Divorce and Remarriage
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Koran |
Bible |
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Divorce Those that renounce their wives on oath must wait four months. If they change their minds, Allah is forgiving and merciful; but if they decide to divorce them, know that Allah hears all and knows all. Divorced woman must wait, keeping themselves from men for three menstrual courses. It is unlawful for them, if they believe in Allah and the Last Day, to hide what Allah has created in their wombs: in which case their husbands would do well to take them back, should they desire reconciliation. Women shall with justice have rights similar to those exercised against them, although men have a status above women. Allah is mighty and wise. Divorce may be pronounced twice, and then a woman must be retained in honor or allowed to go with kindness. It is unlawful for husbands to take from them anything they have given them, unless both fear that they may not be able to keep within the bounds set by Allah; in which case it shall be no offence for either of them if the wife redeems herself. These are the bounds set by Allah; do not transgress them. Those that transgress the bounds of Allah are wrongdoers. Al-Baqarah The Cow 2:226-229 |
DivorceDeuteronomy 22:13-21 13 "If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, and detests her, 14 and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings a bad name on her, and says, 'I took this woman, and when I came to her I found she was not a virgin,' 15 "then the father and mother of the young woman shall take and bring out the evidence of the young woman's virginity to the elders of the city at the gate. 16 And the young woman's father shall say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man as wife, and he detests her; 17 now he has charged her with shameful conduct, saying, "I found your daughter was not a virgin," and yet these are the evidences of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18 Then the elders of that city shall take that man and punish him; 19 and they shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought a bad name on a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife; he cannot divorce her all his days. 20 But if the thing is true, and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, 21 then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel, to play the harlot in her father's house; so you shall put away the evil from among you. NKJV |
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Divorce and remarriage If a man divorces his wife, he cannot remarry her until she has wedded another man and been divorced by him, in which case it shall be no offence for either of them to return to the other, if they think that they can keep within the bounds set by Allah. Such are the bounds of Allah. He makes them plain to men of knowledge. Al-Baqarah The Cow, 2:230 |
Divorce and Remarriage"When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man's wife, if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 NKJV |
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Divorce When you have renounced your wives and they have reached the end of their waiting period, either retain them in honor or let them go with kindness. But you shall not retain them in order to harm them or to wrong them. Whoever does this wrongs his own soul. Do not trifle with Allah’s revelations. Remember the favor Allah has bestowed upon you, and the book and the wisdom He has revealed for your instruction. Fear Allah and know that Allah has knowledge of all things. If a man has renounced his wife and she has reached the end of her waiting period, do not prevent her from remarrying her husband if they have come to an honorable agreement. This is enjoined on every one of you who believes in Allah and the Last Day; it is more honorable for you and more chaste. Allah knows, but you know not. Widows Remarriage Widows shall wait, keeping themselves apart from men for four months and ten days after their husbands’ death. When they have reached the end of their waiting period, it shall be no offence for you to let them do whatever they choose for themselves, provided it is decent. Allah is cognizant of all your actions. It shall be no offence for you openly to propose marriage to such women or to cherish them in your hearts. Allah knows that you will remember them. Do not arrange to meet them in secret, and if you do, speak to them honorably. Gut you shall not consummate the marriage before the end of their waiting period. Know that Allah has knowledge of all your thoughts. Therefore take heed and bear in mind that Allah is forgiving and lenient. It shall be no offence for you to divorce your wives before the marriage is consummated or the dowry settled. Provide for them with fairness; the rich man according to his means and the poor man according to his. This is binding on righteous men. If you divorce them before the marriage is consummated, but after their dowry has been settled, give them the half of their dowry, unless they or the husband agree to waive it. But it is more proper that the husband should waive it. Do not forget to show kindness to each other. Allah observes your actions. Al-Baqarah The Cow 2:234-237 Widow’s public support You shall bequeath your widows a year’s maintenance without causing them to leave their homes; but if they leave of their own accord, no blame shall be attached to you for any course they may deem reasonable to pursue. Allah is mighty and wise. Reasonable provision shall also be made for divorced women. That is incumbent on righteous men. Al-Baqarah The Cow 2:240-241 |
