Week 5.1 Divorce
1. Bible Reading: Matthew 5:31-32
Click here for Matthew 5 on Bible Gateway
2. Observation
Under what circumstance is it permissible to go through divorce?
3. Explanation
Jesus said that divorce is not permissible except for unfaithfulness. This does not mean that divorce should automatically occur when a spouse commits adultery. The word translated “unfaithful” implies a sexually immoral life-style, not a confessed and repented act of adultery. Those who discover that their partner has been unfaithful should first make every effort to forgive, reconcile, and restore their relationship. We are always to look for reasons to restore the marriage relationship rather than for excuses to leave it.
- NLT Life Application Study Bible
4. Application
(If you are married): What discussions have you had with your spouse about preventing divorce?
(If you are not married): Before you commit to your partner/future partner, what resources can you use to build the right mindset about marriage and divorce?
5. Prayer
Father, thank you for the blessings that marriage brings to our lives and our society. Please protect our marriage and others from the evil one.
6. Verse of the Week:
Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Sexual immorality
If only more people in our culture understood the seriousness of the marriage covenant (promise/contract). Since my teen years I immersed myself in the teachings from Allan Meyer, who explained thoroughly the Bible’s stance on marriage. I attribute our ongoing success on the principle that marriage is for life no matter how hard it gets.
It takes a great deal of humility, patience, forbearance, teachability, sacrifice… (the list goes on!) in order to uphold the commitment. In short, to prevent divorce, “work harder on your character than on your job!” (Quote from Jim Rohn)