with uncleanness, in Deuteronomy chapter 22, verses 13 through 21, that issue is addressed. 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:13.599 If a woman is unclean during her betrothal period, uh there is provision for that circumstance in Deuteronomy 22, verses 23 and 24. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:25.039 If a woman is forced against her will, if she is raped, there is a provision for that, she is not guilty, and the man is dealt with Deuteronomy 22, 25 through 27. 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:34.480 And if a woman and a man uh commit uh premarital sex, there is a uh a dealing with that in Deuteronomy 22 as well, verses 28 and 29. 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:49.680 And so as uh as uh author and theologian John Murray comments, he said, we conclude that this indecency is not an act of sexual uncleanness uh in any of the views of what is mentioned, uh what I mentioned previously. 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:57.839 We must suppose something shameful or offensive that gives the husband some legitimate ground for displeasure and complaint. 00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:16.720 And so there was something there that was an indecency whereby uh divorce was uh suffered or permitted, uh, but it wasn't in any of these contexts that the Old Testament made different provisions, not the provision of divorce. 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:21.680 And notice Moses' uh answer to this question, the question that's in view. 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:34.640 Uh may that woman who has been divorced, has been remarried, and her her present husband divorces her or he dies, may she go back to her former husband. 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:49.200 And the answer to that that Moses gives is no, uh that her former husband who sent her away may not take her again to be his wife after she has been defiled, for this that is an abomination before the Lord. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:33:01.519 And so there is some type of defilement that occurs that does not allow the woman to go back to her previous husband if her present husband divorces her, or if he dies. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:25.839 And so in the gospel accounts, Jesus is addressing this question about what Moses says, and what Jesus answers is that uh Jesus ends any and every reason that they might have had or they might have understood to be Moses' concession allowing divorce. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:52.000 Uh that there was a concession that Moses gave, and that uh under the circumstances of some indecency, which that is what they interpreted, were grounds for divorce, Jesus ends any and every reason that they might give for divorce based on an interpretation of Deuteronomy 24, 1 through 4. 00:33:52.480 --> 00:34:15.039 And so, rightly understood, Jesus rejects both schools of thought, both the school of Shemai, who said it was for some sexual indecency, but the Old Testament had other provisions for those, and he rejects uh Hillel's liberal school, and we saw that by what he says in regards to marriage proper. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:21.119 And so both uh schools of thought stand as incorrect. 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:23.679 But then how do we deal with verse 9? 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:28.159 Because it seems that Jesus gives an exemption for the case of adultery. 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:31.119 And so let me address that. 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:55.840 Having fully excluded any reason conceded previously under Moses, and this is what Matthew chapter 5, Matthew chapter 19, and Mark chapter 10 have in view, that he excludes any reason that they might have based on that on that passage of Scripture and that interpretation. 00:34:56.480 --> 00:35:04.400 Jesus here allows for one circumstance where a person is permitted divorce and remarriage without committing adultery. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:09.920 And that would be the straightforward understanding of what he says in verse 9. 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:12.400 And I believe the passage is straightforward. 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:33.679 Every reason for divorce, save one, uh any reason that they might have given based on Deuteronomy is closed, and then Jesus gives one uh permissible circumstance in which uh divorce and remarriage uh is allowed. 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:50.239 And so this passage uh says every reason for divorce uh based on that Deuteronomy passage is closed, uh, but he gives this one exception, and he says, except for sexual immorality and marries another, uh, commits adultery. 00:35:51.199 --> 00:36:06.559 Because God does not recognize divorce uh in any other circumstance that they might have based it on, that means that any divorce that was given based on this interpretation of Deuteronomy is illegitimate. 00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:15.280 And therefore, a person who uh is divorced on unbiblical grounds, uh that is an illegitimate divorce. 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:29.519 And so when that person enters into a second marriage, at that moment they enter into that second marriage and consummate their marriage, they are guilty of violating their vows of their first marriage and they become an adulterer. 00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:32.960 In fact, that's in view in Matthew chapter 5. 00:36:33.119 --> 00:37:03.280 Uh in Matthew chapter 5, 31 and 32, uh Jesus is saying that uh if a man divorces his wife and he sends her away, and it's for illegitimate reasons, um, and that woman uh he makes her, he puts her in a situation that when she gets remarried, at the moment that she is remarried, she has committed adultery, and whoever marries that woman in those circumstances uh also commits adultery. 00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:08.239 And so in Matthew chapter 5, 32, Jesus is dealing with that. 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:21.920 But Jesus recognizes that sexual immorality, which is adultery, so violates the marriage covenant that the innocent party is permitted to divorce and has the freedom to remarry without committing adultery. 00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:24.400 Now, please understand me at this point. 