Malachi 2:13-16 13 And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. 14 Yet you say, "For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. 15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. 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." NKJV Matthew 5:31-32 31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. NKJV Matthew 19:3-12 and Mark 10:2-12 3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" 4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And 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." 10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it." NKJV |
Prophet, Divorced wives, adopted sons, and believersAllah has never put two hearts within one man’s body. He does not regard the wives whom you divorce as your mothers, nor your adopted sons as your own sons. These are mere words which you utter with your mouths: but Allah declares the truth and gives guidance to the right path. Name your adopted sons after their fathers; that is more just in the sight of Allah. If you do not know their fathers, regard them as your brothers in the Faith and as your cousins. Your unintentional mistakes shall be forgiven, but not your deliberate errors. Allah is forgiving and merciful. The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on each other. His wives are their mothers. Allah ordains that blood relations are closer to one another than to other believers or Muhajirin, although you are permitted to do your friends a kindness. That is in the Book decreed. Al-Ahzab The Confederate tribes 33:4-6 |
Divorce
and Reconciliation
1
Corinthians 7:10-11 10
Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart
from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or
be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. Divorce
and the Unbeliever
1
Corinthians 7:10-16 12
But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not
believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And
a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with
her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by
the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise
your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the
unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under
bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you
know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O
husband, whether you will save your wife? NKJV |
Prophet married divorced womanYou said to the man whom Allah and yourself have favored: “Keep your wife and have fear of Allah.” You sought to hide in your heart what Allah was to reveal. You were afraid of man, although it would have been more proper to fear Allah. And when Zayd divorced his wife, We gave her to you in marriage, so that it should become legitimate for true believers to wed the wives of their adopted sons if they divorced them. Allah’s will must needs be done. There can be no difficulty to the Prophet in what Allah has indicated to him as a duty: It was the practice (approved) of Allah amongst those of old that have passed away, and the command of Allah is a decree determined. (It is the practice of those) who preach the Messages of Allah, and fear Him, and fear none but Allah. Sufficient is Allah’s reckoning. Al-Ahzab The Confederate Tribes 33:37-39 Believers, if you marry believing women and divorce them before the marriage is consummated, you are not required to observe a waiting period. Provide well for them and release them honorably. Prophet, We have made lawful for you the wives to whom you have granted dowries and the slave girls whom Allah has given you as booty; the daughters of your paternal and maternal uncles and or your paternal and maternal aunts who fled with you; and any believing woman who gives herself to the Prophet and whom the Prophet wishes to take in marriage. This privilege is yours alone, being granted to no other believer. We well know the duties We have imposed on the faithful concerning their wives and slave girls. We grant you this privilege so that none may blame you. Allah is ever forgiving and merciful. You may put off any of your wives you please and take to your bed any of them you please. Nor is it unlawful for you to receive any of those whom you have temporarily set aside. That is more proper, so that they may be contented and not vexed, and may all be pleased with what you give them. Allah knows what is in your hearts. Surely Allah is all knowing and gracious. It shall be unlawful for you to take more wives or to change your present wives for other women, though their beauty please you, unless they are slave girls whom you own. Allah takes cognizance of all things. Al-Ahzab The Confederate Tribes 33:49-52 Believers, do not enter the houses of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless you are given leave. But if you are invited, enter; and when you have eaten, disperse. Do not engage in familiar talk, for this would annoy the Prophet and he would be ashamed to bid you go; but of the truth Allah is not ashamed. If you ask his wives for anything, speak to them from behind a curtain. This is more chaste for your hearts and their hearts. You must not speak ill of Allah’s apostle, nor shall you ever wed his wives after him; this