Remarriage – Forbidden By The Word of God

A farther indication of the corrupted state of the heart of natural man is that Christ states that if a person divorces, he/she cannot remarry yet all kind of excuses are used by those not converted to re-marry. With this said, if the divorced person remarries then clearly there is added proof that a hard heart is evident.

Proof Verses that prohibit remarriage while both spouses are still alive.

1. Mark 10:9-12

Mark 10:9
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Mark 10:10
And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same [matter].

Mark 10:11
And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put awayhis wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

Mark 10:12
And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

In this gospel Christ covers both the husband and the wife, such that if divorce does occur and remarriage ensues, both spouses shall be considered an adulterer depending on who uses this law of divorcement.

2. Romans 7:1-3

Romans 7:1
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Paul addresses a group of people who should know the canon of Hebrew law. Thus he states that it should be perfectly clear that remarriage is not permitted (See verse 3 below).

Romans 7:2
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of [her] husband.

Romans 7:3
So then if, while [her] husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

This verse of scriptures states that the only opportunity for re-marriage is after the death of either spouse. This is the only God sanctioned reason for re-marriage.

3. Luke 16:13-18

Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The tone of these verses are set by what is said in this thirteenth verse, for the context speaks to allegiance to God or Satan.

Luke 16:14
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Luke 16:15
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

The best intentioned ideals of mankind are abominations before God. Instead of abandoning oneself to viewing life according to God’s pronouncements, the Pharisees, as does all of unregenerate mankind, depends on their minds (heart) to view life. God would have mankind to know that human standards of judgements are at best a futile attempt to clear ones own conscience. If mankind is to understand his/her dilemma there must be an abandonment from his/hers’ own understanding to the
intent and constructive directive action of God’s laws and statutes. To the corrupt human heart God’s word is harsh and cruel, but necessary if salvation is to be gained. There is no other way.

Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

The Old Testament law and the prophets were in place until the time of Christ. John the Baptist heralded Christ’s arrival as “the way” into the kingdom of God. All that was said and done by the prophets and the law pointed to Christ’s coming incarnation, His life amongst His creation for a brief time in history, His suffering that led to his physical death but most importantly His spiritual death as payment for sin for those that the Father gave him, and His resurrection and ascension so that the Holy Spirit could be sent to dwell in the heart of the believer. The Holy Spirit would then, according to God’s word, re-direct the life of the believer thus restoring communion. This is God’s way of preparing the way into His kingdom. But unregenerate mankind would pervert the word of God with his traditions and attempt to press his own way into the kingdom of God.

Luke 16:17
And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

As the scriptures so often state “be not deceived”, God’s word will not, can not be changed to suit mankind’s purpose. This word must be understood from God’s point of view and His point of view only.

Luke 16:18
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from [her] husband committeth adultery.

As has been stated before divorce is not an option for the believer, thus this statement here in Luke 16:18 is not for the believer, for they should never divorce.

This statement is for the person who will [attempt to] put asunder that which God has joined together. If this law of divorce is used (it suggests an attitude of unbelief) then remarriage is forbidden.

Matthew 19:10
His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry.

Matthew 19:11
But he said unto them, All [men] cannot receive this saying, save [they] to whom it is given.

Matthew 19:12
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it].

Those who have received the Spirit of God receive His sayings and are sold out to service to Him. The following passage indicate that God, by His spirit, has given the true believer the ability to “hear” (which means to obey) His voice. The believer must turn from his/her way. God, by His Spirit, has made “the way” for this to occur:

Acts 3:25
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Acts 3:26
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

The child of God once turned from his/her way will follow His Lord’s way:

John 10:1
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (see Luke 16:16 above)

John 10:2
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:3
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

John 10:4
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

John 10:5
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

John 10:6
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

As is the case with all those that are not His, the unregenerate do not understand the intent of God’s word and neither do they want to. Christ was speaking this parable to a group of Pharisees and a man who He had given sight to (chapter 9). The man who had been healed, symbolic of being born again, believed Christ’s words (understood) and worshipped Him. On the other hand the Pharisees believed Him not (understood not).

John 10:7
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:8
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

John 10:9
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:12
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

John 10:13
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.

John 10:15
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:16
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

“What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6). Christ’s statement to the Pharisees was final and to the point.

Because Jesus Christ is God there can be no overturning of his pronouncement on this subject. God does not sanction divorce.

The symbolism that marriage presents to the true believer is so beautiful. His betrothed bride (the true church) was found (by His word – by the law is the knowledge of sin [Romans 3:20]) not to be a virgin. Yet He forgave her and became intimate with her (became like her [a human being] and paid for her sins [Hebrews 2:14-17]) and will be intimately one with her (be like him [1 john 3:2]), after judgement day. After the wedding feast He will take her to her new home (the new heaven and the new earth [2 Peter 3:13]. There will be no sin there to ever break the relationship between Christ and His bride and truly what God has joined together no man will put asunder in eternity.

Men and women cannot put asunder what God has joined together and if this has occurred re-marriage should never be considered.

By Roy Dean