Lifelong Celibacy

[~Nikki~]

Matthew 19: 8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”





Deuteronomy 24

1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, 2 and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, 3 and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, 4 then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD . Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Thanks for that.

I always thought that in Matthew, Jesus was quoting the Deuteronomy passage and saying that the standard is actually higher than that.

In Matthew 5 Jesus says (referring to Deuteronomy 24) "It has been said....but I tell you..." and Matthew 19 Jesus says "Moses because of the hardness of your hearts permitted you...but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife...."

In both of those Jesus quoted the Deuteronomy passage and then said that 'it has been said...but I tell you' and 'Moses permitted...and I say'. In the sermon on the mount which the Matthew 5 passage is part of, Jesus continually said to the people 'you have heard it said...but now I say' so basically continually saying that the standard is actually higher than that.

Also in my understanding, the word in the Matthew passages for 'except for adultery/sexual immorality', is actually not a correct translation. The word in Greek is our word for fornication (sex before marriage). As far as I'm aware (though there may be more to it than this) the Jews there would have understood it as meaning that if the groom on the wedding night discovered his bride was not actually a virgin he could take her before the priests the next morning and divorce her. His remarriage would not be committing adultery because she would dead, having been stoned for the fact that she had committed fornication.

The rest of the verse in Matthew 19 which was quoted says...
"whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (oops sorry, just looked it up in the NIV and it doesn't have this...however, in my version - NKJV - it does)

Anyway, the reason I asked was because as far as I'm aware the Bible (except in Deuteronomy - and Jesus says in Matthew that the standard is higher than that) doesn't say anywhere that 'you may remarry if this has happened or that situation has happened' (except after the death of the spouse). Obviously the Bible says that divorce happens, but everywhere it talks about remarriage after divorce (and while the spouse is still alive) it says that the person would be committing adultery. Also, in Corinthians it says that if a woman leaves her husband she must either stay single or be reconciled with him, and that a husband must not divorce his wife.

I know others will have different opinions to me, but I'm just saying what I feel the Word of God teaches...

 

[bkg]

I know others will have different opinions to me, but I'm just saying what I feel the Word of God teaches...

And you are 100% correct. The only potential addition could be Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 7

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

If a person takes these words as truth, then there is potentially an aknowledgement that some people are recipients of divorce not having any intention of this in their own minds or hearts. If that is true, and Paul's words are to be taken as such, then there may be a different standard for "availability for re-marriage" for the person who's spouse chose divorce over their marriage.

I don't know if that is the case at all - I really do not know. Many people believe it as such, but I personally haven't been able to reconcile that in my own mind or heart at this point.

Irregardless, your post is met, at least with believer, with 100% agreement. Good job!

 

[heartnsoul]

Sometimes people speak out of their own hurts and that is all I am going to say about the angry sounding posts in this thread.

I can testify that I was divorced and am remarryed. Both my wife and I prayed and fasted and the Lord specifically answered us and put us togeher. I am beyond happy. I feel like I am living the destiny God has prepared me for my whole life. My wife is pregnant now and God has blessed our marriage.

Everybody has to work through their emotions their own way. But I am sure that God will give you the future you desire.

Good post Yitzchak! I can also testify that I was divorced and am now remarried. God has blessed this second marriage tremendously. God is so powerful and loving that He can work through any marriages just as long as Christ is the center of the marriage. May God bless you with whatever you decide for yourself. We all wish you happiness and peace.