would surely be a grave offence in the sight of Allah. Whether you reveal or conceal them, Allah has knowledge of all things. It shall be no offense for the Prophet’s wives to be seen unveiled by their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brother’s sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, or their slave girls. Women, have fear of Allah; surely Allah observes all things. Al-Ahzab The Confederate Tribes 33:53-55 The Prophet is blessed by Allah and His angels. Bless him, then, you that are true believers, and greet him with a worthy salutation. Al-Ahzab The Confederate Tribes 33:56 Prophet, enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers to draw their veils close around them. That is more proper, so that they may be recognized and not be molested. Allah is ever forgiving and merciful. Al-Ahzab The Confederate Tribes 33:59 |
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Divorce by ZiharAllah has heard the words of her who pleaded with you against her husband and made her plaint to Allah. Allah has heard what you two said to each other. Allah hears all and observes all. Those of you who divorce their wives by Zihar, declaring them to be their mothers should know that they are not their mothers. Their mothers are those only who gave birth to them. The words they utter are unjust and false: but Allah pardons and forgives. PenaltyThose that divorce their wives by so saying, and afterwards retract their words, shall free a slave before they touch each other again. This you are enjoined to do: Allah is cognizant of all your actions. He that has no slave shall fast two successive months before they touch one another. If he cannot, he shall feed sixty of the destitute. This is enjoined on you so that you may have faith in Allah and His apostle. Such are bounds set by Allah. Woeful punishment awaits the unbelievers. Those who oppose Allah and His apostle shall be brought low, as have been those before them. We have sent down clear revelations. Shameful punishment awaits the unbelievers. Al Mujadala She Who Pleaded 58:1-5 DivorceProphet, when you divorce your wives, divorce them at the end of their waiting period. Compute their waiting period and have fear of Allah, your Lord. You shall not expel them from their homes, nor shall they go away, unless they have committed a proven lewd act. Such are the bounds set by Allah; he that transgresses Allah’s bounds wrongs his own soul. You never know; after that, Allah may bring about some new event. When their waiting term is ended, either keep them honorably or part with them in honor. Call to witness two honest men among you and give your testimony before Allah. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day is exhorted to do this. He that fears Allah, Allah will give him a means of salvation and will provide or him whence he does not reckon: Allah is all sufficient for the man who puts his trust in Him. Allah will surely bring about what He decrees. Allah has set a measure for all things. If you are in doubt concerning those of your wives who have ceased menstruating, know that their waiting period shall be three months. The same shall apply to those who have not yet menstruated. As for pregnant women, their term shall end with their confinement. Allah will ease the hardship of the man who fears Him. Such is the commandment which Allah has revealed to you. He that fears Allah shall be forgiven his sins and richly recompensed. Lodge the women in your own homes, according to your means. You shall not harass them so as to make life intolerable for them. If they are with child, maintain them until the end of their confinement; and if, after that, they give suck to the infants they bore you, give them their pay and consult together in all reasonableness. But if you cannot tolerate each other, let other women suckle for you. Let the rich man spend according to his wealth, and the poor man according to what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a man with more than He has given him; Allah, after hardship, will bring ease. At-Talaq Divorce 65:1-7 DivorceProphet, why do you prohibit that which Allah has made lawful for you, in seeking to please your wives? Allah is forgiving and merciful. Allah has given you absolution from such oaths. Allah is your Master. He is the Omniscient One, the Wise One. When the prophet confided a secret to one of his wives; and when she disclosed it and Allah informed him of this, he made known one part of it and said nothing about the other. And when he had acquainted her with it she said: “Who told you this?” He replied: “The Wise One, the All knowing, told me. If you two turn to Allah in repentance as your hearts are inclined, you shall be pardoned; but if you conspire against him, know that Allah is his protector, and Gabriel, and the righteous among the faithful. The angels too are his helpers. It may well be that, if he divorce you, his Lord will give him in your place better wives then yourselves, submissive to Allah and full of faith, obedient, penitent, devout, and given to fasting; both formerly wedded and virgins. At-Tahrim Prohibition 66:1-5 |
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Christian
Marriage
Marriage is a holy union ordained by God Himself at the
time of Creation. When God created Eve
from Adam's rib, He brought her to him and Adam said, “This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called
Woman because she was taken out of Man.”
