God's View of Divorce

by Travis L Quertermous

From The Reminder, August 7, 2011

Divorce used to be a rarity in this country. But since the 1960’s, we have instituted so-called “no fault” divorce laws. That simply means you no longer have to prove your spouse did something wrong in order to get a divorce. But if you stop and think about it, a “no fault” divorce is an oxymoron; it’s like talking about a married bachelor. There just ain’t no such thing! After all, if neither party were truly at fault, there would be no divorce.

But unlike the lax attitude our society now takes of divorce, God has an entirely different outlook on the matter. In Malachi 2:16, the Bible says, “‘For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.’”

Jesus Christ was similarly intolerant of divorce. In Matthew 19:6, our Lord said of marriage, “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together let not man separate.” Then He added, “But 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” (Matt. 19:9). So let us erase the word “divorce” from our vocabulary and take the same high view of marriage that God has!