Matthew 5:31

Friday, 6 December 2024

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ Matthew 5:31

“And it was said that whoever, if he shall dismiss his wife, he gives to her a divorcement” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of what to do when the right hand causes one to sin. He now turns to an issue all too common in the world and which He will show that God’s standard is one that holds the marriage covenant as something binding. That begins in this verse with the words, “And it was said that whoever, if he shall dismiss his wife.”

The subject of divorce is addressed by Moses in Deuteronomy 24. A portion of that teaching says –

“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house.” Deuteronomy 24:1, 2

Whether Jesus is citing Deuteronomy directly, or a teaching based on Deuteronomy, He is clarifying the matter as it is regarded in God’s eyes. Moses notes finding “some uncleanness in her.” The words in Hebrew signify a “word of nudity.” Thus, they point to some type of shame that has caused the husband to no longer want her.

If this is the case, then “he gives to her a divorcement.” The noun apostasion is used. It signifies a bill of divorce. A single word to convey the meaning is divorcement, a word first found in a translation of the Bible in the early 1500s to meet the translational need for such a word.

This is what was allowed by the Lord through Moses. However, we will see this stated by Jesus in Mark 10 –

“The Pharisees came and asked Him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ testing Him.

3 And He answered and said to them, ‘What did Moses command you?’

4 They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.’

5 And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God “made them male and female.” 7 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh”; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.’

10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. 11 So He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’” Mark 10:2-12

Jesus is not setting aside the law. He is showing that, in this case, the law accommodated the human heart, but that a standard was given prior to the law that was how things were originally intended in the covenant of marriage.

Life application: One can see that marriage was considered a decision uniting two as one. When one commits adultery, the two are no longer one. Likewise, when a divorce is made, it is also taking the one and dividing them again. The standard is that when two are united as one, they are to stay as one.

Although this is Jesus speaking to Israel under the law, the precept predates the law. And more, Paul refers to marriage in 1 Corinthians 7 and clearly states that what Jesus says here is binding.

The reason for this is because these things recorded in the Old Testament are given as types of what God in Christ is also doing –

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-33

God has covenanted in Christ with those who have come to Him through the New Covenant. The church is the body of believers who have been so joined to Him. God will never break the bond that exists because He is faithful. We have the hope of eternal security because of this. Thank God for what He has done.

Lord God, we are not always faithful in our relationships. Our hearts are drawn away, we lose direction, and we act unfaithfully. But we know it is not so with You. You are ever faithful in Your dealings with Your people. Thank You for the reassurance and security we possess because of this. Amen.