WHEN IS DIVORCE SCRIPTURAL AND WHEN IS MARRIAGE UNSCRIPTURAL?

                                                                   Malachi 2:10-16

INTRODUCTION: In the book of Malachi we find God’s people deadened to their own sin. They

had no conviction of their sin which is the lowest state of sin. The sins they were living in

should be familiar to all of us because they are the same sins our society practices everyday:

Malachi 2:11. The nation of Israel profaned the holiness of God by dealing treacherously with

one another. By marrying foreign women they were bringing idolatry into their own houses.

We see this process all the way through the Scriptures: Genesis 6:1-7; Matthew 22:30.

I. ISRAEL’S SIN IN THE PAST IS THE SAME SIN WE ARE DOING TODAY!

Today we see the same thing playing itself out. We see Christian men and women marrying

unsaved mates. Malachi 2:12; Malachi 2:13. The very altar upon which these men’s wives had

wept at is the very altar they were making offerings to God and wondering why God did not

accept them. These men feigned innocence and pretended ignorance and asked why? Malachi

2:14. God tells those men they have broken God’s covenant of marriage in order to marry

pagan wives: Malachi 2:15. God made them one from the very beginning: Genesis 2:18-24.

God is warning His people to watch what they are doing. God has specifically forbidden His

people to intermarry with the unbelievers: Malachi 2:16. Our God hates divorce. From the

very beginning God planned marriage to be between one man and one woman who both knew

God as their Savior to raise children in the love of the Lord: Genesis 2:20. Adam need a mate

fitted just for him: Genesis 2:21; Genesis 2:23; Genesis 2:25.

II. WHY WAS DIVORCE PERMITTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?

When sin entered into the world it marred everything including the relationship of

marriage. Deuteronomy 24:1: “uncleanness” in the bride may imply that she was not a virgin

when they got married. Deuteronomy 24:2-4. What did our Lord Jesus say about divorce?

Jesus said Moses had permitted divorce because of the hardness of men’s hearts. Also for

divorce to be allowed it was for fornication before the marriage, unfaithfulness to the marriage

vow on the part of either partner.

III. WHAT DID OUR LORD JESUS SAY ABOUT DIVORCE?

Matthew 19:3-5; Matthew 19:6-8. Jesus said divorce is allowed by God for only one

reason: Matthew 19:9; Matthew 19:10; Matthew 19:11-12. The apostle Paul explained what

should happen in a marriage where one partner gets saved: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; 1

Corinthians 7:12-15. Even in the case of divorce there is forgiveness offered. A thief can be

saved. A divorced person can be forgiven.