Matthew 5:32

Saturday, 7 December 2024

But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. Matthew 5:32

“And I, I say, to you that whoever if he shall dismiss his wife, except a word of harlotry, he makes her commit adultery. And whoever if ‘her having been dismissed’ he shall marry, he commits adultery” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus cited the words of Moses concerning giving a woman a certificate of divorce. Having said that, He next says, “And I, I say, to you.”

As with Matthew 5:28, almost all translations say either “But I say” or “However, I say.” This then sets Jesus’ words against those of Moses. But this is not the intent at all. Moses said what he said under inspiration from the Lord. It cannot be that the Lord would now contradict or argue against what was previously written.

Rather, and as seen in the previous commentary, Jesus told the people that Moses allowed for divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. This means that God knew that the people would rebel against Him even more than they did if they were not given this allowance.

However, Jesus now explains what the standard of God actually is, not by contradicting Moses (But), but through an additional explanation of how God perceives such things (And). Understanding this, He next says, “that whoever if he shall dismiss his wife.”

To dismiss means to send her away through divorce. As seen, the law in Deuteronomy said that this could be done for a “word of nudity,” meaning some type of shame that caused the husband to no longer want her. As nothing more specific was cited in the law, it became common for divorce to be allowed for almost any reason. However, Jesus next says, “except a word of harlotry.”

Jesus uses the word parektos, translated as except. The meaning then is that there is but this one exception which is noted as a word. The idea of a “word” is that of a matter. The man finds out that the woman has played the harlot and he resolves to dismiss her because of that. This is the only exception allowed by God’s exacting standard.

As for the word porneia, translated as harlotry, it signifies “to sell off.” Thus, it speaks of surrendering oneself from sexual purity, meaning it refers to marital unfaithfulness. With this one exception identified, Jesus says that through any other reason for divorce, “he makes her commit adultery.”

In other words, the woman has not been unfaithful, but because of the actions of the man in dismissing her, he is actually causing her to be an adulteress. To God, the union did not have a sufficient reason for it being ended. But without such a sufficient reason, it means that to Him, it is still considered a legal union.

A piece of paper doesn’t change the reality of the state between the two. To further clarify the matter, Jesus finishes the verse with, “And whoever if ‘her having been dismissed’ he shall marry, he commits adultery.”

The woman, having been dismissed by her husband for a reason that is insufficient in the eyes of God, is now to be considered an adulteress. As such, the person who marries her is committing adultery with her. God still sees the original union in the light of Genesis 2:24 –

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

As this is so, then anyone coming into this union from the outside is violating the union that was first acknowledged as binding by God. One can see why Jesus’ initial word should be “And” not “But.” Jesus is speaking with the authority of God because He is God incarnate.

He is explaining what is and is not appropriate based on Scripture. But He is doing it from more than an interpretive angle. He is setting forth the standard of God, something only God can do.

Life application: Jesus has spoken forth the standard concerning marriage. He has given one exception for divorce which is sexual immorality (translated as harlotry above) on the part of the spouse. This excludes divorces for any other reason. As such, the marriage is expected to be honored regardless of any other situation that has arisen.

This is so contrary to the allowances in society that it seems impossible to imagine, but it is what the word has set forth. As noted, Paul gives his own thoughts on such things in 1 Corinthians 7. What he says there should be taken into consideration as well. But the idea of divorce should be repugnant to Christians, not an option that is always available because the spouse doesn’t measure up to one’s standards in some way or another.

May we be faithful in our marriages, and may we faithfully honor the spouse we chose, thereby honoring God who set forth the idea of marriage at the beginning of man’s time on earth.

Lord God, we are so grateful for Jesus who has cleansed us from all impurity. Each of us has been unfaithful in so many ways. Our eyes look to things they shouldn’t, and our hearts are easily turned away from the right path. Without Jesus, where could we go from our sins? But because of Jesus, there is a cleansing fountain always there to restore us to You. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.