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11B - Divorce - Surprising Biblical Insights
Critical
Advanced
Video
Broken Families
12 Lessons
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About 11B - Divorce - Surprising Biblical Insights
Divorce needs to be discussed, not because we encourage it - we don't- but because it is used too often and creates lasting damage for the couple and any children. You will learn about the Biblical approach and whether the Bible allows for divorce. You will also learn about the Bible's view of remarriage. This course is highly recommended for anyone that has divorced or is considering divorce. It will encourage those who have divorced and help those considering divorce choose another path.
Download the article titled "Divorce Is the Hard-hearted Option" in the first video of module one if you want to read the details of this course. The article is part of the appendix in Servants Leading Servants - 15 Signs of a Real Servant Leader.
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11B - Divorce - Surprising Biblical Insights
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When God created man and woman at the very beginning, He gave some precise information about marriage. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." - Genesis 2:24-25 (NKJV)
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But the hardness of man’s heart is not willing to abide by God’s desire. The Code of Hammurabi, the oldest known law code, shows that early in the history of man, there was a desire to get out of marriage.
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God’s original design for marriage in Genesis 2:24-25 is still the standard, and it did not provide separation or divorce as an option.
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Yes, God did create a provision for man’s hard heart, as referenced by Jesus in Matthew 19. But, before you read the passage, it is essential to understand the key words used in the New and Old Testaments.
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With the definitions of the words in your mind, look at this critical passage in the Old Testament.
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If you were looking for a condemnation of divorce, the Old Testament did not provide it. Now, look at what Jesus says. One of the best passages is in Matthew 19.
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Think about who the Pharisees were – scholars of the Old Testament. They had studied and even memorized Genesis through Deuteronomy. So now, Jesus says, “Have you not read….” That is like saying to a Biblical scholar, “Have you ever read Genesis chapter 2?”
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So, God, through the Mosaic Law, permits divorce, and it must be done with a legal document. Be truly clear – it is ONLY permitted because of hard hearts that do not want to abide by God’s desire that two people stay together.
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This second question isn’t needed if there were fewer hard hearts that get divorced. But, since divorce is permitted, it is essential to ask this second question.
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With those words in mind, look at scriptures that use the word apoluo. "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly." - Matthew 1:19 (NKJV)
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What does the Apostle Paul tell us about divorce and remarriage? The following is a key scripture that needs to be considered. "Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife." - 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NKJV)
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In addition to incorrect thinking about getting married, Paul also needed to correct their thinking about remaining married. Married couples were separating, possibly even a legal divorce, because of their misunderstanding about the “It is good for a man not to touch a woman” statement in verse 1. Or they were separating and divorcing because of hard hearts. Both are possible, but the context appears to be more in line with just separation.