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Biblical Teaching on Divorce and Remarriage in Scripture

The biblical teaching on divorce and remarriage is a complex and often debated topic among Christian traditions, with differing interpretations arising from various scriptural passages. The core of the disagreement often centers on the grounds for divorce and whether remarriage is permissible after a divorce.

One prominent position, often associated with a Protestant academic perspective, emphasizes Jesus's teachings in the Gospels, particularly Matthew 19:9. This view holds that Jesus permits only one legitimate reason for divorce: sexual immorality (πορνεία, porneia) [2, 12]. In this interpretation, Jesus challenges the casual divorce practices prevalent in his day, which allowed divorce for trifling causes, and reasserts God's original design for marriage as a permanent union [1, 12, 13]. The Tyndale House Matthew Commentary states that Jesus's motivation is to reestablish the permanency of marriage and that remarriage after an unlawful divorce is considered adulterous [12]. This perspective often points to Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18, which present Jesus's teaching on divorce without explicitly mentioning the "exception clause" found in Matthew [7, 9]. These passages are understood to reinforce the indissolubility of the marriage bond [6, 15]. The Mosaic law had permitted divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), but Jesus indicates this was a concession to the "hardness of heart" of the people, not God's ideal [3, 15].

Another perspective, also found within Protestant thought, acknowledges the "exception clause" in Matthew 19:9 but may extend the grounds for divorce beyond just sexual immorality, or emphasize the permissibility of remarriage in certain circumstances. For instance, the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on 1 Timothy 5:14, while discussing younger widows, suggests that remarriage is recommended as an antidote to sexual passion, idleness, and temptation [10]. While this specific passage does not directly address divorce, it illustrates a broader understanding within some traditions that remarriage can be a valid option in certain life situations. The Old Testament itself provides instances where divorce was permitted and remarriage occurred, such as in Deuteronomy 24:2, where a divorced woman could marry another [3]. The prophet Jeremiah uses the metaphor of God giving Israel a "bill of divorce" due to her apostasy, implying a complete severance of the covenant relationship, which some interpret as a parallel to the dissolution of a marriage [16].

All positions generally agree that marriage was divinely instituted at creation (Genesis 2:18-24) and was intended to be a lifelong, monogamous union [5, 6, 8]. The concept of "two becoming one flesh" (Matthew 19:5) is foundational to the understanding of marriage's sacred nature [5, 6]. Adultery is consistently viewed as a serious breach of the marriage covenant, often symbolizing spiritual unfaithfulness in the biblical narrative, such as God's relationship with Israel [11, 14].

The divergence in interpretations often stems from hermeneutical commitments regarding the application of Old Testament law, Jesus's teachings, and the writings of the apostles. The debate among Jewish doctors in Jesus's time, between the school of Shammai (limiting divorce to moral delinquency) and the school of Hillel (allowing divorce for trifling causes), highlights the historical context of these discussions [4, 13]. Jesus's teachings challenged the more lenient interpretations of his day, aiming to uphold the sanctity and permanence of marriage [13]. The specific meaning of porneia in Matthew 19:9 is also a point of discussion, with some understanding it strictly as sexual immorality, while others interpret it more broadly to include various forms of marital unfaithfulness.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Divorce — The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic law (Deut. 24:1-4). The Jews, after the Captivity, were reguired to dismiss the foreign women they had married contrary to the law (Ezra 10:11-19). Christ limited the permission of divorce to the single case of adultery. It seems that it was not uncommon for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union on very slight pretences (Matt. 5:31, 32; 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). These precepts given by Christ regulate the law of divorce in the Christian Church.”
  2. Matthew “I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.” -- Matthew 19:9”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Divorce — Law of marriage against -- Ge 2:24; Mt 19:6. Permitted By the Mosaic law. -- De 24:1. On account of hardness of heart. -- Mt 19:8. Often sought by the Jews -- Mic 2:9; Mal 2:14. Sought on slight grounds -- Mt 5:31; 19:3. Not allowed to those who falsely accused their wives -- De 22:18,19. Women Could obtain. -- Pr 2:17; Mr 10:12. Could marry after. -- De 24:2. Responsible for vows after. -- Nu 30:9. Married after, could not return to first husband. -- De 24:3,4; Jer 3:1. Afflicted by. -- Isa 54:4,6. Priests not to marry women after -- Le 21:14. Of servants,”
  4. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Divorce — "a legal dissolution of the marriage relation." The law regulating this subject is found (24:1-4) and the cases in which the right of a husband to divorce his wife was lost are stated ibid ., (22:19,29) The ground of divorce is appoint on which the Jewish doctors of the period of the New Testament differed widely; the school of Shammai seeming to limit it to a moral delinquency in the woman, whilst that the Hillel extended it to trifling causes, e.g., if the wife burnt the food she was cooking for her husband. The Pharisees wished perhaps to embroil our Savi”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosa”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
  7. Luke “Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. -- Luke 16:18”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
  9. Mark “He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. -- Mark 10:11”
  10. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 5:14: younger women--rather, as ellipsis ought to be supplied, "the younger widows," namely younger widows in general, as distinguished from the older widows taken on the roll of presbyteresses (Ti1 5:9). The "therefore" means seeing that young widows are exposed to such temptations, "I will," or "desire," &c. (Ti1 5:11-13). The precept here that they should marry again is not inconsistent with Co1 7:40; for the circumstances of the two cases were distinct (compare Co1 7:26). Here remarriage is recommended as an antidote to sexual passion, idleness, and t”
  11. Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
  12. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 19:9: 19:9 Jesus permits only one legitimate reason for a man to divorce: if his wife has been unfaithful (see 5:32). In the face of those who thought divorce could be taken lightly, Jesus affirms God’s created order: Marriage was designed to be permanent (see Mark 10:11-12). • commits adultery: This speaks only of the man who divorces his wife unlawfully. In such a case, his remarriage is adulterous. Jesus’ motivation is to reestablish the permanency of marriage.”
  13. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 16:18: 16:18 This example fit the context by showing that Jesus’ authoritative words interpreted and fulfilled the Old Testament law. • a man who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery: The Old Testament allowed for divorce but did not sanction it (Deut 24:1-4), and the rabbis of Jesus’ day debated what constituted legitimate grounds. The school of Shammai allowed a man to divorce his wife only because of unfaithfulness, while the school of Hillel allowed divorce for almost any reason. Against such a casual attitude, Jesus said that breaking the marri”
  14. Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
  15. Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 10:5: 10:5-9 God permitted divorce as a concession to the hard hearts of the people. But God’s will is more aptly expressed in the passages that Jesus quotes from the law of Moses (Gen 1:27; 2:23-24; see also Mal 2:16). Jesus shows that God delights in marriage, which is the creation of a new union in which two become one. No one should rebel against God’s will by seeking to split apart what God has united.”
  16. Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 3:8: I saw that, though (whereas) it was for this very reason (namely), because backsliding (apostate) Israel had committed adultery I had put her away (Kg2 17:6, Kg2 17:18), and given her a bill of divorce, yet Judah, &c. (Eze 23:11, &c.). bill of divorce--literally, "a writing of cuttings off." The plural implies the completeness of the severance. The use of this metaphor here, as in the former discourse (Jer 3:1), implies a close connection between the discourses. The epithets are characteristic; Israel "apostate" (as the Hebrew for "backsliding" is b”
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