What Does The Bible Say About Divorce, According To Scripture
Learn what the Bible says about divorce.
pexels Christianity is one of the most popular religions in the world and many Christians marry before God and their community in a church of their choosing.
What does the Bible say about divorce?
In general, divorce is frowned upon with exceptions such as adultery, abuse, neglect, or abandonment. For many Christians, marriage is a spiritual covenant that comes with a legal license, but their spousal bond takes place between each other, not man, but with God.
With Christianity being one of the most practiced religions, many Christians are aware of what the Bible says about divorce and marriage.
As part of their requirement to get married in a church, many Christians have to take pre-marital classes. This is designed to give them insight into what their life will be like once they say "I do" and tie the knot. It is designed to help them understand the realities of marriage, so that they go into it with their eyes open.
That's because many sects of Christianity believe that the Bible says you should never get divorced. So it'd be good if you were prepared to be married forever!
Life is hard. Marriage can be hard, too. Through faith, prayer, and attending services, spouses are designed to grow together and help each other.
Christians believe that God can help everyone through difficult times, including marriage problems. He prefers that the two would forgive each and stay married instead of divorcing.
Here's what the Bible has to say about divorce (and remarriage), taken from verses quoted in scripture.
1. Marriage fulfills a purpose and couples who divorce miss out on an opportunity to complete their journey together.
Bible scripture says that God made men and women, so they could grow up, leave their family home, and become one unit — a new family. We've all heard this, or a portion of this, at Christian weddings!
"'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.'"
From the New International Version (NIV), Matthew 19:2
2. Jesus says, flat-out, that you should never get divorced — except in the case of infidelity.
In the same passage, from Matthew in the NIV, a story is told where a Pharisee came to Jesus and asked him (as a test) whether or not divorce was OK.
"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"
Jesus replies that, essentially, those men had "hard hearts", but that it hadn't always been that way.
3. If you get divorced and re-marry, you are committing adultery.
Jesus then moves on to lay down the law:
"I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."
4. Because of this strict law, everyone who can get married should do so. And they should never divorce.
(continuing the passage above, from the book of Matthew, in the NIV.)
The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."
Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."
In other words, unless you've been castrated or can't have an intimate marriage for any other reason, you should get married and stay married. The only exception is for people who have committed their lives to the service of God, like priests and monks.
For them, being unmarried is OK.
5. Adultery is an unforgivable action.
God believes that his powers can keep a marriage together and have forgiveness among each other. He would prefer that people do not divorce each other, but work through the problems that they have. God and Moses both believe that the only reason for divorce is if adultery is committed.
In Proverbs 6:32 the Bible is saying that once you commit adultery your soul will never be the same. Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. — Hebrew 13:4.
Others were made that way by men and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven the one who can accept this should accept this. — Matthew 19:3-7
6. According to the Bible, divorce is almost always sinful. So don't do it.
Obviously, some bad things took place to lead two people who once loved each other to get a divorce. There are Bible verses quoted by Christians that say how God hates divorce and thinks it is a violent thing (Malachi 2:16).
According to Matthew 19:3, it states, you can get a divorce only if it involves adultery. Therefore saying God and Moses both believe that any problem in a marriage could be forgiven, but under Moses, you can get a divorce with an unforgiven cause like adultery.
Danielle Vickers is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.