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:32.559 This is in no this in no way means that this should be the first course of action in the case of sexual immorality within marriage. 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:36.960 As much as possible, God wants us to seek reconciliation. 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:47.840 However, if that is not possible, then from what Jesus says here, uh divorce is permitted, and with that divorce, uh remarriage is allowed. 00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:57.920 In the divorce, the marriage relationship is dissolved and the innocent party is released from all obligations of that marriage and is permitted to remarry. 00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:24.239 But we have to recognize that the scripture remains silent on the situation of the guilty party, and the guilty party should have no assurance that there is sanction or confidence that God is blessing their new relationship, and there is a call for those who've entered into the relationship to recognize the sin, to repent of that, and to come to God for forgiveness and restoration. 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:26.880 Notice what Jesus says here, though. 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:30.079 Divorce occurs because of the hardness of hearts. 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:34.400 So divorce involves sin by at least one partner. 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:44.239 And that doesn't mean that each partner in the divorce is guilty of causing the divorce, or even if there is guilt, that the guilt is split equally between both of them. 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:48.480 But is it possible to have a divorce without sin at some level? 00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:50.000 The answer to that is no. 00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:56.719 Clearly, Jesus says that even in the situation addressed by Moses, it was due to the hardness of the people's hearts. 00:38:57.280 --> 00:39:03.199 Well, let me answer two questions before we close that people might wonder. 00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:13.360 Why does Jesus use the more general term sexual immorality instead of the more specific term adultery when talking of the sexual sin committed? 00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:15.280 Notice what Jesus says here. 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:28.480 Jesus says, uh, except for sexual immorality, the word there is the word uh pornea, which is uh illicit sexual contact uh including fornication. 00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:41.440 And why does he use a more general term rather than uh just using the term uh adultery, uh, which is a different word, uh moi, uh, in these passages? 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:45.360 Well, I believe that there's a very practical reason why Jesus does that. 00:39:45.440 --> 00:40:05.760 And the fact is, is that we as sinners have a tendency to rationalize our sin, and it's very conceivable that if Jesus had used the more specific term for adultery, that one in his rationalization might argue that their illicit sexual relationship did not violate their marriage covenant because it was not technically sexual relations. 00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:17.360 And so they might say, um, as one president famously said, I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. 00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:18.960 You may recall that. 00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:25.039 And technically he did not lie because he did not sleep with her. 00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:51.199 There was other illicit sexual interaction, and so I believe that Jesus here to put to rest any rationalizations that we might have in regards to sexual infidelity within the bounds of marriage, uh, Jesus uses the more general term rather than the more specific term that could be twisted uh to wrong ends. 00:40:51.920 --> 00:41:05.119 Well, some might also argue that isn't Jesus just talking about a very specific situation, uh, namely uh the situation that his mother and stepfather were in. 00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:21.440 Uh that is, that Jesus is addressing uh a situation during the betrothal period between the beginning of the engagement and the actual consummation of the marriage, and that this does not apply in the actual marriage relationship itself. 00:41:21.679 --> 00:41:25.679 Um and I don't believe that that understanding can stand. 00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:35.519 Um, and I don't believe that is what Jesus is talking about here, and there's a very specific reason why I uh I don't believe that Jesus has that in view. 00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:47.599 Keep in mind what we've been talking about in three of the four contexts that we've seen, Jesus is answering a question in relationship to Deuteronomy chapter 24, verses 1 through 4. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:52.400 And that is the context of Matthew chapter 5, verses 31 and 32. 00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:56.880 It's the context here in Matthew chapter 19, verses 3 through 9. 00:41:57.039 --> 00:42:01.519 It's the context in Mark chapter 10 as well. 00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:20.400 And so Jesus here is using the words of marriage and divorce in addressing the Pharisees, using the same language and making the same reference to the Old Testament in Deuteronomy. 00:42:20.639 --> 00:42:38.800 And so it would do gross violence to the text for us to say, well, in this in this particular passage, for instance, in Matthew chapter 19, up until verse 8, Jesus is talking about uh the circumstances in relationship to the question of marriage and divorce. 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:54.320 But in verse 9, he changes the meaning of the word of marriage and the meaning of the word divorce without giving any indicators to his audience that he is in fact now moved to a different topic. 00:42:54.559 --> 00:43:12.880 And so we must understand that what he says in verse 9, and as he uses these words, they're in the larger context, both of his teaching here, as well as the question that was asked of him in Moses' uh passage in Deuteronomy chapter 24. 