I. INTRODUCTION
Jesus began His sermon with describing the characteristics of a Christ follower.
He then explained that those who are Christ followers belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, and that they are to stay pure (keep the Word of God pure) for they are the salt of the earth.
He also explained that they are the light of the world as well, which is the good fruit that naturally comes from us because we have the Holy Spirit in us.
Jesus also explains that He did not come to abolish the Law, but in actuality He came to tighten it back up to where it was originally intended to be.
Man had loosened the law of God to a point that it was no longer effective.
Jesus said in Mark 7:13 – “… you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.”
Traditions that loosen the commands over time.
To the point where the commands mean nothing anymore because they have been loosened to the point where man thinks he is justified with God.
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 5:31 – 32
“31 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”
II. THE LAW
a. You have heard it said…
Deuteronomy 24:1-4
“1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, 2 and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, 3 and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, 4 then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.”
- Define displeasing…
- If you divorce her and she marries again, if he dies or divorces her you cannot marry her again.
b. The Command
The Jews had perverted the law on marriage that was given by God, loosening the meaning to the point that they were giving letters of divorce because they didn’t find their wives pleasing any longer…
Loosening God’s Word.
They would divorce, remarry, divorce and marry again at their whim.
This takes the value of covenant away, and destroys the entire point of the marriage commitment.
In fact, before they were allowed to divorce, many found their demise in the fields at the hands or hired killers.
c. Why God hates Divorce
Marriage is a covenant between two people with God in which the two become ONE and the promise is not to be broken.
Marriage represents the promise of God.
Jesus is the Groom and the Body of Christ, Christ followers here on earth are the bride.
Groom = Jesus
Bride = Christ Followers
Covenantal agreement = accepted at Communion
Preparing a place = Jesus went to prepare that place
Taking the Bride = Rapture
Wedding Feast of 7 days = Wedding feast of 7 years (during tribulation)
Revealing of the Bride after 7 days = 2nd coming in Glory with us by His side!
Marriage was to teach people of God’s covenant and commitment.
Man loosened to the point the Word was nullified. It meant nothing.
III. JESUS TIGHTENS THE LAW
a. But I say
Matthew 5:32
“32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces (LIT – PUTS AWAY) his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”
Jesus does not repeat the word divorce He used in verse 31.
The word Jesus uses in verse 32 is the Greek word for leaving or letting go.
So Jesus isn’t talking about actual divorce, but if you even leave, abandon or tell your spouse to go.
UNLESS Jesus says for Porneia (where we get the word porn from) which means adultery, sexual sin, idolatry, etc…
Then you have caused THEM to become an adulterer.
And anyone who marries them will be an adulterer.
Jesus is saying YOUR ACTIONS are causing others to sin, or fall.
He’s not saying they will be held responsible, but that the one who causes them to be in this state will be held responsible.
Because one does not have control over someone else’s action.
If a man divorces his wife without just cause, that is no fault of her.
God being a just God would not hold her responsible, but the one who put her in that state.
What does Jesus say about those who cause His own to fall?
Luke 17:1-3
“1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 So watch yourselves.”
b. Divorce
God hates divorce:
Malachi 2:16
"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.
God divorced Israel:
Jeremiah 3:8
I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.
Divorce itself is not the sin, unless it was done for selfish unscriptural reasons.
Then, just as with ANY SIN, one must repent and ask forgiveness.
c. Put Away
God hates divorce, true, but God divorced unfaithful Israel.
Is unrighteous divorce worse than any other sin? No
Is there any sin that is unforgivable? Yes, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
All other sin is forgivable.
Why do we have a problem with Divorce?
Sin is sin.
IV. CONCLUSION
Culture plays the biggest role in sin…
But the Word tells us all sins, save blasphemy, are forgivable!
One God –
No Idols –
No Blasphemy of God’s name -
Keep Sabbath Holy –
Honor Father & Mother -
No Murder -
No Adultery -
No Stealing -
No Lying -
No Coveting -
ALTAR CALL
It is God’s will that ALL are saved and come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Jesus died for us while we were still sinners.
If we confess our sins against God and repent, asking forgiveness, there will be nothing standing in the way of a relationship with our Father in heaven.
That is why Jesus came.
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