God responded, “Therefore, a
man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh.”
Genesis 2:23-24
In making this statement, God established God's view of
the bond of marriage. This was confirmed
by Jesus when He was questioned about divorce, Jesus said, "Have you not read, that He who made them at the
beginning, made them male and female' and said, `For this cause a man shall
leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall
be one flesh. For this reason they are no longer two, but one
flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, do not allow
man separate.'"
Matthew 19:4-5 and Mark
10:6-9
Paul explained the concept of what was implied by the term
`what God has joined together' when
he said, `What, do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is
one body with her? For He said, the two shall be one flesh.' 1 Corinthians 6:16 In
other words, the act of sexual
union is the act described as `what
God has joined together.' Therefore, the involvement of
people in the sexual act carries a heavy responsibility and should not be
entered into lightly, God considers it
marriage. When scriptures say that a man took a woman
to wife, it did not suggest that there was a formal ceremony, but rather that
they were joined sexually, and that joining was a permanent union that made
them husband and wife, or one flesh.
Genesis 24:67
Marriage of man and woman making the two one flesh is the closest
human experience to express the oneness of God who is one unit made up of more
than one component: Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. In His prayer, Jesus
expressed the oneness of God when He said, `Neither do I pray for these alone,
but for those also who shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one, as You Father are in Me, and I am in You,
that they may also be one in us, that the world may believe that You have
sent Me.'
John 17:20-21
God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God in just
the same way that a husband and his wife are one flesh. Marriage is a human picture of the divine
union. Hence, it should demonstrate the
union found in the divine relationship.
In other words the relationship of husband and wife should
reflect the relationship of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. There should
be a oneness of thought and purpose, of goals toward which each works in
harmony with the other, of love in which each feels what the other feels, joy,
pain, sorrow, and views of life. They should be one in caring for each other
and cherish each other as though the other were, in fact, part of their own
body. When one hurts, the other should
feel that hurt and minister to it whether it is a physical, emotional, or
spiritual hurt.
Mates should minister to the needs of the other just like
they minister to the needs of their own physical body: When hungry, feed it; when thirsty, give it
a drink; when tired, give it rest; when sick, seek help; when injured, bind up
and care for it; and seek ways to bring the other pleasure and enjoyment trying
to make life even more pleasant, striving to be a blessing to your mate and
show appreciation for the blessing he or she is in your own life. Praise each other publicly to show love and
admiration.
Exalt, honor, and glorify each other. Jesus took what the Father gave Him and
declared it to His followers to bring glory to the Father. The Holy Spirit took what He received from
Jesus and revealed it to man to bring glory to Jesus. The Father worked miracles, spoke from Heaven, raised Christ from
the dead, and exalted Him to His own right hand in Heaven to glorify the Son.
Paul said that the wife's body belongs to the husband, and
the husband's body belongs to the wife.
1 Corinthians 7:1-5 When people are married, they give their
body to the other for their needs and pleasure. Failure to meet the other's needs, allows Satan to gain an
opportunity to introduce temptation.
When Paul said, `Husbands love your wives like Christ
loves the Church,' (Eph
5:25) he was
calling for total sacrificial commitment to the welfare and happiness of the
wife. The husband should be totally
committed to the wife to the point that he would sacrifice everything, including
his life, for her benefit.
Paul, in saying `Husbands love your wives like you love
your own flesh'
was calling for loving care that results in cherishing her with tenderness,
nourishing her, bringing her comfort, cheer, and encouragement. A man should shelter, treasure and protect
his wife. He should sustain and build
her up mentally physically, and spiritually with love and tenderness, and be
attentive to her needs. Ephesians
5:25-33 Husbands should love their wives
and not be bitter toward them. Colossians 3:19
A wise man will be considerate to his wife and treating
her with respect. He will listen to his
wife and consider her advise, taking advantage of the insights God has given
her. Women are very intelligent and
their intelligence should be used in such a way as to enhance the work and
efforts of the man, thus making their joint impact on the world around them a
blessing and testimony to the wisdom of God.
