What does the Bible say about divorce and remarrying?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that marriage is a lifelong covenant, and divorce is a grievous departure from God’s design, permitted only in serious circumstances such as sexual immorality or abandonment by an unbelieving spouse. Jesus warns in Matthew 5:32 and Luke 16:18 against casual divorce and remarriage, since wrongful divorce can lead to adultery. In Matthew 19:9, however, he recognizes sexual immorality as a ground for divorce. Paul adds in 1 Corinthians 7:15 that when an unbelieving spouse abandons a believer, the believer is not bound. Christians should pursue faithfulness, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation where possible; yet when a biblical divorce has occurred, historic Protestant teaching generally permits the innocent party to remarry in the Lord.
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- Matthew 5:32
but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
- Matthew 19:9
I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."
- 1 Corinthians 7:15
Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
- Luke 16:18
Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
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