Matthew 5:31-32
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
This passage raises a whole range of issues and only a few can be considered here. Perhaps the most important is that Jesus is telling us that marriage is a lifelong union. People who are married (or approaching marriage) should not think in any other way.
That can seem very hard to some, especially when the relationship is not going well. However, we must remember that the marriage relationship of complete loyalty is grounded in the relationship we have with Jesus. It is his love to us that motivates ongoing love in marriage and his grace that stirs a gracious and merciful attitude to one another.
In situations when a wife or husband wants to give up on the marriage, the thought should be, “if Jesus accepts me the sinner, how can I easily reject my sinful spouse.” Of course, very sadly, situations arise when a continued marriage is impossible, and it must end. Jesus acknowledges that here by allowing for divorce and uses a vague term to describe the exception.
Very importantly, when all has gone wrong, and there has been great failure, our merciful Lord does provide forgiveness and allows people to begin a new life according to his grace.
