Divorce

Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Divorce

Text:  Deuteronomy 24:1-4

Purpose:  To explore the Bible’s teaching about divorce.

Texts:             Leviticus 21-22 - priests may not marry women who have divorced

            Isaiah 50:1; Jeremiah 3:1,8;   Malachi 2:16

                        - all speak of God divorcing (sending away) His people

Jesus on divorce:

            Matthew 5:31-32 - except porneia - sexual, shameful sin

            Matthew 19:3-12 - answers Pharisees about divorce for any reason

            Mark 10:2-12 - answer Pharisees about divorce

            Luke 16:18 - “in order to marry” instead of “divorces and marries”

Paul on divorce:

            I Corinthians 7 - rules on marriage, divorce within the church

            I Timothy 3, Titus 1 - husband of but one wife is against polygamy

Introduction:

            Imagine working in a day care center

                        -child comes up to you and reports on her parents marriage

                        Day 1:  Daddy told mommy that one of them had to go

                        Day 2.  Mommy on phone said she would be leaving soon

                        Day 3:  Mommy packing her bags, crying

                        Day 4:  Mommy left this morning, said she didn’t know when she would be back

            Question:  What would you assume was happening in this situation?

                        Possibilities:  marital strife, divorce imminent, wonder why there were troubles

            In reality:  husband and wife received phone call

                        -wife’s brother had a massive heart attack, out-of-state family needed help

                        -one of them wanted to go and support their loved ones

            We make assumptions- because we enter the middle of a conversation

                        -the child spoke the truth, but you didn’t understand the context

                                    -leads to misunderstandings

            When we look to the Bible for teaching about divorce

                        -we often misunderstand

                        -because we enter the middle of a conversation

                        -go right to Matthew 5 - seems to say divorce is adultery

                                    -and anyone who divorces is an adulterer

            This evening, we will take a look at the scope of the Bible

                        -try to understand the context of these discussions about marriage

Divorce is something that strikes the heart of many people:

            Husbands and wives break vows

            Children wounded by broken homes

            Parents see children endure divorce

            Friends struggle when their friends divorce

                        -questions of parental rights, blended families, dating, remarrying

            Bible is not primarily a book about divorce

                        -but a book that reveals God to His people

                                    -for the purpose of being reconciled to Him

                        -teaching about divorce is minimal

                        -in fact, the emphasis in this arena is on marriage, family

                        -the over-arching theme - marriage should be permanent, treasured

            Furthermore, God said it is not good for man to be alone - Genesis 2:18

                        -and that’s why he created Eve

Overview:  The Bible is not meant to be a handbook on Divorce

                        -it speaks about the significance of marriage

                        -not meant to give every instance of divorce-answer every question

                                    -leaves it to church to bind and loose (Matthew 16:19)

1.  Marriage in the Old Testament

            The purpose of family

            The roles of husband and wife

                        -wife - devoted, raised children, few legal rights

                        -husband - took care

                        -The OT word for marry, meant to make lordship - wife came to husband

            As opposed to today:  partners with negotiable roles

                        -not saying that marriage should be what it was- just noting the difference

            Lest you think, “what a terrible, patriarchal society”

                        -remember, husband was to care for wife - provide, treasure

                        -when Moses said write a certificate of divorce

                                    -it allowed woman to remarry

                                    -it no longer left her wondering if she would be cared for

2.  The reality of divorce

            -Deut 24 gives instruction about divorce - because it was happening

                        -even before Deut 24 - divorce is mentioned

                        -Leviticus 22 - priests should not marry women who have been divorced

            -not like we think of it today - grand legal proceeding

                        -the word for “divorce” means literally sent away (or abandoned)

                        -but rather a simple abandonment

                        -woman left wondering if husband would return

                                    -could not move on with her life

                        -certificate allowed her to find someone else to pledge devotion

                                    -so that she could be care for, produce a family

            The point of Deut 24:

                        -the point - not to be taken loosely - no returning to first husband

                        -but within it, there is a statement about divorce

                        -the reason was to be “indecent”

            Is there such a thing as “Biblical Grounds” for divorce?

3.  Two schools of thought regarding “indecent thing”. (ervah dabar)

            First school - any reason, (burned supper, not a nice dresser, laughs too loud, etc.)

                        -this school focused on the procedure of divorce

                        -just give a certificate and state a reason - and you are home free

                                    -might even be legit to divorce because you found someone else

            Second School - emphasis on nakedly shameful

                        -such as adultery

                        -Jesus seems to side with this school - but we will discuss later

4.  The Imagery of Divorce

            -one of the reasons divorce is so hotly debated - its emphasis in OT

            -divorce is used as an imagery of God leaving His people

                        -because they have been nakedly shameful in worshipping other gods

                                    -they have not been faithful

5.  Jesus and Divorce

            -if we move directly to Jesus, it’s like joining the middle of an argument or discussion

                        -story about Synod and Apostle’s Creed - “hades”, “realm of the dead”

            -if you divorce, remarry, it is equal to adultery

            -Question:  is any remarriage forbidden?

            Mark 10:2-12

                        -It was because your hearts were hard - divorce was a reality

                        -wrote law to protect

                        -marriage was intended to be permanent

                        -language- could (I think should) be “in order to marry another woman”

6.  Paul’s Epistles:

            I Corinthians 7 - understanding context is key again

                        Paul is addressing group of people - confused by conversion to Christianity

                        -confusion about sex and marriage

                                    -one or both spouses have become baptized

                                    -is sex forbidden by their new-found faith?

                                    -if spouse does not convert, am I obligated to divorce?

                                    -if spouse divorces me for my faith, may I marry someone else?

            His instruction on marriage and divorce

            I Corinthians 7 - addresses three groups

                        -Christian married to Christian (vss. 1-11)

                        -Christian married to non-Christian (vss. 12-24)

                                    “not bound” seems to indicate free to marry

                        -single Christians

                        THIS INSTRUCTION came in the midst of a messy situation

                                    -sex and marriage (Paul said it was good)

                                    -essence is - stay put

            Husband of but one wife - is not necessarily about divorce, but polygamy

Responding to divorce (Pastoral Comments)

            1.  Divorce is always sad.

            2.  Single people should be very finicky as they choose a spouse.

            3.  Married people should work very hard to salvage their marriage

            4.  They bible does not attempt to give grounds for divorce.

                        -even adultery - can be forgiveness

            5.  It takes two people to make a marriage work, but only one to destroy a marriage.

            6.  People who have been divorced should be very cautious in remarrying.

            7.  Sometimes, the procedure of divorce is a legal recognition that a marriage is over.

                        -adultery, abandonment, etc.

                        -don’t be fooled by the argument of who filed first

                                    -that is sometimes no indicator of guilt

            8.  Every marriage will have difficulties to navigate.

            9.  The church should embrace people who have experienced divorce.

Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more