Husbands should cherish their wives as the more fragile and
precious vessel. They should honor them
as joint heirs with themselves of the grace of life. All this treatment and attitude is important even to the extent
that if
you abuse your wife, God will not hear your prayers. Peter says a man should honor his wife `so that your prayers will not
be hindered.' 1
Peter 3:7
The way a man treats his wife reflects his attitude toward
God and his willingness to submit to the will of God. Paul said, `Husbands and wives, submit yourselves to one another in the
fear of God.' Ephesians 5:21 When a man treats his wife in the pattern God has required, he
makes it easy for the wife to be submissive to him to assure the relationship
is according to the plan of God. The
scriptures give commandments for the wife as well as to the husband.
The wife is commanded to submit to her own husband as unto
the Lord in everything. The husband is
the head of the wife in the same way that Christ is the head of the Church. He is ultimately responsible for his wife's care and welfare, and
he even has veto powers over her vows to God.
With authority comes responsibility for both the decision and the
consequences. The wife's submission can
go a long way in solving the problem of battered wives and child abuse.
Ephesians 5:22-24,
Colossians 3:18, & 1 Peter 3:1-6
An ideal marriage that reflects the love of God and the
relationship of the Godhead will never have a problem that would jeopardize the
unity. It is impossible, where the husband and wife are perfectly
following God's will and plan for their marriage to ever fall into fighting or
for the relationship to deteriorate to the point that divorce is even
considered. God wants us to do everything
possible to live at peace with one another.
Romans 12:18, and 1
Corinthians 7:15
Marriage is binding until the death of one and then the
survivor is free to marry again. Romans 7:1-3 &
1 Corinthians 7:39 Paul's command to not be unequally yoked to
unbelievers is to establish a relationship that will be in submission to the
will of God. Both parties must be
willing to do their part to make the relationship totally and harmoniously in
keeping with the commands of God, with each one responsible for it's
success.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
God's command is, "Let the marriage be held in honor
by all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, because fornicators and
adulterers will be judged by God."
Hebrews 13:4
DIVORCE
Divorce is not found anywhere to be in the divine will of
God. GOD HATES DIVORCE. Divorce
is not even an option in
God's ideal relationship. The Lord's
command is, "Do not let
the wife depart from her husband. If she departs let her remain unmarried or
be reconciled to her husband. Do not let the husband put away his wife." 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 This presupposes that they both stay
sexually pure for the time apart.
Divorce represents human
failure to follow the divine pattern of a marriage relationship. It represents `treachery
toward the wife of his youth.' Malachi 2:13-16 It
represents the hardness of the
heart of man against the will of God. Matthew 19:8 & Mark 10:2-5
Divorce represents sin, it is a relationship entirely and
irreconcilably out of the will of God.
1 Corinthians 7:11 It represents unbelief,
even for people who claim to be Christians because of their unwillingness to
submit to the will of God in their relationship and their violation of the
mandate for peace. Those who refuse to obey God are
unbelievers and should be called to repentance. 1 Corinthians 7:15
DIVORCE AND ADULTERY
Divorce is sin,
and is viewed by God, the same as adultery. Anyone who divorces his wife and marries
another woman commits adultery against
her. And if she divorces her husband
and marries another man, she commits adultery. Mark 10:11,12 The victim and
the one who marries her or him is guilty of adultery according to Matthew 5:32 and Luke 16:18 So everyone who is divorced or who marries
one divorced is guilty of adultery.
Adultery and fornication are defilements from the heart. Matthew 15:16-20, Mark 7:18-23, Romans 1:18-32,
Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians
3:5-9, 1 Peter 4:1-6 & 2 Peter 2:1-22
Scriptures warn against Christians who accept adulterous life styles. Revelation 2:12-29 `The body is to
be kept pure, it is not for fornication, but for the Lord.'
