Is Divorce a Sin?

Divorce is a sin for the one who initiates it. Always.

 

It is always a sin for at least one of the marriage partners. Sometimes it is a sin for the one who initiates it as well.

 

Of course, we haven't gone through this a thousand times. I will limit my involvement to answer questions and comments directed my way.

I wouldn't want anyone to quit because of this thread.

 

Jesus permits divorce in the case of adultery. So in this case the one who has not commited the adultery and divorces the one that has, even if they initiate the divorce has not neccesaraly sinned.

 

I agree, Matthew 5:32
(written in red-which means Jesus said it)
But I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultry: etc....

Christine

 

Yes, divorce is sin. The man who divorces his wife commits sin AND causes HER to commit sin too (Matt. 5: 32). Neither the husband or the wife are spared from sin in the case of divorce. GOD hates divorce (Mal. 2: 16). latterrain77

 

How do you explain this then? The verse is saying that if he divorces her for any other reason, THEN he is causing her to comit adultry.
Christine

 

A little bit too black and white, Kind of like the question "Have you stopped beating your wife"

I would say Divorce is always the result of sin. There are situations where divorce can be supported scripturally, as many threads here have discussed, most of the time, probably 99% is not Biblically justified, in those cases, the sin is held to the account of the one causing the justification for the divorce, so there is always sin involved.

 

Divorce IS sin! Persons who are divorced are to remain single.

Also, regarding divorce in the case of fornication, Jesus tells us to forgive our brother who sins against us 70 times 7. That says to me that only constant and repeated adultery without repentence is grounds for divorce.

Diane

 

I do agree with that statement as it was made.
One question:
Do you think that because God/Jesus/Paul all spoke as to the "man", this is directly related to a women not divorcing at all, or is it just a way of addressing the issue?
Took me three tries to say that! I hope it's not confusing.
Christine

 

True...Generally on both sides of the conflict.

 

Why would you make that assumption? (USN2)
Are you saying that is someone (offender) commits adultry, then the other (victim) is somehow the cause or at fault for this?
Christine

 

There has been quite a bit of confusion on this matter due to translation problems. The bible says that if a man puts away his wife, but that was only half of a divorce. A complete divorce was a putting away plus a bill of divorce. Jesus was condemning a particular type of divorce where each spouse was technically still married to the other. He wasn't condemning the type of Divorce where God had authored it.

 

it has been said that...

Here's a link to a pretty good article on divorce and remarriage

http://www.rivcom.net/public/ccor/bottomline5.htm

Kenneth

 

Tonya R. said:

I disagree, lovingly, Tonya. Scripture is VERY clear that divorce is sin and that God hates divorce. The world would love for us to believe it's a translation error.......


Torrey's Topical Textbook

Divorce

Law of marriage against
Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:6

PERMITTED
By the Mosaic law
Deuteronomy 24:1
On account of hardness of heart
Matthew 19:8

Often sought by the Jews
Micah 2:9; Malachi 2:14

Sought on slight grounds
Matthew 5:31; 19:3

Not allowed to those who falsely accused their wives
Deuteronomy 22:18,19

WOMEN
Could obtain
Proverbs 2:17; Mark 10:12
Could marry after
Deuteronomy 24:2
Responsible for vows after
Numbers 30:9
Married after, could not return to first husband
Deuteronomy 24:3,4; Jeremiah 3:1
Afflicted by
Isaiah 54:4,6

Priests not to marry women after
Leviticus 21:14

Of servants, regulated by law
Exodus 21:7,11

Of captives, regulated by law
Deuteronomy 21:13,14

Forced on those who had idolatrous wives
Ezra 10:2-17; Nehemiah 13:23,30

Jews condemned for love of
Malachi 2:14-16

Forbidden by Christ except for adultery
Matthew 5:32; 19:9

 

Diane, it took me awhile to look all of those verses up. Some of them might mention a marriage or a wife, but if you read the whole chapter or even a few verses before and after, they are not ABOUT marriage or divorce.
Proverbs 2:17, this doesn't even remotely have a reference to what you have posted. Maybe you got the wrong chapter or something?
Isaiah 54:4,6, this talks about taking care of a widow.
I firmly believe that anyone can make the bible say what they want it to, by "picking and choosing" verses. Please read all of Matthew 5.
I definetly do not claim to know it all, in fact, I'm here to learn.
I believe there was and is alot of confusion about marriage and divorce, this is why it is in the bible so many times.
Also many things in the old testament were superceeded or changed by the new testament, so this creates more confusion to those of us that don't know it from cover to cover.
Christine

 

Quote from Ben W

The key to the quoted statement is PERMIT. Moses permitted a man to put away his wife for the cause of adultery. The Jews in Jesus day would divorce their wives for any little reason - even something so trivial as burning a meal.

It is my firm conviction - that even in the case of adultery - God prefers that reconciliation take place. [I like Dr. Bob's quote of Malachi 2:16 "I hate divorce," ] For reconciliation to take place - the adulterer must truly confess the sin. This often does not happen.

My assessment of most adultery divorces - is the the offended party is often to quick to the draw at getting the divorce. That suggests to me that the offended party maybe wanted a divorce anyway - and the offending party provided a convenient reason for a "justifiable" divorce.

Divorce must be the last resort - it must only take place when the adulterer refuses to repent and reconcile. This process of trying to get the adulterer to the place of repentance must be a lengthy process.

John MacArthur has an excellent study on the subject of divorce and remarriage - when I get time to look it up - I will post the name of the series. I think it must reading/listening for all pastors who intend to council anyone considering a divorce.

PS - the series is called "The Divorce Dilemma." You can find it on MacArthur's website - Grace To You - on the catalog page.

 

This is one topic that I try to avoid as I do not have any personal experience and I do not know what I would do if faced with an abusive or unfaithful husband.

I do not think I would stay in the situation.

I don't see that one person has much choice when the other person decides he/she wants a divorce.

Does God want that person to live alone for the rest of their lives?

If it is a sin, then God forgives sin.

Divorce and remarriage are two of those individual choices that a Christian must make with the guidance of their Lord God.

We cannot know what is in the heart of others nor do we know what goes on in another family.

There are many factors involved, including the effect on any children in the marriage.