GODLY
HOMES
In an ungodly world
(3)
An ongoing study of the Home as
God’s Word teaches.
Divorce
and remarriage (1)
Marriage is for Life
Marriage intended “till death
do us part.”
Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:4-6
Romans 7:2-3
1 Cor. 7:39
Our study of marriage must
respect this!
Divorce in America
Marriage today is not given
the high respect of times past.
Pew Research survey
released Nov, 2010 stated that
39% of Americans believe that
marriage is becoming
obsolete.
Divorce in America
Marriage is not given the high
respect of times past seen in  No fault-divorce
 Cohabitation – choosing to
say, “I don’t”
 Some states – no divorce
statistics (why?)
 “Till death do us part”
 Removed from wedding vows
Divorce in America
• Divorce rate higher than
previous decades
• For every 2 marriages, there
is approx. 1 divorce in
America (in a given year)
IF this trend continues, the
divorce rate could reach 50%
Divorce in America
The negative effects of divorce:
 Higher probability of problems
requiring professional help:
“Intact” family – 90% of
children in “normal range”
Divorced family – 74% boys &
66% girls in “normal range”
Divorce in America
The negative effects of divorce:
 Higher probability of problems:
- Parental loss
- Economic loss
- More stress
- Parental adjustments
- Parental incompetence
- Conflict between parents
The effects of divorce on children, 2009,
Robert Hughes
Divorce in America
The negative effects of divorce:
 Higher probability of problems:
- Higher probability of divorce
- Health problems
- Higher crime rates
The Bible & Divorce
• Where there is divorce, sin
is ALWAYS involved!
• NEVER looked upon
favorably (tolerated under
Old Law – Matt. 19:8)
• Permitted NOW for one
cause – Matt. 19:9, 5:32
The Bible & Divorce
• Malachi 2:13-16,
“For the Lord God of Israel
says that He hates divorce,
for it covers one’s garment
with violence.”
The Bible & Divorce
• Matthew 5:31-32,
“…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.”
The Bible & Divorce
• Matthew 19:8-9,
Similar in statement of
5:31-32, but allows
provision for remarriage for
the one divorcing his wife.
The Bible & Divorce
• Mark 10:1-12,
Account of same occasion
as Matt. 19:1-9, but he
doesn’t deal with the
exception. He does
mention that it applies to
both husband and wife.
The Bible & Divorce
• 1 Cor. 7:10-16,
“…A wife is not to depart
from her husband. But even
if she does depart, let her
remain unmarried or be
reconciled to her husband.
And a husband is not to
divorce his wife”
The Bible & Divorce
• 1 Cor. 7:10-16,
• Vs. 10-11 The RULE
stated.
• Vs. 11 – “But if she does
depart.” NOT permission
(but it happens). Cf. 1
John 2:1 concerning sin.
The Bible & Divorce
• 1 Cor. 7:10-16,
• Vs. 11 IF she departs –
remain unmarried or be
reconciled to her husband.
The Bible & Divorce
• 1 Cor. 7:10-16,
• Vs. 12-16 Deals with
spiritually mixed marriages
(believer-unbeliever).
• Vs. 12-13 NOTE that
preference is NOT to divorce.
• Vs. 14 – unbeliever &
children “sanctified”
The Bible & Divorce
• 1 Cor. 7:10-16,
• Vs. 15-16 IF the unbeliever
departs, a brother or sister is
“not under bondage”. Not
permission to remarry, but not
bound to fulfill marriage vows
(i.e. not responsible for
adultery).
• NOTE who departs!
Divorce is
something we ought
to seek to avoid –
BEFORE we enter
into marriage!