Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Divorce

(3) It makes sense, then, that right after speaking on adulture Jesus went straight into the third illustration, about marriage and divorce. Jesus was referring to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, which explains that a man could divorce his wife if she displeased him in some way. All he had to do was give her a certificate of divorce, then they both could move on to marry someone else.

But Jesus said that kind of divorce made them adulterers, unless the marriage had already been broken by adultery. Jesus was talking about the heart, what was happening in the heart.

Throughout the Bible God says He hates divorce, but He never says He hates divorced people.

It is because of the devastation that divorce leaves in the people He loves so deeply that God hates divorce in the first place. Those of you who have gone through a divorce know -- and members of my own family have been through divorce so I know too -- how devastating such an experience can be. You break a bone, a few months later, it’s as good as new, isn’t it. You break a heart.... God knows how long it takes to knit your heart back together.

Be assured that when you come to Him for His comfort and cleansing, He will flood you to overflowing with His love and grace.

If you are troubled by a divorce in your background, then remember what Jesus said to the woman who was dragged before Him to be stoned for committing adultery.

Jesus told all the people present -- who were feeling very self-righteous by the way -- that whoever among you has not sinned, you can throw the a stone at this woman. After they all left, one by one, knowing they had no right to throw those stones, Jesus told her, I don’t condemn you either, you’re forgiven, you are free to go and sin no more. You and I live in the day of grace right now. Jesus didn’t come to condemn, He came to heal and forgive.

If your spouse left you, and you didn’t want this divorce at all, then God has something even more for you. In His eyes you hold a special place in His heart reserved only for the widows and the fatherless, people God has said, over and over again, He will personally protect, provide for and work justice for.

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