What Jesus Says About Divorce, Pt.1

Our Westminster Confession of Faith makes one of the most perceptive statements before declaring that one can only divorce in cases involving adultery or desertion. Here is how it starts off the section: "Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage…" (WCF 14.6)

That is, in plain modern English, "Man being so corrupt, he will come up with all kinds of reasons to legitimize divorce!"

1. Notice the occasion for this teaching (to test Jesus) (v. 3).
2. The question arose from Deut. 24:1 (v. 3).
3. Jesus points them to Genesis (v. 4).
4. Jesus answers from Genesis (vv. 4-6).
5. From the creation account, Jesus draws these conclusions:
   •ONE, Marriage was from the beginning, from creation. God designed it that way.
   •TWO, Marriage makes the two one: "So they are no longer two but one flesh."
   •THREE, God is the one who joins them together: "What therefore God has joined together"
   •FOUR, Divorce was not part of God's original creation: "Let not man separate."
   Marriage was not created and designed to be divorced — divorce creates a whole lot of pain and misery when it happens because it wasn't designed that way.