What the Bible says about remarriage
Although there are no specific biblical laws about remarriage, there are numerous scriptures that indicate it is God’s will for marriage to be a lifelong covenant. In the Old Testament, divorce was permissible, but it was not looked upon favorably. In the New Testament, Jesus increased the security of the vows between a man and woman, and emphasized that God intends for marriage to be a lifelong commitment.
Matthew 5:32
Matthew 5:32 says, “But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
In this passage, Jesus is teaching on the permanence of marriage. He says that divorce (with the exception of sexual immorality) is wrong and that remarriage after divorce is also wrong. This passage is often used to argue against remarriage after divorce, but it must be interpreted in context.
The context of this passage is Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce. He has just said that marriage is meant to be permanent (v. 31) and that divorce should only happen in the case of sexual sin (v. 32). He then goes on to say that remarriage after divorce is also wrong (v. 32).
This passage must be interpreted in light of the whole counsel of Scripture. There are other passages that deal with divorce and remarriage (e.g., 1 Corinthians 7:15) that must be taken into account. This passage cannot be used to argue against all remarriage after divorce, but it does teach that divorce should only happen in the case of sexual sin and that remarriage after divorce is wrong.
Mark 10:11-12
And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Luke 16:18
And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery.’
The Herodians asked him, “Then why did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not like that from the beginning.
And I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
What Jesus says about remarriage
In Matthew 19:9, Jesus says,”And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” This teaching of Jesus has led many Christians to believe that remarriage after divorce is a sin.
Matthew 19:3-9
Some of the Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
They said to him, “Why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not like that from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word from the mouth of God. Only those who have God’s blessing can accept it: 08 Those who have been married know what I am talking about—those who were never married do not know what I am talking about. I say this because they are as good as dead when they get married; they might as well forget about having sex altogether. If they cannot control themselves when they get married; 09 it is better for them not to get married at all.(niv)
Mark 10:2-16
divorce
In the New Testament, Jesus speaks more on divorce than any other single topic — with the exception of the kingdom of God. When asked about divorce, Jesus responded by saying that it was not part of God’s original plan for couples (Mark 10:2-16). He then went on to give a very specific exception: if a spouse is unfaithful, the innocent party has the right to divorce (Matthew 5:31-32). This would have been a very controversial teaching at the time, as most people believed that divorce was only permissible if the wife was unfaithful.
Jesus’ stance on divorce is further clarified in Matthew 19:3-12, where he teaches that remarriage after divorce is adultery, unless the spouse has died. In 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, Paul gives similar instruction and says that divorced Christians should remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to their spouses.
It’s important to note that Jesus’ teachings on divorce were given in specific contexts and applied to specific situations. They were never intended to be a comprehensive guide for all couples in all situations. As such, his words should be read and understood in light of the overarching principles of love and forgiveness that are found throughout Scripture.
What Paul says about remarriage
Paul’s view on remarriage is that it is better not to remarry, but if you do, you are not sinning. This is because remarriage can lead to division and conflict in a family, and it is better to avoid that if possible. However, if you do remarry, you should do so with the intention of making it work and not just for the sake of convenience.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11
A husband must not divorce his wife. But if he does, he must not remarry her as long as she lives. If she dies, however, he may marry someone else if he so chooses.
Romans 7:2-3
Paul’s words in Romans 7:2-3 have been used both to support and to oppose the practice of remarriage after divorce. How we interpret these verses depends largely on whether we think Paul is giving a general principle that applies to all people in all situations, or whether he is giving advice that applies specifically to his situation and the situation of other Jews who were living under the law at that time.
If we understand Paul to be giving a general principle, then his words would apply to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. In this case, remarriage after divorce would always be wrong, because it would mean breaking the commitment that was made in the first marriage.
If, on the other hand, we understand Paul to be giving advice that applied specifically to his situation and the situation of other Jews who were living under the law at that time, then his words would not necessarily apply to everyone. In this case, remarriage after divorce might be permissible in some circumstances, because the commitment that was made in the first marriage would no longer be binding if the spouse died or divorced.
What does it mean to be “one flesh”
Genesis 2:24
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
This verse from Genesis 2:24 is often used to describe the intimate relationship between a husband and wife. To be “one flesh” means to be united in body, mind, and spirit. This unity is the foundation of marriage and is a symbol of the relationship between Christ and His Church.
Matthew 19:5
The phrase “one flesh” is derived from Genesis 2:24, where God says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse is often cited in support of the idea that marriage is meant to be a lifelong, committed relationship between a man and a woman.
Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 19:5, and adds that “what God has joined together, let not man separate.” This suggests that God views marriage as a permanent bond, and that divorce should only be considered in cases of infidelity.
The idea of “one flesh” is also found in Ephesians 5:31-32, where Paul writes that husbands and wives should love each other with the same kind of love that Christ has for the church. This analogy suggests that marriage should involve a deep level of commitment and care, similar to the way Christ loves and cares for his people.
Conclusion
There is no simple answer to this question as it depends on a variety of factors, including religious beliefs and personal circumstances. In general, however, most religions do not condone divorce and remarriage except in cases of infidelity or other extenuating circumstances. This means that if you have been divorced and remarry, you may be considered to be living in sin according to some religious traditions. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to remarry after divorce is a personal one that should be made after careful consideration of all factors involved.