Malachi 2:16 (KJV): “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”

ABSTRACT

Christ’s reform on marriage and divorce calls us back to God’s eternal blueprint for union, where fidelity mirrors heavenly love and permanence guards against human frailty. We delve into sacred scriptures and inspired writings that illuminate the unbreakable covenant, our duties within it, and the grace that sustains it amid trials. Through these truths, the community discovers strength to honor marital vows, foster healing in broken homes, and proclaim stability to a fractured world, all while embracing Christ’s transformative power for lives aligned with divine intent.

CHRIST’S REFORM ON MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

Marriage, a sacred institution ordained by God, has often been misunderstood and manipulated. Christ’s teachings aimed to restore its divine purpose, calling us to reflect on its sanctity, our responsibilities, and the depth of God’s love. In this blog, we will explore His reform on marriage and divorce, guided by biblical insights and its principles. God ordained marriage as honorable from creation’s dawn. Genesis 2:24 proclaims, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Ephesians 5:31 echoes, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” Ellen G. White captured this truth when she wrote, “Marriage is honorable; it was one of the first gifts of God to man, and it is one of the two institutions that, after the Fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46, 1890). In The Adventist Home, a passage reminds us, “Then, as the Creator joined the hands of the holy pair in wedlock, saying, A man shall ‘leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one,’ He enunciated the law of marriage for all the children of Adam to the close of time” (Adventist Home, p. 340, 1952). These revelations affirm God’s design for unbreakable oneness in marriage. How does this sacred bond stand firm against the fractures of divorce?

THE SACRED BOND OF MARRIAGE

The Bible affirms the sacredness of marriage. Malachi 2:16 (KJV) declares, “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.” This verse reveals God’s deep disdain for divorce, likening it to violence that fractures the unity He designed. Hebrews 13:4 adds, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Through inspired counsel, we learn, “Nothing but the violation of the marriage bed can either break or annul the marriage vow” (Adventist Home, p. 341, 1952). A prophetic voice once affirmed, “Marriage is a step taken for life. Both the man and the woman should carefully consider whether they can cleave to each other through the vicissitudes of life as long as they both shall live” (Adventist Home, p. 340, 1952). God’s hatred of divorce underscores His passion for marital wholeness. Marriage, as a divine institution, and Christ’s first miracle at Cana underscores its importance. When we treat marriage as a fleeting arrangement, we undermine God’s intention for it to reflect His enduring love and faithfulness. What original design did Christ invoke when challengers probed Him on divorce?

CHRIST’S TEACHINGS ON DIVORCE

When the Pharisees questioned Jesus about divorce, He responded by pointing to God’s original design. Mark 10:6-9 states, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” This passage challenges us to view marriage not as a human contract but as a spiritual covenant. Matthew 19:6 reinforces, “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” In Patriarchs and Prophets, we read, “The law of marriage existed before the law of Moses or the gospel of Christ. It was ordained at creation” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 48, 1890). The inspired pen declares, “God gave only one cause why a wife should leave her husband, or the husband leave his wife, which was adultery. Let this ground be prayerfully considered” (Adventist Home, p. 342, 1952). Christ’s words elevate marriage beyond temporary bonds to eternal covenants. While Moses permitted divorce due to the hardness of human hearts, Christ’s teaching restores the original intent: permanence and unity. Does this restoration apply equally to those entangled in adultery, whether guilty or innocent?

GUILT AND INNOCENCE IN ADULTERY

In Luke 16:18, Christ’s words are unequivocal: “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.” This teaching applies to both guilty and innocent parties, demonstrating that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery. Matthew 5:32 clarifies, “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” Sr. White reiterates this standard when through inspired counsel we are told, “I would say that there is only one thing for which a husband may lawfully separate from his wife or a wife from her husband, and that is adultery” (Adventist Home, p. 345, 1952). A passage from Testimonies on Sexual Behavior reminds us, “There is only one sin, which is adultery, which can place the husband or wife in a position where they can be free from the marriage vow in the sight of God” (Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, p. 78, 1980). Jesus reinforces the sanctity of the marriage bond, highlighting its indissoluble nature except through death. How do these unyielding standards echo the very heart of God’s love for us?

REFLECTING GOD’S LOVE

God’s unwavering standards on marriage reflect His love and desire for our good. By upholding the sanctity of marriage, Christ calls us to mirror God’s faithful and selfless love. Just as He is committed to His covenant with humanity, He asks us to honor our marital commitments. 1 Corinthians 7:39 states, “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” Hosea 2:19 affirms, “And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.” In The Adventist Home, inspired guidance reveals, “If the wife is an unbeliever and an opposer, the husband cannot, in view of the law of God, put her away on this ground alone. In order to be in harmony with the law of Jehovah, he must abide with her unless she chooses of herself to depart” (Adventist Home, p. 344, 1952). Through prophetic insight, we find, “Like every other one of God’s good gifts entrusted to the keeping of humanity, marriage has been perverted by sin; but it is the purpose of throughout the ages to restore it to its original purity” (The Adventist Home, p. 99, 1952). This principle shines in the truth that what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. By embracing Christ’s teachings, we experience His transformative grace, enabling us to live in harmony with His will. How can we apply these truths personally and as a community in our daily relationships?

PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL APPLICATIONS

As we reflect on Christ’s words, we recognize our own responsibilities within relationships. Have we approached our commitments with the reverence they deserve? In times of difficulty, Christ’s teachings challenge us to seek His guidance rather than lean on our own understanding. For us as a community, these principles call for a collective recommitment to upholding marriage as a divine institution. Matthew 19:9 warns, “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.” 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 commands, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.” Sr. White advises through a thematic lens, “In cases of the violation of the seventh commandment where the guilty party does not manifest true repentance, if the injured party can obtain a divorce without making their own cases and that of their children, if they have them, worse by so doing, they should be free” (Adventist Home, p. 346, 1952). The inspired writings urge, “We should do all in our power to strengthen and build up the family relation” (Adventist Home, p. 106, 1952). Are we supporting couples in our churches with prayer, counsel, and compassion? These applications invite us to weave Christ’s fidelity into the fabric of our lives. What relevance do these eternal principles hold for today’s chaotic society?

A MESSAGE FOR SOCIETY

In today’s society, where divorce rates soar and commitments falter, Christ’s reform on marriage remains profoundly relevant. His teachings challenge cultural norms that trivialize marital bonds. By honoring God’s design, we testify to a world hungry for stability and love that transcends human frailty. This is not merely about adhering to a rule but about demonstrating the character of God, who is faithful even when we are not. Deuteronomy 24:3-4 cautions against cycles of remarriage, “And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled.” Proverbs 2:17 describes the faithful as one “Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.” Role-based counsel from Sr. White states, “A woman may be legally divorced from her husband by the laws of the land and yet not divorced in the sight of God and according to the higher law” (Adventist Home, p. 344, 1952). In Patriarchs and Prophets, literary wisdom unfolds, “When the divine precepts are ignored, the result is seen in the moral and spiritual deterioration of society” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 49, 1890). Society craves the anchor of God’s unchanging marital vision. How precisely do these truths unveil God’s profound love for us?

GOD’S LOVE REVEALED

How do these concepts reflect God’s love? At their core, Christ’s teachings on marriage and divorce reveal a God who values fidelity, unity, and restoration. Malachi 2:16 expresses God’s disdain for “putting away,” showing His desire to preserve relationships. When Jesus declared, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery” (Mark 10:11), He upheld a standard that mirrors His unwavering commitment to us. This love is not conditional but steadfast, calling us to embody the same in our relationships. Isaiah 54:5 declares, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Psalm 45:10-11 invites, “Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.” Through inspired insight, Sr. White reveals, “I saw that Sister _, as yet, has no right to marry another man; but if she, or any other woman, should obtain a divorce legally on the ground that her husband was guilty of adultery, then she is free to be married to whom she chooses” (Adventist Home, p. 344, 1952). A prophetic voice echoes, “True religion does not counterwork the Lord’s plans in regard to marriage” (Messages to Young People, p. 455, 1886). God’s unchanging laws, like the permanence of marriage, reflect His nature—faithful, just, and loving. What final call does this reform issue to our hearts today?

Christ’s reform on marriage and divorce is a call to honor the sacred, to reflect God’s love in our relationships, and to embrace His transformative grace. As we study His teachings, may we be inspired to live lives that glorify Him and strengthen the bonds that reflect His eternal covenant with humanity. “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:39, KJV).

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SELF-REFLECTION

How can I, in my personal devotional life, delve deeper into these truths on marital fidelity, allowing them to shape my commitments and daily choices?

How can we adapt these principles on marriage to be understandable and relevant to diverse audiences, from long-time community members to newcomers or those from varied backgrounds, without diluting scriptural depth?

What are the most common misunderstandings about divorce and remarriage in our circles, and how can I address them compassionately using the Bible and Sr. White’s writings?

In what everyday actions can our congregations and individual lives shine as examples of God’s faithful love, actively supporting marriages and pointing others to Christ’s restoring power?