God's Design: A Permanent Marriage

• A permanent marriage is God's ideal (Mt 19:4-6).
• God hates divorce (Mal 2:15-16).
• Whatever the conditions of divorce are, reconciliation is the priority.

• All ten commandments are upheld in the New Testament.
• Figure: "Insight into the Ten Commandments."
• Sacrifice, priesthood & tabernacle are replaced by Christ & His body.
• Figure: "New Wine Skins."
• Some OT law caries over to the NT & others are replaced.
• Each area needs to be examined on a case-by-case basis.

• An adulterer & their partner were punished by death (Dt 22:22).
• Fornication was punished by death (Dt 22:13-27).
• In Dt 22:13-27, fornication was discovered after marriage.
• If "some indecency" was found, divorce was permitted (Dt 24:1-4).
• Indecency (Hebrew "ervah") is translated:
  bare (1) - bare flesh
indecency (1) - Dt 24:1-4
indecent (1) - wash nocturnal emissions & cover excrement
nakedness (48, 90%) - uncovering nakedness often with illicit sex
shame (1) - associated with nakedness
undefended parts (2) - of the land  
• The exact meaning of "indecency" is unclear.
• It is distinguished from adultery & fornication since there is no death punishment.
• This suggests "indecency" was a lesser sin than adultery or fornication.
• Indecency is associated with non-intercourse sexual activity in "nakedness."
• "Some indecency" may be ambiguous to allow individual judgment in this area.
• Extra-marital non-intercourse sexual defrauding would be an example of this.
• Of course, this context does not suggest divorce for "burning the toast."

• Divorce is permitted in the case of "immorality" (Mt 19:3-12).
• Immorality (Greek "porneia") is translated:
  fornication(s) (6, 24%) - sexual relations before marriage
immorality(s) (18, 72%) - illicit sexual relations
unchastity (1, 4%) - illicit sexual relations  
• "Immorality" appears to be more clearly defined than "indecency."
• The boundaries of the word, however, are still ambiguous.
• It would certainly include adultery as an "illicit sexual relationship."
• It may parallel the OT to include fornication hidden from one's spouse.
• It may also encompass non-intercourse sexual activity.
• Again, this may be vague to allow individual judgment in these areas.
• The NT also speaks of a wife divorcing her husband (Mk 10:12).
• Here divorce is seen being initiated from either spouse.

• Justice & mercy play a major role in understanding divorce.
• Justice & mercy begin with God.
• Figure: "The Attributes of God."
• Human relationships are to reflect God's justice & mercy.
• Figure: "Reflecting God's Image in Three Relationships."
• Figure: "Faithfulness, Justice & Mercy in God & Man."
• Mercy is a universal mandate across all seven human relationships.
• Justice is found in five human relationships but in differing degrees.
• Discipline for adultery fits the pattern of justice in God's world.

• There is justice for adultery, but it varies from OT to NT.
• The lesser punishment in the NT stems from at least two factors.
• First, God's truth has been progressively revealed from law to grace.
• Figure: "The Progressive Nature of Revelation."
• The application here is that NT divorce is a lesser punishment than OT death.
• Secondly, the OT governmental structure of theocracy was unique.
• Since church & state were one in the OT, they could punish by death.
• In most post-NT cultures, however, the state is a separate institution.
• Instructions for NT discipline & punishment are selective & very specific.
• The lesser divorce punishment for adultery fits the post-NT context.

• New Testament divorce shows a balance between justice & mercy.
• This is apparent in at least three areas.
• First, as described above, divorce is a lesser punishment than death.
• This is due to the transition from law to grace & the lack of a theocracy.
• Second, divorce is an option & not a requirement.
• This encourages mercy by the offended spouse & reconciliation.
• A third element of mercy is seen in the protection of the offended spouse.
• The offended spouse must seek to forgive as God is merciful to us.
• The difference, however, is that God has perfect mercy & the Christian doesn't.
• This forgiveness must encompass the most intimate element of a marriage.
• When the brokenness is severe, divorce sets free the offended spouse.
• In His mercy, God releases the offended spouse from life-long suffering.
• There is, therefore, a balance of justice & mercy in divorce.

• A permanent marriage is God's ideal design.
• Whatever the conditions of divorce are, reconciliation is the priority.
• Divorce is permitted (not required) for adultery.
• Divorce may be valid for fornication & non-intercourse sexual activity.