South Highway Five Church of Christ

Many are the efforts underway today to undermine marriage, home and family. One of the most prevalent and persistent is the many divorces for any cause and subsequent remarriages. Not only are the sacred vows of husband and wife violated but children, grandparents, extended family, community and, last but not least, the church are injured also.

God's way for home and family revealed in the Bible includes clear teaching regarding the matter of divorce for any cause. In Matthew 5:31, 32, and Matthew 19:1-12, Christ taught that what God joins together in marriage no one should "put asunder" or cause to "be separated." He then said that anyone who divorces his mate for a reason other than "fornication" (which means "having sex with someone else") cannot remarry with God's approval and if such a one does that one is living in adultery. And, Jesus said, if anyone marries such a one that person too is living in adultery. The disciples were surprised at the strict limits Christ set to divorce and remarriage and the serious and severe consequences of violating those limits. But Jesus understood the importance of marriage and family and he desired to protect the sanctity of the mariage relationship and the welfare of women and children especially. The stringent consequences were set in place to deter the breakup of marriages, homes and families. In addition to the passages in the book of Matthew one should study also Mark 10:11, 12 and Luke 16:18.

In an effort to "get around" the plain teaching of Christ in these passages some have argued that since Jesus taught this before he died on the cross and it was not repeated after Acts 2 it has no application to us today. The argument is that anything Jesus taught during his personal ministry that is not repeated after the New Covenant (Testament) came into effect on the day of Pentecost is not for us today.

If this be true then why were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John ever written? Each one was written years after Christ died and the events of Acts 2 transpired. They are filled with teachings not repeated after Acts 2. If these teachings are not for us then WHY were they written?! And for WHOM were they written ?! They could not have been written for those under the Mosaic dispensation and Old Covenant for that dispensation and covenant were no longer in effect when they were written. It had been done away and nailed to the cross (Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14). The fact is, the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written TO and FOR people living under the New Covenant and Christian Age. Thus people living today!

There is an axiom of logic that says: "What proves too much proves nothing." This argument to prove Christ's teachings on divorce and remarriage are not for us today since he said it before the cross and it was not repeated later proves more than most people are really willing to admit! For example, if it proves Christ's teachings about marriage and divorce are not for us today then it also proves what Christ said about the "Golden Rule" is not for us today! We find that rule in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 8:31. Can you find where it was repeated in the Bible after Acts 2? What about Christ's teaching in Matthew 8:15-17? According to the argument we do not need to go to our brother who has offended us because Christ said this before the cross and no apostle repeated it after Acts 2. Who can believe it?! Can you find any of the parables of Christ repeated after Acts 2? Does this mean they are not for us today? And what about Matthew 19:6? Is it for us today? The desperation of those to "get around" the plain teaching of Christ regarding divorce and remarriage involves them in a position that throws out everything in Matthew through John that Jesus taught and that is not repeated after Acts 2. This is a false and subversive doctrine and those who advocate it should be marked and avoided (Romans 16:17).

--Stephen Rook