What does the bible say about divorce and remarriage?

Is divorce and remarriage allowed by God?

Matthew 19:3-8 Kjv

³The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

⁴And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

⁵And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

⁶Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

⁷They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

⁸He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Here we see that divorce is not a pleasing thing before God at all, because the Bible says what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Thus marriage should not be broken except for the following circumstances mentioned in the Bible;

The first reason is; Fornication

Matthew 19:9 Kjv

⁹And I say unto you, 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.

If one of the spouses is found in adultery then the bible allows it to leave such person and go to marry someone else, but if it is for any other reason other than adultery, let say quarrels, problems, troubles, misunderstandings, distress, diseases, etc. then the Bible does not permit any form of divorce at all, even if it does happen they fail to settle the matter and divorce took place, both couples are not allowed to re-marry thereafter, the Bible says everyone should stay as they are, unless they come to an agreement again, but anything else, outside of it, is considered adultery (Mark 10: 11-12).

The bible also says;

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 Kjv

¹⁰And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

¹¹But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

So if something like this happened to one of them, being caught in adultery it is good to learn to forgive so that the marriage will not break up, God does not want divorce, because even the Lord Jesus Christ himself forgives us many times we commit spiritual adultery. should we not do more? but if you can’t bare it, not guilty to break it, the bible has allowed you to go and marry someone else of your choice but only in the Lord.

Take note; Adultery is also a part of Fornication, to learn more open here >>What is the difference between Fornication and adultery?

The Second reason is: If they wants to leave you because of your faith:

If it happens both of you were married before you became believers, but later one you became a believer while they are still in the marriage, and your spouse does not want to agree with your beliefs and decides to leave you, no longer wants to live with you, in such a case the bible allows you to marry someone else but only in the LORD !. But if it happens that such person in his state of unbelief agrees to live with you, should not leave him/her, if you leave them and go to marry someone else you will be COMMITTING ADULTERY! .

1 Corinthians 7:12-16 Kjv

¹²But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

¹³And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

¹⁴For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

¹⁵But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

¹⁶For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Note, this divorce is only for those married couples before believing! The Bible does not give any permission for believers to divorce except it be for fornication, and the Bible as well does not give permit for a believer to marry an unbeliever! That’s wrong.

Therefore, as the scripture says in Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”.

It is good for a person when you get married to know that it is a matter of honor, and faithfulness, and God does not approve of a couple divorcing for any reason! (Malachi 2:16). Remember once the marriage is solemnized! God always releases grace and additional blessings unlike someone who is not married, and when a marriage breaks down remember there are many disadvantages, including withholding some spiritual blessings,

Therefore lets married couples remain faithful in their marriage vows.

God bless you.

Other articles: