What Did Yeshua Teach about Divorce

[Koberstein]

In the Gospel of Mark, Judean Pharisees came to Jesus (Yeshua) and asked Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a woman
(Mark 10:1-12). In discussing this question, Jesus stated, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
and if divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." This sounds like a complete denial of any legitimacy for
divorce and remarriage at all, in any case.

However, the version of the story in the Gospel of Matthew clarifies the nature of the question they were discussing. No follower of
the God of Israel at the time of Jesus would have thought it possible that the Word of God given through Moses had erred in permitting
divorce. (see Deut. 24:1-4); Exod. 21:10-11). Though different schools debated the circumstances that permitted divorce, none thought
it was forbidden in all cases. The fuller version of the story in the Gospel of Matthew helps to clarify this context. There we read the fuller
question, "Can a man divorce a woman for any reason?" (Matt. 19:3-9)

A conservative Jewish approach understood "unfaithfulness," "abuse," or "abandonment" as the only valid grounds for divorce.
Various more progressive Jewish interpreters argued that a man had a right to divorce his wife for any reason at all
(see Babylonian Talmud Gittin 90a). When Jesus was faced with this question, He rejected this idea taught by the Pharisees of the house
or school of Hillel (divorce for any reason), siding instead with the Pharisees of the house of Shammai and the Essenes (divorce in
stringently defined situations).

Shalom שלום

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

In the Gospel of Mark, Judean Pharisees came to Jesus (Yeshua) and asked Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a woman
(Mark 10:1-12). In discussing this question, Jesus stated, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
and if divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." This sounds like a complete denial of any legitimacy for
divorce and remarriage at all, in any case.

However, the version of the story in the Gospel of Matthew clarifies the nature of the question they were discussing. No follower of
the God of Israel at the time of Jesus would have thought it possible that the Word of God given through Moses had erred in permitting
divorce. (see Deut. 24:1-4); Exod. 21:10-11). Though different schools debated the circumstances that permitted divorce, none thought
it was forbidden in all cases. The fuller version of the story in the Gospel of Matthew helps to clarify this context. There we read the fuller
question, "Can a man divorce a woman for any reason?" (Matt. 19:3-9)

A conservative Jewish approach understood "unfaithfulness," "abuse," or "abandonment" as the only valid grounds for divorce.
Various more progressive Jewish interpreters argued that a man had a right to divorce his wife for any reason at all
(see Babylonian Talmud Gittin 90a). When Jesus was faced with this question, He rejected this idea taught by the Pharisees of the house
or school of Hillel (divorce for any reason), siding instead with the Pharisees of the house of Shammai and the Essenes (divorce in
stringently defined situations).

Shalom שלום

Yeshua seems to explicitly say that a wife who is 'sent away' is not eligible to remarry (except for the immorality exclusion). Now to me 'to be sent away' equals abandonment as in both cases the initiative is with the husband pulling the plug.

This is hard to stomach for many as it e.g. may punish an innocent wife being abandoned. Some others argue that abandonment without valid grounds breaks the marriage contract/obligations (Deuteronomy) and therefore dissolves the wife's obligation to remain exclusive to her husband. But this would make divorce very easy which seems the opposite of Yeshua's intention. I have no solution for this apparent injustice.

I'm interested in your opinion.

 

[Koberstein]

Yeshua seems to explicitly say that a wife who is 'sent away' is not eligible to remarry (except for the immorality exclusion). Now to me 'to be sent away' equals abandonment as in both cases the initiative is with the husband pulling the plug.

This is hard to stomach for many as it e.g. may punish an innocent wife being abandoned. Some others argue that abandonment without valid grounds breaks the marriage contract/obligations (Deuteronomy) and therefore dissolves the wife's obligation to remain exclusive to her husband. But this would make divorce very easy which seems the opposite of Yeshua's intention. I have no solution for this apparent injustice.

I'm interested in your opinion.

The ketubah (plural ketubot) is the standard marriage contract that Jewish law requires a groom to provide for his bride on their wedding day. It is intended to protect the woman, primarily by establishing the man's financial obligations to her in case of divorce or widowhood.
Shalom
David Koberstein

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

The ketubah (plural ketubot) is the standard marriage contract that Jewish law requires a groom to provide for his bride on their wedding day. It is intended to protect the woman, primarily by establishing the man's financial obligations to her in case of divorce or widowhood.
Shalom
David Koberstein

Thanks, I'm aware of that .. but that wasn't my question I'll rephrase it: when Yeshua seems to prohibit sending away a wife without proper grounds (immorality), and equals a wife remarrying in such a case to adultery, it would logically follow that abandonment would be classified as the same - leading to a situation where possibly an innocent party (the sent away/abandoned wife) is suffering because she cannot remarry. So my question is about your perception of this 'unfairness'.

Btw .. I'm aware of various Jewish customs that have emerged over the many centuries, but these are laws of men; not prescriptions of Torah. I understand wise men tried to work-out the guiding concepts from Torah into more detailed prescriptions, but these are not orginal God-given instructions.

Purim Sameach !! (as another example of something that can be celebrated but is not Torah mandated)

 

[Koberstein]

Thanks, I'm aware of that .. but that wasn't my question I'll rephrase it: when Yeshua seems to prohibit sending away a wife without proper grounds (immorality), and equals a wife remarrying in such a case to adultery. It would logically follow that abandonment would be classified as the same - leading to a situation where possibly an innocent party (the send away/abandoned wife) is suffering because she cannot remarry. So my question is about your perception of this 'unfairness'.

