Page 11 - Family Life Student Textbook

A covenant is much stronger than a contract. A covenant is not a deal we make together. It is not a contract
with options to get out of if the other person disappoints me. A covenant is a promise before God, to remain
faithful to this person until one of us physically dies. Most of the covenants God made with people are
unconditional covenants. He will not break them no matter what the recipient of the covenant does or does
not do. The marriage covenant is an unconditional covenant in which a man and a woman commit to love
and serve only each other until they are parted by physical death. The Bible is clear that when a person
physically dies, his mate is free from that marriage covenant and can remarry.

What does God teach about divorce?

God considers divorce to be the breaking of a covenant before Him.

Malachi 2:14–16 You ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD is the
witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have
been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of
your marriage covenant. Has not the one God made you? You
belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God
seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be
unfaithful to the wife of your youth. “The man who hates and
divorces his wife,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “does
violence to the one he should protect,” says the LORD
Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

When Jesus was here on earth he was asked about this important subject.

Matthew 5:31–32 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a
certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual
immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced
woman commits adultery.”

In the day in which Jesus lived, two different views on divorce were taught. Followers of Hillel taught that a
man could divorce his wife for almost any reason. Followers of Shammai taught that one could not divorce
his wife unless she was guilty of sexual offense, in which case he must divorce her. The Pharisees were
asking Jesus this very controversial question to make him unpopular with the people.

But when Jesus answered their question, he affirmed that God’s intention is that marriage be permanent
until separation caused by physical death.

Matthew 19:4–6 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made
them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and
mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So, they are no
longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one
separate.”

Jesus reaffirmed the command regarding marriage given at the time of creation. God created man and
woman for the purpose of marriage which would reflect his image.

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