Page 182 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

DIVORCE

that verse; rather, He went all the way back to Ge. 1 and sin of the world. The Law was temporary, and that
2 to show God’s original plan. includes the permission about divorce.
Why, then, did God give permission for divorce in De. 4. This permission about divorce was only for the
24:1? That was the very question which was asked by dispensation of law. To prove this point, let’s back up
the Pharisees and brings us to the verse in question, and one chapter to De. 23, and read v. 1. “He that is
to point number three. wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut
3. God did permit divorce for one reason. De. 24:1-2, off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.”
“When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it Everyone understands that this was temporary; no one
come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because tries to enforce this rule today, when a person wants to
he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him join a church!
write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, Another prohibition in that chapter that people do
and send her out of his house. And when she is not enforce today is found in v. 2, “A bastard shall not
departed out of his house, she may go and be another enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his
man’s wife.” Here is clear permission and instruction tenth generation shall he not enter into the
about divorce and remarriage! congregation of the Lord.” Similarly, no one enforces v.
The problem of interpretation, for the Pharisees, was 3).
that phrase in verse 1, “some uncleanness.” Did it mean which prohibits an Ammonite or a Moabite from
immorality, or any thing that the man might have entering the congregation of the Lord. These were
disliked about his wife? Such had been the controversy obviously temporary, since Christ commanded us to go
through the years between rabbi Shammai and Rabbi and preach the gospel to all nations, baptizing them and
Hillel, and those who followed one or the other. The teaching them to follow Him. Everyone realizes that
Pharisees were asking the Lord Jesus which about chapter 23, but many ignore this matter when
interpretation He agreed with. However, they had a they get to chapter 24!
serious misunderstanding about the passage which is 5. Christ’s plan for the church age is not found in Mt.
seen by their question in Mt. 19:7, “Why did Moses then 19, but in 1 Co. 7. How can we be sure of that? By
command to give a writing of divorcement..?” Christ remembering that Christ lived under the dispensation of
corrected them in the next verse by saying, “Moses the law (see Ga. 4:4, “God sent forth his Son, made of a
because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to woman, made under the law...”). Thus, He observed the
put away your wives.” “Suffer” in Scripture means to Passover, one of the regulations of the law of Moses, but
permit; we must note that there is a great difference we are certainly not commanded to do so today. Christ
between a command and a permission. Sometimes in explained De. 24:1 to the Pharisees because they were
Scripture God permitted things that He did not still under the law. The four Gospels record many places
command (such as polygamy). [See Polygamy.] where the Lord Jesus dealt with local and temporary
Sometimes people object to that as an inconsistency matters which affected them, at that time, in that place,
in God. Why would He do that? Christ explained: but not us today.
“because of the hardness of your hearts.” Then, it is We are obligated to do as Christ did with the
most important to see that He immediately said, “but Pharisees: distinguish between what God gave through
from the beginning it was not so.” God made changes in Moses for Israel during that time, and what God’s
the various dispensations; He changed what He required original plan was. In other words, we must “rightly
man to do, from one age to another; He also gave divide the word of truth” (2 Ti. 2:15).
permissions in one age that He did not give to others. Almost all of 1 Co. 7 is devoted to the subject of
Until He gave the law through Moses, man could offer marriage and the various problems that attend it. Verses
sacrifices to God anywhere, but in De. 12:5-14, He 10-11 show that God’s plan for us today is the same as it
required them to come to a particular place, and to that was in the beginning: “And unto the married I
place only. Now, in our age, we do not even offer such command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife
sacrifices! Clearly, then, God has changed His depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her
requirements and permissions for mankind from age to remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and
age. let not the husband put away his wife.”
The commands of the law were not meant to be This clearly shows that God does not want divorce.
permanent, but temporary, for Israel during those years However, recognizing that some people will divorce in
while they awaited the coming of the Saviour. God spite of what God wants, He admonishes that the wife
knew, of course, that when Christ would come, He who departs has only two options: “let her remain
would be the Lamb of God which would take away the unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband.” Perhaps

182 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity