What does the Bible say about divorce?, Part 2

However strict the above passage appears, it simply shows how sacrosanct marriage is supposed to be and why a couple, a church community, and even nations are under a divine obligation to protect the institution of marriage.

While God hates divorce, there is a time or two in the Bible when He actually commands it. Whenever someone got married to a person whom they later discovered was still legally married to another, they were to end the marriage.

Another valid reason for divorce is abandonment by an unbelieving partner, as when a non-Christian spouse walks away from a marriage. The Bible says, “If the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases” (1 Corinthians 7:15).

We touched on the third reason yesterday. If a person is married and his or her spouse violates their marriage vows, that person has “biblical grounds” for divorce; it is permissible by Bible standards. According to Scripture, the innocent party may re-marry, but the guilty party may not as long as the ex-spouse remains unmarried and chaste. To do so would be to commit adultery again. (See Luke 16:18.)

Although adultery gives the offended spouse the right to divorce, it doesn’t mean he or she must do so. Many marriages damaged by unfaithfulness have been salvaged, and many couples would do themselves and their kids a big favor to try to make the marriage work despite the pain of infidelity.

Regardless of how scrambled your nuptial history might be, Jesus promises, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). We all are sinful and in need of mercy. We should be careful not to judge others who are divorced. And if we have been divorced against biblical principles, there is forgiveness for us too. God offers healing, grace, and comfort to those who have been traumatized by divorce.

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)