Sermon Audio Archive

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 1/19/03 Radio Program

Question:

Can a minister or deacon be divorced and remarried with a living wife??

Answer:

This is not avoiding the question, but the short answer is "Yes" and "No." Let me explain:

When Jesus spoke about divorce and remarriage, there are two passages where He said that there was an exception which applied to this subject. In Matthew 5:32, He said: "But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." Later, Christ would speak to the Pharisees who had asked Him whether a man could divorce his wife "for every cause" and tell them, "Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:9).

Notice that in Matthew 5:32, and 19:9, there was an exception placed within those verses. (5:32 uses the word "saving".) Concerning this subject, Christ said, "whosoever," so this would certain include a "minister or deacon" as our querist specified. Whoever it may be, if they divorce their spouse, they commit adultery, and the spouse who remarries commits adultery. This is the rule. Yet, there is an exception here, where Christ said "except" (saving), in the case of a spouse being unfaithful. In this case, the one who was faithful/true to the marriage may then be divorced and marry another with God's sanction.

Therefore, this is the reason why I said the answer to this question is both "Yes," and "No." If one's marriage partner was guilty of fornication, then that one (minister, deacon, or whoever) could be divorced and remarried with a living wife, and be pleasing unto God. Otherwise, that person (minister, deacon, or whoever), is living in sin for divorcing and remarrying another person.