Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
There’s such a broad spectrum on how people view divorce and remarriage in the church. It is such a common thing now, there is nobody unaffected by this. Every church deals with this issue, whether they realize it or not. Of course, the sensitivity on the subject is high and tensions high when these issues come up. Nobody wants to get in an argument. Nobody wants to hurt anybody’s feelings. And certainly nobody wants to hurt anybody further or push them further away. So it becomes very difficult to deal with these topics.
There’s much to say on this, but one of the goals of these devotions is to be short. So we can’t cover everything. I believe there is significant error being taught out there today, especially in the churches. Maybe we can shed a little light on the subject today. Here’s the entire passage that we’re considering:
1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
This passage says plainly that after that she is defiled. After what? The first verse gives the instructions on the bill of divorcement. The second verse gives permission to remarry. The third verse provides the scenario that the second husband divorces her or dies.
So after all that she is defiled. So what exactly causes the defilement. One might argue that the defilement is simply whatever the first husband found that was wrong with her. However, let me ask you this: In the first marriage, whatever was wrong, it would have been perfectly fine for the husband to not put her away; as Joseph did with Mary. So why would it be okay then, and not okay now, after that? Because that’s not the problem.
Now in the third verse, one might argue that whatever the second husband found wrong with her is the defilement. The problem with that is the scenario is a double or statement; meaning he might not have divorced her. He may have simply died. Him dying would not defile her or be some fault of hers. So that’s not it.
Now the the second verse gives permission for the wife to remarry; but therein is the defilement. Remember Jesus said (Matthew 19:8) Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives.
So all this to say this: It’s the actual second marriage that defiles her. And this is indeed confirmed in Jesus words, (Matthew 5:32) But I say unto you, That 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.
It’s astounding how even the words of Jesus are so blatantly and wholly ignored on this topic of divorce and remarriage. Well, wait a minute. If we’re saved, isn’t our slate wiped clean? Our sins are washed away; but many have convinced themselves that their first marriage was somehow a sin. There may have been sin in the marriage, but the marriage itself is holy, and sanctified in heaven. To say that God washes away marriages with his blood is a gross perversion of God’s forgiveness.
There’s so much more to say on this topic, but I don’t want to end without saying a few things. (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God can and does forgive sin. His blood can wash away any stain. There is much hope for those who have gone through a divorce and remarried, as much hope as any Christian. But hope lies in honesty with the Word of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us… (Ephesian 3:20)