80 likes | 206 Views
Lesson 5 : Matthew 19:9, Adultery & Jesus’ One Exception. Considering the Parallel Passages of Matthew 19:9 and Their Unique Emphases God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Mark 10:11 and verse 12 . God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Luke 16:18 and includes the put-away spouse.
E N D
Lesson 5: Matthew 19:9, Adultery & Jesus’ One Exception
Considering the Parallel Passages of Matthew 19:9 and Their Unique Emphases • God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Mark 10:11 and verse 12. • God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Luke 16:18 and includes the put-away spouse. • God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Matthew 5:32 & stresses the gravity of putting away. • God’s overall rule on MDR is stated in Matthew 19:9 & answers “divorce for every cause.”
All of the Parallel Passages, including Matthew 19:9, Discuss “Divorce.” • “Divorce” is severely limited and opposed by the words and commands of Jesus. • Divorce was never included or intended in God’s original plan for marriage. • Greek apoluo = “to set free, release; let go, send away” • Matthew 19:9, apoluo is aorist tense (simple past action) • Divorce in the N.T. involved a mental consideration, an intentional decision/action and any legal requirements of the land (doesn’t mean it was approved by God). • A reminder of God’s view of divorce – “He hates divorce” (Mal. 2:16)!
All of the Parallel Passages, including Matthew 19:9, Discuss “Remarriage.” • “Marriage” or “marries another” is severely limited by the words of Jesus. • There is a monumental difference between “married” acceptably in man’s sight and “married” acceptably in God’s sight – one is carnal, the other is eternal! • God used human marital terms accommodatingly even when He had not joined them. • To Samaritan woman, “You have had five husbands” (John 4:18). • “An adulteress” who “married another man” (Rom. 7:2-3). • Herod Antipas was “married” to his brother’s “wife” (Mk 6:17-18)
All of the Parallel Passages, including Matthew 19:9, Discuss “Adultery.” • From beginning to end, the Bible speaks of “adultery” very clearly & very disparagingly. • In the Old Testament, “adultery” was a seriously vile and contemptible act. • In the New Testament, the Lord is just as clear and just as disapproving. • The definition of “adultery” is unambiguous and has been unchanged. • The Hebrew term na’aph • The Greek term moichos • The English word • “Adultery” involves a married person having sexual intercourse with a third party.
All of the Parallel Passages, including Matthew 19:9, Discuss “Adultery.” • Yet, some have tried to make “adultery” mean something less than the sexual act. • It is falsely taught that adultery is simply “covenant-breaking.” • The true definition of adultery sheds tremendous light on God’s view of marriage. • Whoever divorces and remarries commits adultery. • Whoever marries a divorced person commits adultery (Mt. 5:32). • The second marriage is adulterous in God’s eyes! • It is critical to understand the force of Jesus using the present tense, “commits adultery.” • “Commits adultery” is in the Greek present tense, which denotes continuous action.
Matthew’s Account Is the Only One That Discusses the “Exception for Fornication.” • God’s overall rule on MDR is whoever divorces and remarries commits adultery. • If no exception was given, there could be NO divorce and remarriage without adultery. • In Matthew 19:9 and 5:32, Jesus gives the only reason one may divorce and remarry. • In the phrase “except for fornication”: • “Except” means “if and only if.” There’s one and only one exception! This is it! • “For” is a “marker of basis for an action” (BDAG 364). This can be the only basis! • “Fornication” is the only basis/reason for divorce and must be that basis/reason.
Matthew’s Account Is the Only One That Discusses the “Exception for Fornication.” • Jesus gave “fornication” as the only grounds for an innocent party to divorce & remarry. • “Fornication” (from the Greek porneia) is a “generic” term: • “every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse…sexual unfaithfulness” • includes all sexual activity that is not between a husband & wife • “Fornication/sexual immorality” must be taken very seriously! • In order for an innocent party to have God’s approval to divorce and remarry: • He/She must be an innocent party, not having committed fornication himself/herself. • Fornication must be the actual reason/cause for taking the action of divorce. • Fornication is not a reason/cause that can be applied later after a divorce.