Btw .. I'm aware of various Jewish customs that have emerged over the many centuries, but these are laws of men; not prescriptions of Torah. I understand wise men tried to work-out the guiding concepts from Torah into more detailed prescriptions, but these are not orginal God-given instructions.

Purim Sameach !! (as another example of something that can be celebrated but is not Torah mandated)

Shalom

Thanks, I'm aware of that .. but that wasn't my question I'll rephrase it: when Yeshua seems to prohibit sending away a wife without proper grounds (immorality), and equals a wife remarrying in such a case to adultery. It would logically follow that abandonment would be classified as the same - leading to a situation where possibly an innocent party (the send away/abandoned wife) is suffering because she cannot remarry. So my question is about your perception of this 'unfairness'.

Btw .. I'm aware of various Jewish customs that have emerged over the many centuries, but these are laws of men; not prescriptions of Torah. I understand wise men tried to work-out the guiding concepts from Torah into more detailed prescriptions, but these are not orginal God-given instructions.

Purim Sameach !! (as another example of something that can be celebrated but is not Torah mandated)

You make a false assumption that abandonment means destition. Not true.
I already disproved that false narrative with my previous response.
You seemed to demean our Rabbis and Sages as they interpret Jewish law according to Scripture. Christians like you look at Scripture through Western eyes and not through the Jewish lense as it was written.
Another false narrative is that women are suffering because they cannot marry.
My late grandmother was a widow at 54 years old. She never remarried and passed away at 90 years of age. She was unmarried for 36 years and not suffered at all by not wanting or able to remarry.
I would think of all the sex scandals and abuse with Christian pastors and evangelical churches you would concentrate your efforts on those matters.
You have a lot of 'chutzpah' to question our Messiah Yeshua HaMashiach on his views of divorce since Adonai instituted marriage in the Tanakh and gave instructions concerning divorce to Moses.
Blessings in our Messiah
Shalom Aleichem

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

This is not a perceived unfairness. Jewish has always administered fairness in its laws to both parties. You assume abandonment means destitution. Not true.
I already proved that in my previous response. You seem to demean our Rabbis and Sages when it comes to biblical interpretations of Jewish law. Nobody is suffering because they can not remarry. My grandmother became a widow at 55 years of age and never remarried up until she passed at 90 years old. She never suffered during 35 years of being single.

You make a false assumption that abandonment means destition. Not true.
I already disproved that false narrative with my previous response.
You seemed to demean our Rabbis and Sages as they interpret Jewish law according to Scripture. Christians like you look at Scripture through Western eyes and not through the Jewish lense as it was written.
Another false narrative is that women are suffering because they cannot marry.
My late grandmother was a widow at 54 years old. She never remarried and passed away at 90 years of age. She was unmarried for 36 years and not suffered at all by not wanting or able to remarry.
I would think of all the sex scandals and abuse with Christian pastors and evangelical churches you would concentrate your efforts on those matters.
You have a lot of 'chutzpah' to question our Messiah Yeshua HaMashiach on his views of divorce since Adonai instituted marriage in the Tanakh and gave instructions concerning divorce to Moses.
Blessings in our Messiah
Shalom Aleichem

Christianity has lost a lot of perspective by not understanding/recognising the Jewish context of Yeshua and basically all NT writings, I agree with that - and in my own journey, I try to adjust for that to the best of my abilities.

I'm not questioning Yeshua's directive; I make an effort to discern its full meaning and application. I notice many churches these days don't take the view that an abandoned wife (without proper grounds) cannot remarry.

From what you've written I deduce you apply the strict interpretation and that a sent away/abandoned wife should not remarry as long as her ex-husband is still alive.

Btw I'm not demeaning Rabbis/Sages in any way - I understand they sincerely interpret and develop applications of Torah. I just don't perceive their instructions to be as legally binding as Gods own instructions in Torah or Yeshua's instructions (or other New Covenant Apostolic instructions). Yeshua explicitly warns against men-made instructions or elevating those to 'divine' law. I'm not saying these instructions can't sometimes be useful - but it's good to recognise those for what they are.

Shalom to you as well !

 

[Koberstein]

Christianity has lost a lot of perspective by not understanding/recognising the Jewish context of Yeshua and basically all NT writings, I agree with that - and in my own journey, I try to adjust for that to the best of my abilities.

I'm not questioning Yeshua's directive; I make an effort to discern its full meaning and application. I notice many churches these days don't take the view that an abandoned wife (without proper grounds) cannot remarry.

From what you've written I deduce you apply the strict interpretation and that a sent away/abandoned wife should not remarry until her ex-husband is still alive.

Btw I'm not demeaning Rabbis/Sages in any way - I understand they sincerely interpret and develop applications of Torah. I just don't perceive their instructions to be as legally binding as Gods own instructions in Torah or Yeshua's instructions (or other New Covenant Apostolic instructions). Yeshua explicitly warns against men-made instructions or elevating those to 'divine' law. I'm not saying these instructions can't sometimes be useful - but it's good to recognise those for what they are.

Shalom to you as well !

I appreciate (toda) your response. Divorce is a very complicated matter. It affects children, finances, and well being of both parties. I believe in divorce for adultery and for continuing child and spousal abuse. I don't believe in divorce because of convenience or greener pastures with another party.
I probably need to read the Jewish Didache for their interpretation.
Yeshua said if a man looks upon a woman with lust, he has already committed adultery in his heart.
Shalom