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From: Melba Kartman
Category:
Date: 19 Dec 2005
Time: 15:50:00 -0800
Remote Name: 67.19.214.162
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From: David Riggs Website
Category: Marriage and Divorce
Date: 16 Dec 2002
Time: 09:03:14 -0800
Remote Name: 207.247.6.22
MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE #1 By David J. Riggs Intro. A. God's law for marriage is as old as the human race. 1. God established the home as the first divine institution and human relationship upon the earth. 2. When Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees about divorce and remarriage, he went all the way back to God's original plan for marriage. Matt. 19:1-9 B. In this study we will ask and answer some basic questions about marriage and divorce. I. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE? A. In the Scriptures we see the following purposes for marriage. 1. Marriage is for companionship. Gen. 2:18 2. Marriage is to avoid fornication. 1 Cor. 7:1-2 a. Those who bind the non-use of birth control evidently have overlooked this important principle taught in the Scriptures. b. They are binding where God has not bound. c. One of the purposes of marriage is to be able to engage in the sexual act without sinning. 3. Marriage is for the furtherance of the human race. Gen. 1:27-28 II. WHAT CONSTITUTES MARRIAGE? A. Marriage, as designed by God, is a covenant by a male and female to be husband and wife to one another. 1. Notice how the word "covenant" was used for the marriage bond when Malachi rebuked the Israelites for divorcing their wives. Mal. 2:13-16 2. Notice, too, that the Lord said He hated "putting away" (KJV) or "divorce" (NKJV). B. The terms of the original marriage covenant, or marriage law was stated by God in the beginning. Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6 1. "Shall leave father and mother." a. When Jesus quoted God's law of marriage to the Pharisees, for the word "leave," he used "kateleipo," an intensive form which means "to forsake completely," or "to abandon." b. A definite and final break is to be made between the new family and the two families from which the couple came. c. Young couples who determine to get married and live with his or her parents are only inviting problems from the start. 2. "Shall cleave unto his wife." a. The word used by Jesus is "kollao" and means "to glue or weld together." b. "To stick together like glue" emphasizes that the covenant is for life. 3. "The two shall become one flesh." a. In 1 Cor. 6:16, Paul used the expression, "one flesh" to refer to the sexual act. b. Thus, the sexual union consummates the covenant of marriage. C. Under the New Testament law, before a marriage is formed, the civil authorities must be obeyed. Rom. 13:1-2 1. Modern marriages, or I guess they should be called, "modern fornications," wherein couples just decide to live together without conforming to any civil requirements, cannot possibly be pleasing to God. D. Another all-important element which constitutes marriage is, "divine sanction." 1. This is an important part of marriage that many are overlooking today. a. The "joining together" is by God Himself and thus He alone can dissever it. Matt. 19:6 b. A person is released from the marriage covenant only upon the conditions set forth by God Himself. 2. When God joins together husband and wife, they are bound for life. 1 Cor. 7:39; Rom. 7:1-2 a. The usual marriage vows taken as the wedding ceremony bind for life. They are usually similar to this: (1) "Do you desire, and promise to take this one to become your lawful wedded companion; to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness as in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, until death do you part?" 3. There is one exception whereby the innocent party may be loosed--we will discuss this thoroughly later--however, the plan of God is that the marriage be for life. a. Marriage as recognized by man is not always so recognized by God. b. Husband and wife may resolve to not live together any longer. c. They might conform to civil laws in getting divorced and also in marrying someone else. d. Their bodies might be joined in the sexual act to another. e. However, there is still that all-important element which cannot be overlooked--"divine sanction." III. WHAT ARE THE LAWS GOVERNING SEPARATION? A. We wish to consider here the laws governing separation, not divorce. 1. Remember that God's purpose is that husband and wife be together for life. 1 Cor. 7:39; Matt. 19:6 a. When individuals enter marriage knowing that it cannot be dissolved at their own will, it will encourage efforts to make the marriage successful. B. There are but two alternatives for a person who is separated -- remain unmarried or be reconciled. 1 Cor. 7:10-11 1. Someone might ask, "What if one falls in love and marries another during the period of separation?" The answer: Rom. 7:3 2. Thus, instead of separating, efforts should be made to repair the marriage. C. Some brethren teach error on 1 Cor. 7:15. They say it teaches they are not under bondage to keep their marital vows; that is, they are no longer married in God's sight. 1. However, the word "bondage" in verse 15 is not the same word "bound" in verse 37 which is the common word for marriage. a. The word in verse 37 is "deo." Thayer describes this word as "to bind, tie, fasten...e.g. to fasten with chains...also, to put under obligation e.g. to be bound to one in marriage as in Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:39." (Thayer, p. 131) b. The word in verse 15 is "douloo" and means "to be made subject to the rule of someone" (Thayer, p. 158). It is the Greek word for "slave" or "bondservant." 2. Verse 15 is simply saying that if the unbeliever departs, you are no longer obligated to him. You are not responsible to serve him; you are not responsible to be in service to him. a. A wife is commanded to be in subjection to her unbelieving husband, but if he leaves, she is not under bondage to him. b. That is, she is not obligated to follow after him and try to cook his meals and serve his needs. 3. The teaching on verse 15 which says they can be remarried to someone else contradicts what Paul said in verses 10-11. a. Also, it contradicts the Lord who gave only one exception for divorce and remarriage. Matt. 19:9; 5:32 Concl. A. We will continue to ask and answer questions regarding marriage and divorce in our next lesson. B. I realize that we are dealing with an emotional issue. 1. There are many sinful marriages in our society today. C. It is very heart rending when it becomes necessary to explain to people by the Scriptures that they are living in a marriage that God does not sanction. 1. Nevertheless, we can't excuse or condone sinful marriages. 2. We can't make new exceptions whereby they might be justified. D. We must remember that God ordained marriage for life. 1. Our society may recognize easy divorce for any cause, but that doesn't make void or change God's law. 2. God's law is absolute and always remains the same. 3. Let us learn to honor and respect it. Chart: What Constitutes Marriage? 1. A covenant made by a male and female to be husband and wife. Mal. 2:13-16 2. Requirements. Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6 3. Obey civil authorities. Rom. 13:1-2 4. Divine sanction. Matt. 19:6; Rom. 7:1-2; 1 Cor. 7:39