The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5 - 7

Chapter 5

It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

What does this mean?

Context and Interpretation

1. Context in the Sermon on the Mount:
   • The Sermon on the Mount includes Jesus’ teachings on how to live a righteous life that surpasses the external adherence to the law and focuses on the heart and intentions behind actions.
2. Immediate Context:
   • These verses come immediately after Jesus’ teaching on lust and adultery (Matthew 5:27-30), where He emphasizes the importance of inner purity and the seriousness of sinful thoughts and actions.

Explanation of the Passage

1. "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'":
   • This refers to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, where the Mosaic Law permits a man to divorce his wife by giving her a certificate of divorce. This provision was intended to provide some protection for women, ensuring they had a formal document indicating their marital status.
2. "But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery":
   • Jesus introduces a higher standard than the Mosaic Law by restricting the grounds for divorce to "sexual immorality" (Greek: porneia, which can refer to various forms of sexual misconduct). By doing so, He emphasizes the sanctity and permanence of marriage.
   • "Makes her the victim of adultery": In the cultural context, a divorced woman would often need to remarry to survive, and in doing so, she would be considered to be committing adultery if her divorce was not on legitimate grounds. Jesus points out that the man who divorces his wife unjustly bears responsibility for this.
3. "And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.":
   • This statement highlights the view that remarriage after an illegitimate divorce results in adultery, as the original marital bond is still considered valid in God's eyes.
   • Jesus underscores that marriage is a covenant meant to be lifelong and that breaking this covenant through divorce, except for serious sexual sin, leads to ongoing adultery when remarriage occurs.

Biblical Principles

1. Sanctity of Marriage:
   • Marriage is presented as a sacred and lifelong covenant that should not be broken lightly. Jesus’ teaching elevates the commitment and fidelity expected in marriage.
2. Limited Grounds for Divorce:
   • Jesus allows for divorce only on the grounds of sexual immorality, which underscores the seriousness of marital faithfulness. This restricts the practice of divorce to very serious breaches of the marital covenant.
3. Moral Responsibility:
   • The teaching highlights the moral responsibility individuals have in the context of marriage and divorce. The person initiating an unjust divorce is held accountable for the consequences that follow, including causing others to commit adultery.
4. Protection of Women:
   • By limiting the grounds for divorce, Jesus offers greater protection for women, who were often more vulnerable in cases of divorce in that cultural context.

Application

• Commitment in Marriage: This teaching calls for a strong commitment to the marriage covenant, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and the seriousness of divorce.
• Careful Consideration of Divorce: It encourages individuals to consider the gravity of divorce and to seek reconciliation and resolution of marital issues whenever possible, except in cases of serious sexual misconduct.
• Responsibility and Accountability: It underscores the importance of personal responsibility in marital decisions and the broader implications those decisions have on all parties involved.