00:43:14.079 --> 00:43:22.239 Therefore, in three of the four contexts, the question is specifically the understanding of marriage and divorce in regards to the interpretation of Moses. 00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:31.519 The entire discussion here is regarding the intent of marriage and the application of divorce in response to Moses' teaching. 00:43:32.320 --> 00:43:43.440 Jesus gives absolutely no indication that he is changing the meaning of these words or that he has in view a very specific circumstance of divorce during the engagement period. 00:43:43.840 --> 00:43:59.760 If that were the case, Jesus being the master teacher would have given us indicators and would have given the audience to which he was talking to indicators that he was, in fact, changing the topic, and the writers of the scripture would give us indicators. 00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:06.239 That Jesus is in fact addressing a different issue than the issue that they asked him. 00:44:06.639 --> 00:44:22.000 So we must conclude that his words in verse 9 mean the same thing that they do in verses 3 through 8, and the same thing as they do in verses Deuteronomy, in Deuteronomy 24, verses 1 through 4. 00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:27.119 And that would apply as well in Matthew chapter 5, verses 31 and 32. 00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:43.840 So in conclusion, all of the passages under view, Matthew chapter 5, Matthew chapter 19, Mark chapter 10, and Luke chapter 19, all teach the same thing. 00:44:44.159 --> 00:45:07.760 In regards to any reasons that one might use Moses and Deuteronomy for, all four of those passages say the same thing that Jesus closes the door for any rationale for divorce based on an understanding of Deuteronomy 24, 1 through 4. 00:45:08.320 --> 00:45:25.840 In Matthew chapter 5 and in Matthew chapter 19, Jesus gives additional information to address a specific circumstance where he gives an allowance, an exception, in the case of sexual immorality. 00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:33.360 And we might note that in verse 9 of chapter 19, in Matthew 5, he only deals with the divorce proper. 00:45:33.519 --> 00:45:35.679 He doesn't address remarriage. 00:45:35.840 --> 00:45:49.280 But here in chapter 19, he does, and he says that whoever divorces his wife, now keep in mind, whoever divorces his wife for any other cause that they might have commits adultery. 00:45:49.599 --> 00:45:57.280 But there is an exception, and that exception is under the grounds of sexual immorality and marries another. 00:45:57.440 --> 00:46:05.119 And so what Jesus says here is any other cause for divorce and remarriage is adultery. 00:46:05.599 --> 00:46:16.960 However, in the case of sexual immorality, the divorce is permissible and the remarriage is not an instance of adultery. 00:46:18.480 --> 00:46:29.679 But we must not lose sight that of everything Jesus says here, Jesus, the weight of it in all of these passages is God's intention that marriage be for life. 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:47.199 And it's easy for us when we delve into a question like this that we can begin to try to find all of the reasons why, but the weight of everything that Jesus says in every one of these passages is that on God's original intention that marriage be for life. 00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:55.280 And second, we must not see that Jesus is encouraging or mandating divorce, even in the cases of sexual immorality. 00:46:55.599 --> 00:47:07.360 God's desire is for the sinning partner to repent and to seek restoration, and for the innocent spouse to words to work forgiveness and full restoration in that marriage if that is possible. 00:47:07.920 --> 00:47:25.360 However, the Bible does teach at this point that in the case of sexual immorality, the innocent partner may divorce, that the marriage relationship is dissolved, and that that innocent party is permitted to remarry without having committed the sin of adultery. 00:47:25.519 --> 00:47:40.239 But that same cannot be said for the person who has violated their marriage covenant or has had a divorce under grounds that are not outlined here in Jesus' teaching. 00:47:40.800 --> 00:47:45.199 And so let me close this now in a word of prayer. 00:47:45.440 --> 00:47:54.480 Again, I know that this is a very weighty and emotional and controversial topic. 00:47:54.800 --> 00:48:02.320 I know that many here, maybe everyone here, has been touched by this issue. 00:48:02.800 --> 00:48:14.639 Um I know personally in my own family I have seen uh the situations with my own sisters, uh, all four of whom uh went through divorce. 00:48:14.800 --> 00:48:20.719 I saw the pain that it caused them for years and years even to this day. 00:48:21.039 --> 00:48:28.800 I saw the pain and the injury to their children and the scars that they have. 00:48:28.960 --> 00:48:32.639 And so I know that this is not an easy topic. 00:48:32.719 --> 00:48:56.719 Uh, it is one that uh I come with uh in weight, with a weightiness, and also I do not want to be misunderstood to be taken then in any way uh that I am encouraging uh anyone to move in that direction, uh, regardless of the circumstances that he or she may find himself or herself in. 00:48:56.960 --> 00:48:58.400 So let me close this in prayer. 00:48:58.480 --> 00:49:41.679 If you would stand and let me close this and dismiss our time together, Father, it is our heart's desire to understand what your word says, not in view of the culture to be swayed and influenced by that, not to have standards and convictions that go beyond your word, but to accurately understand what your word says, and to know that you do give us uh word to guide our lives even in the most difficult of circumstances. 00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:44.000 But Father, I pray for us now. 00:49:44.239 --> 00:50:00.239 I pray for each one here who hears this message, either uh live or uh later in recording, that they in no way take this to say that they are being encouraged to seek a divorce under any circumstances. 00:50:00.719 --> 00:50:21.760 And so, Father, I pray that you will impress upon our hearts of those who are married and those who are single and considering marriage, that your intent for marriage is to be one man and one woman for life, and that what you have joined together let no man separate. 00:50:22.320 --> 00:50:24.239 We pray these things in Christ's name. 00:50:24.480 --> 00:50:24.960 Amen. 00:50:25.360 --> 00:50:26.400 You are dismissed.