Latest Podcast

Monday, February 1, 2016

Jesus' Teaching on Divorce (Matt. 5:31-32)

Outline: Matthew 5:31-32
  1. The Pharisees' take on divorce (v.31)
  2. Jesus' take on divorce (v.32)
  3. The heart of the law (19:3-9)
  4. Q & A 
Summary: Jesus' fulfillment of the OT should cause us to excel in our obedience to the OT in such a way that exceeds the surface "obedience" of the scribes and pharisees (5:20). Jesus gives a third example of the type of heart-obedience he desires by explaining and applying the law "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce" (cf. Deut. 24:1-4). The scribes and pharisees taught people that divorce was legitimate on a variety of grounds, but Jesus brings us back to the heart of this law, teaching us that a divorce is legitimate only on the exceedingly narrow ground sexual immorality. We should not hunt for grounds for divorce (as the pharisees did); rather, we should seek to understand and honor God's original design for marriage (Matt. 19:3-9).

Discussion Questions:
  • What was the Pharisees' take on divorce? (v.31; cf. Deut. 24:1-4)
  • What was Jesus' take on divorce? (v.32)
  • How does divorcing one's spouse on unbiblical grounds create a chain reaction of sin? 
  • Would there be any ground for divorce if 5:27-30 was taken to heart and obeyed? Explain.
  • What does the exchange between the Pharisees and Jesus in 19:3-9 teach us about God's heart on the issue of divorce? 
  • How should Jesus' teaching shape the way we think about marriage and divorce?
  • Exercise: think of difficult marriage situations and consider what loving counsel you might give to them in light of their situation and God's heart for marriage.  
Application Questions:
  • How clear is my understanding of marriage and divorce from a biblical standpoint?
  • What shapes my view of divorce most: my life experience, my culture, or my Lord? Explain.
  • How am I honoring God's original design for marriage in my thinking and my living?
Prayer Points:
  • Confess any way you have failed to honor God's original design for marriage.
  • Praise Jesus that he will never divorce us and that he is faithful when we are faithless. 
  • Praise God for his good, wise and loving design for marriage.
  • Ask God to help you honor his original design for marriage in your thinking and living.
  • Ask God to help you give wise and loving counsel that might help strengthen marriages.