Question:
Will you please explain Matthew 5:32; 19:9?
Answer:
Both scriptures are in perfect harmony and teach practically the same thing. “Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” And the ninth verse of the nineteenth chapter reads, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” It seems that the exception is very clearly and definitely marked. If there is fornication, the guilty party could be put away and divorce secured, and the innocent one would be free to marry again. But it does not give the guilty party the right to marry again on a Scriptural basis, and whoever marries the guilty party partakes with that guilty party in the sin. That, it seems to us, is the teaching of the text.
We know some believe that persons divorced should never marry again for whatever cause, but in both of these cases, the Lord has given us an obvious exception, and other texts should be understood in harmony with it.
In some instances in which persons have thus separated, the guilty party has married in harmony with the laws of the world, not knowing, or realizing, or appreciating, and perhaps not caring for, what is said in the Scripture regarding it. So far as the law of the land is concerned, this course has been perfectly legal. Children have been born to such marriages, and afterward, these souls may have embraced the gospel message of truth. What should they do? We would say they had better remain as they are, for two wrongs don’t make a right. When they came to Christ, He accepted them as they were and did not design to break home ties, marriage ties, or take away from the father or the mother the responsibility of caring for their offspring. What our Lord is saying here He is saying to believers.
