BIBLICAL VIEW OF DIVORCE Mark 10:12; Matt 19:3-9
No Jew throughout the biblical era ever questioned whether Moses was in error for permitting divorce! The current debate at the time of Yeshua was not to question whether it was right or wrong, but how liberally (or not) it could be practiced. This is what the religious hierarchy posed to Yeshua during the early part of His ministry to see what position He held; who did He side with?. The Gospel of Matthew provides a fuller version of this question and sets Yeshua’s answer in its proper context: “Can a man divorce a woman for any reason?” (Matt 19:3-9)
The conservative approach understood “unfaithfulness”, “abuse”, or “abandonment” as the only valid grounds for divorce (Deut. 24:1-4; Exod. 21:10-11). This view was represented by the Pharisaic school of Shammai, while various more progressive Jewish interpreters argued that a man had the right to divorce his wife for any reason (Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 90a). The latter view was represented by a Pharisaic rabbi and sage named Hillel.
Consequently, there were many illegitimate divorces granted in the Jewish community in the time of Yeshua that were not consistent with God’s instructions in the Torah. It is in this divorce-for-any-reason environment that Yeshua was quoted as saying, “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18, Mark 10:12)
If read in 21st century Christian context, it would seem that Yeshua forbade remarriage for any reason. However, when understood from a first-century Jewish and biblical context, Yeshua’s words cannot be interpreted as a blanket statement condemning remarriage save when illegitimate (unbiblical) reasons for divorce were involved.
Yeshua rejected the idea taught by the house of Hillel (that divorce was permissible for any reason) and sided with the house of Shammai and the Essenes. One could paraphrase Yeshua’s response to the Pharisees in the following manner: “Everyone who divorces his wife (outside of the provisions made in the Torah) and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband (contrary to these conditions) commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18, Mark 10:12) What were those conditions? Unfaithfulness, abuse or abandonment (Deut. 24:1-4; Exod. 21:10-11).
Although Scripture makes provision for divorce under special circumstances, it grieves the heart of God when it occurs for it’s always accompanied by collateral damage that goes far beyond the two parties. Yeshua explained it this way: “4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures about creation?” Yeshua replied. “The Creator made us male and female from the very beginning,,5 and ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and live with his wife. And the two will become one flesh.’6 From then on, they are no longer two, but united as one. So what God unites let no one divide!”
7 They responded, “So then why did Moses command us to give a certificate of divorce and it would be lawful?”
8 Yeshua said, “Moses permitted you to divorce because your hearts are so hard and stubborn, but originally there was no such thing.” (Matt 5)
Raphael ben Levi
