INTRO: We have been looking at the first point in these messages, which I titled, “The Sin Of Divorce And Remarriage.” Under this point we have looked at the theological factors. We looked at the major unclear passages of the Bible, and then the numerous very clear passages. We concluded with the hermeneutical principal that the unclear must give way to the clear, and that the Bible makes no allowances for divorce in any circumstance. To be married to another partner while the first one is alive is to live in continual adultery.
Then we looked at the historical factors. We said that the OT closed with the liberal view of Rabbi Hillel, and the conservative view of Shammai. And then Jesus came, in Matthew 19, the Pharisees, seeking how they might trap Jesus and get rid of Him, by asking Him about divorce and remarriage, place Him between Hillel and Shammai. When Jesus had answered them, which, as I interpret it, was that divorce was never acceptable, the disciples could not believe their ears. They said, “In that case it is better not to marry!” By the way, right around this time, Rabbi Shammai passed away.
We further saw that the teaching of the NT brought about a great change on the subject of divorce in the Church, which began right after Christ ascended. And we saw that the early church, like Christ, held a very strict view, allowing for no remarriage as long as the first partner was alive. When Augustine endorsed that view, it was set in stone until the 1500’s. |
