Daily Devotionals

Divorce came into the world only because of sin. It was never meant to be part of the human experience. God intended that a man and woman in marriage become so closely united in purpose, being, and existence that they are literally “one flesh.” And two lives so intertwined cannot be divided without causing great pain and emotional scarring.

Sadly, the plague of divorce is now so common in our society that it’s doubtful there is a soul in America who hasn’t been impacted by it one way or another. Perhaps you’ve been through it yourself … or perhaps a friend, parent, or child of yours.

The statistics are terrible enough: Between 40 and 50 percent of all first marriages end in divorce. That means almost half the people who get married will, sooner or later, divorce. What’s worse is that 67 percent of second marriages will end up in divorce too. Perhaps third marriages are charmed? Not at all, as about 74 percent of those go down the tubes as well. Indeed, about 25 percent of adults in America are divorced.

Meanwhile, more than one million children each year in America experience the breakup of their parents. One million! Only God knows the very real heartache, the suffering, and the trauma experienced by those who are directly impacted by divorce.

When the Pharisees came to Jesus with a question about divorce, He talked about how a man and his wife become one flesh and how man should not separate what God has joined together (see Matthew 19:4–6). He further explained: “I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (verse 9).

Now, if this were the only statement in the Bible regarding marriage, it would seem that, according to Jesus, there is just one biblical ground for divorcing and then remarrying. Of course, the Bible and Jesus have more to say on marriage than just this passage.

Key Bible Texts

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (Matthew 19:9 KJV)