Introduction

Divorce is an invention of Man. God never wanted this to be a part of man’s being. Yet, he allowed it under the Old Law to preserve the Nation of Israel and keep his promise to Abraham.

Christians should know that divorce is never an option as God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16). God did allow one exception for divorce (Mt. 19:9). In the next few articles, we’ll look at the problem with “unscriptural divorce”, divorce for any reason aside from fornication.

Separating God’s Union

Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ challenge concerning divorce in Matthew 19:4-6, And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 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’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Looking at the last phrase, What God has joined together, let not man separate. Marriage is a union approved by God; it’s His invention. For one to separate the union, unscripturally, is to violate God’s Law. You’re going against what God has ordained and approved for man. No one calling themselves a Christian would want to violate His Word; it is a sin!

What about 1 Corinthians 7:10-11?

There will be some who will appeal to what the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. Let’s look at the passage, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 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.

Some see this as a loophole to get a divorce. As we stated before, God hates divorce and would not violate His own statement later on (Heb. 13:4). This passage is for those already in the process of divorcing; not permission to get one. But you will notice in verse 10 where it says, A wife is not to depart from her husband. This is also speaking about divorce; a woman divorcing her husband. Though rare back then, it still happened. Whereas here in the 21st century, it’s become commonplace for a woman to seek the divorce from her husband.

There are Christian women who might see 1 Cor. 7:10 as a loophole from the view that it simply says leave the husband and remain unmarried. However, it’s impossible to validate this if a divorce doesn’t happen. She can think that she’s abiding by God’s law all she wants but, in the end, she’s still married to her husband even if she’s left him.

Some see this as a way to still go to Heaven. They say, “I’ll just get a divorce and then remaining unmarried.” Does this sound like the decision of a Christian? The answer is no! The fact that you desired to get a divorce, even though you choose to remain unmarried, does not help the matter.

As we stated before, God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16) and it should never be an option unless it is for fornication (Mt. 19:9) However, if reconciliation is impossible, one has to become a spiritual eunuch for the Kingdom’s sake (Mt. 19:12c).

Conclusion

Before you make the decision to get a divorce, make sure you are not violating God’s word. As Jesus said in Matthew 19:9, “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.”