Video Notes:

• The passage here uses a truth about marriage, death, and adultery as an illustration. So, the point of the passage isn’t to teach on marriage. It’s to teach on our relationship as Christians to the Law, which we talked about in yesterday’s sermon.
• That said, it is using a truth about marriage so I wanted to take this opportunity to talk a little about marriage, death, divorce, and adultery.
  • Marriage (Genesis 2:24)
    • Should not invite anyone else into the marriage (Hebrews 13:4)
    • The husband and wife should have an active sex life (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
    • Marriage and sex are related, but not the same. When an unmarried couple has sex, they are not marrying each other, they are fornicating which is sin. There would be no such thing as fornication if the sex just started the marriage.
    • Lifelong (Matthew 19:2-9, 1 Corinthians 7:39)
  • When does a marriage end?
    • Death (Romans 7:2-3)
    • Divorce
      • Is divorce legitimate? Yes, but not all reasons are legitimate. (Matthew 19:9, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11)
      • Possibly Adultery (Matthew 19:2-9) – Not required, but allowed.
      • Abandonment (1 Corinthians 7:12-15)
      • Abuse?? (1 Corinthians 7:12-15 maybe) I do think that at a minimum, you are allowed and even encouraged to get help and get out of the dangerous situation. Part of the help you get should be godly wise council and pastoral counselling. Each situation is different. I don’t think there is a Biblical principle that tells you to remain in or return to a life-threatening situation, however, there can also be situations where the abusive spouse is repentant and willing to seek help. That may leave opportunities for the marriage to be restored.
      • We should strive not to get divorced, not look for reasons to get divorce. (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)
        • Additionally, if with wisdom and outside counseling you feel like you need to separate or divorce for a reason other than the given legitimate reasons, you should only do this temporarily and with the intent of reconciling. 
  • Can you remarry after divorce?
    • Yes, when the reason is legitimate (Adultery – Matthew 19-2-9; Abandonment – 1 Corinthians 7:12-15)
    • No, when the reason is not legitimate (Matthew 19:9, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11)
    • I know this isn’t divorce, but to clear, when your spouse dies, you are free to remarry if you choose.