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[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2<\/strong>\u00a0 page.]<\/span><\/p>\n Carl Rowan, syndicated newspaper columnist, wrote an article appearing in the San Angelo [TX] Standard-Times<\/em> edition of February 18, 1970, titled, “Divorce Increase Cause of Troubles.” In his article Rowan discussed the trend toward liberalization of divorce laws and correctly, I believe, connects the disintegration of morality and general disrespect for authority with the instability of modern family and home life. Rowan’s article well summarized the modern careless attitudes toward the subject of marriage and divorce. We will do well to delve into the Scriptural doctrine on this subject, the fullest statement of which on the subject is in Jesus\u2019 words in Matthew 19:3\u20139. In His time, as in ours, there was a very liberal attitude toward divorce, as reflected by the Pharisees’ question, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” (v. 3).<\/span><\/p>\n Were Jesus present in our modern society this question would certainly be appropriate. We need not wish Him here, if to learn His attitude on this matter; He answered quite clearly in A.D. 28 just as He would answer in 1970. The teaching of Jesus on this subject contains limitations on the practice of divorce that modern has all but abandoned, but that he desperately needs to hear.<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus stated the Divine rule<\/strong> in verses 4\u20139. To the question of the Pharisees about the legitimacy of divorce \u201cfor every cause,” Jesus did not reply with a \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno.\u201d Rather, He answered with a question about their knowledge of the teaching of the Law of Moses on the subject, designed to lead them to answer their own question. The Lord offered several reasons why divorce for various causes is unlawful before God:<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus left no room for doubt in the minds of the tricky Pharisees who asked about divorce. Neither can we have any doubt about what he meant.<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus also stated the Divine exception<\/strong> in verses 7\u20139. The Pharisees sought to discredit Jesus by placing him in conflict with Moses: “You say divorce is unlawful, but Moses allowed it; whom should we hear?” might well paraphrase verse 7. Without hesitation, Jesus credited Moses’ allowance to human weakness and reiterated God’s marriage-divorce <\/em>law that has existed “from the beginning.” Jesus took this position even though it meant:<\/span><\/p>\n It is noteworthy that when one stands with Jesus Christ on this subject today he finds himself in almost the identical relationships toward those about him.<\/span><\/p>\n The exception granted involves two elements: (1) the fact<\/strong> that a divorce is permissible and (2) the condition<\/strong> making divorce permissible. Two basic motives exist that might cause one to seek a divorce from one\u2019s mate\u2014selfish and unselfish. The Pharisees illustrate the selfish approach to the issue. The question with which they approached Jesus seems to ask, “Is any excuse acceptable to divorce one\u2019s spouse when you decide you don\u2019t like him or her or if you find someone you like better?” I know of no statistics available to prove it, but likely a large percentage of divorces are filed nowadays after<\/strong> (and because) a new love has been found, constituting a entirely selfish motive.<\/span><\/p>\n The only divinely-authorized cause Jesus gives for divorce is an intolerable immoral situation\u2014fornication by one’s spouse. Basically, divorce for this cause is unselfishly motivated. The person in this circumstance is not seeking an excuse to put away one\u2019s mate that he or she may have another, but is rather seeking to maintain a home free of moral corruption. Christ not only permits divorce<\/strong> from the fornicator, but also permits remarriage<\/strong> by the innocent party in the defiled marriage (v. 9).<\/span><\/p>\n Consider some possible reasons why this exception was\/is granted:<\/span><\/p>\n Admittedly, it is as unpopular to stand with the Son of God now as it was when He spoke these words, but it is a position with which the believer cannot argue, both because of Divine authority and human necessity. “Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for the fornicator and adulterer God will judge” (Heb.13:4).<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for and it appeared in the San Angelo Standard-Times, <\/em>San Angelo, TX, April 17, 1970.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution: <\/strong>From The Scripturecache.com<\/em>, owned and administered by Dub McClish.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 0[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2\u00a0 page.] Carl Rowan, syndicated newspaper columnist, wrote an article appearing in the San Angelo [TX] Standard-Times edition of February 18, 1970, titled, “Divorce Increase Cause of Troubles.” In his article Rowan…<\/p>\n\n
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