Reflection Paper #4

Katie Wilmouth

RELI 124-08

March 22, 2010

Teaching on Divorce in the Gospel of Matthew

Marriage in one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and according to the Bible, it is a lifetime commitment. “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. For what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Matt. 19:6). Yet the divorce rate among practicing Christians is nearly as high as those who choose not to believe. There is no mistaking that the Bible frowns upon divorce, as clearly stated in Malachi 2:16. “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” In the verses of Matthew 19:1-12, it is questioned whether there are any exceptions to Jesus’ teaching on not divorcing, which were previously introduced in the Sermon on the Mount.

In the Sermon on the Mount, divorce is described as a form of adultery. “But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matt. 5:32). Later in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem when some Pharisees approached him and tested him saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” (Matt 19:3). Jesus answered by quoting Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24, which argue that God’s intention for man and woman is to be united. The phrase “unless the marriage is unlawful” is the only saying in Scripture that possibly gives God’s permission for divorce and remarriage. Many believe this “exception clause” refers to adultery.

In response to Jesus, the Pharisees cite Scripture as well. Deuteronomy 24:1-4, permits a man to divorce his wife by handing her a written bill of divorce. God did lay down some laws regarding divorce in the Old Testament, but they were made with the intent to protect the rights of divorced women. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that these laws were given “because of the hardness of your hearts” not because they were God’s desire (Matt. 19:8). He adds the statement, “but from the beginning it was not so” to illustrate that since God designed marriage without a loophole for divorce, to get a divorce would be a sin because it violates the standard for marriage.

Jesus’ one exception, adultery, permits divorce because a spouse who has been unfaithful has already destroyed the one-flesh marriage bond in God’s eyes. The innocent spouse or victim of the unfaithfulness should be free to divorce the adulterer and remarry.

Some claim that domestic abuse is also a valid reason for divorce even though it is never mentioned in the Bible. What we must remember is that adultery is only an allowance for divorce, not a requirement for it. Many couples, with the help of God’s grace and forgiveness, can learn to put the act of infidelity in the past and work to rebuild their marriage.