Question:
If there is no exception clause in the Bible, why is it that ever since the Reformation changed the world, most of the Protestant, Reformed, Evangelical, Holiness, Fundamentalist etc. theologians, movements, churches, denominations, have asserted that there most assuredly is for the innocent party in a divorce?
Answer:
2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” We must build our doctrines upon the Word of God, not upon what others have done, or are doing. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to read through the entire Word of God on a regular basis. If you do that, then you will see that the majority (yes, even the religious majority) is usually wrong and backslidden. 1 Kings 18:21 says, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.” Not one person would speak up and stand with Elijah (although there were 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal – “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18).
Consider the matter at hand. Matthew 19:3-12 says, “The 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? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He 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. And 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. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
You will notice that Jesus’ teaching did NOT go along with what ANYONE was TEACHING about the subject of divorce and remarriage. The Pharisees thought that they were going to be able to catch Jesus on being too liberal in His interpretation of divorce and remarriage — but He referred back to the beginning and said that was the law — one man for one woman for life. They were shocked, and brought up the matter that even Moses allowed divorce and remarriage. Jesus told them that was a law given to deal with the hard-hearted. So a truly spiritual person would not even ask for a divorce, let alone for permission to remarry. This teaching was not what anyone else was teaching — not the Pharisees, and not the disciples. Even the disciples were so shocked at Jesus’ teaching, that they said, “If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.” In other words they were saying, “If there is no way out of a marriage, once you are married, then it would be better not to get married!” Notice that Jesus did not say, “Now wait a minute, you misunderstood what I said! I did not mean it quite that strict!” Jesus did not try and change what they said at all. In fact, He partly agreed with them, and said, “All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” Jesus said, “You are right, there are some men which should not get married.” The disciples understood Jesus to be saying that once you are married, there is no way out of it until death parts you, and Jesus upheld their understanding of what He had said.
Read through the entire Word of God on a regular basis. It will give you the whole counsel of God. It will help you to have the mind of Christ, not the mind that is set to just follow what the majority of professing Christians are doing. Marriage Bible Course Part 5 deals with the subject in more detail, and shows how the exception clause deals with the betrothal period (the engagement period). The engagement period required an official degree of divorce to break it off. Jewish engagements were nothing like today’s dating game that couples play. You can learn more about it at https://libertygospeltracts.com/product/114-marriage-part-5/, or write for a printed copy. That is the fifth Bible Course dealing with marriage. Study all five to get the whole picture. Remember, 2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” We must build our doctrines upon the Word of God, not upon what others have done, or are doing.