1 Corinthians 6:12-14, 17-19; 1 Thessalonians
4:1-12 and 1 Peter 2:11
Every man,
whether single or married, is guilty of adultery, when
we consider the life long impact of Jesus' statement that `to look on a woman with lust, is adultery.' Matthew 5:27-28 Therefore, it is foolish of us to condemn others since we are
all guilty. As Christians, we are commanded to flee from
fornication.
Acts 15:1-21; 15:22-29; and Acts 21:25 Every man is
therefore unworthy of an eternal relationship with a Holy God. Without Christ, he cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 10:1-14 & Revelation
21:8;22:15
ADULTERY IS NOT THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN
God said, `I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of
God more than burnt offerings.' Hosea 6:6 Jesus said, `Go and learn
what it means, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. I am not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.' Matthew 9:13 `He has shown you,
O man, what is good. And what does the
Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your
God.' Micah 6:8
When the woman caught in the act of adultery
was brought to Jesus, (I always wondered where the man was, he must also have
been caught in the same act since adultery requires both a man and a woman, and
the law requires death to both) to get His response to the sin of adultery, He
responded in mercy, `Let the man without sin cast the first stone.' One by one they realized that they were all guilty of sin and
left.
Jesus, Who is the Judge of all
before Whom we shall all stand to give account for what we have done in our
lives; Jesus, the full revelation of
God Most High in Whom dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily; Jesus, Who has the power to cast us
into Hell; Jesus, the Second Person of
the Holy Trinity, God Himself; it is this
same Jesus Who said, "NEITHER
DO I CONDEMN YOU, GO AND SIN NO MORE." In other words, Jesus said you
are forgiven, you only need
to repent like everyone else, for the sin of which you are guilty. God loves mercy, not sacrifice. Praise God for His great love with which He
loves us in that when we were His enemies, Christ died for us!
CONCLUSION
John said, `My little children, these things I write to
you that you sin not. But, if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous.' 1 John 2:1 `If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleans us from all unrighteousness.' 1
John 1:9 If anyone is caught up in
divorce, let us call them to repentance so they can confess their
sin before God and accept His forgiveness and cleansing.
If God forgives a
person of their sin, who are we to hold that sin against them? We must forgive them just as God forgives
us! Do not call unclean what God
has cleansed.
If a sin is forgiven by God, if it is cleansed away by the
precious blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, then it is removed and
they are pure and clean in Him. Acts 10:15 & Deuteronomy 24:2
If divorced and remarried:
Ø Let us then encourage them to follow the
commandments of God for a holy relationship with their mate and make their
relationship reflect the holy harmony God calls for. If
they have remarried, encourage them to do it God's way. Cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus they are holy and pure in
Christ. Let
them therefore show Christ in their relationship.
If Divorced only:
Let us not condemn them or
demand that they return to their first mate if one or the other has been joined
to another. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 Only if they both have remained pure, should
we encourage them to be reconciled according to 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 .
Ø Let us encourage
them to come to God in full repentance and find the life of righteousness God
desires for them.
Ø Let us help them
to walk pure before the Lord our God with a clean heart that has been cleansed
by the precious blood of Jesus.
Ø Let us treat them
with gentle loving kindness, and grace, remembering that we each have our own
sins to answer for before God and that the sin that caused divorce is no different
than the other sins of which we are guilty in the sight of Almighty God.
We all need the cleansing of the blood of Jesus, and Divorce
and remarriage is no different.
Remember that the Scripture has confined all under sin so that the
promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Galatians 3:22 Paul said,
“What
then? Are we better than they? Not at all.
For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) that they
are all under sin.
Remember also the fruit of the
Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23
Ø But the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Let us show the fruit of the Spirit toward all, no matter what their
sin. and remember that God is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Therefore, bless and do not curse, do all things for edification to
build and strengthen the Church.