What the Bible says about Divorce and Remarriage Decisions
(From Forerunner Commentary)
God uses the example of a man who divorces his wife, and then she marries another man. At some point, she decides she does not like her second husband and returns to her first husband. The law of God in the Pentateuch forbids such a thing. However, God is saying that His approach is this: His mercy is so great that, even under such a circumstance, He will forgive His wife and accept her back. The subject is marriage and divorce, in this case between God and Israel.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Love and WorksRelated Topics: Divorce | Divorce and Remarriage Decisions | God's Relationship with Israel | Marriage Analogy | Marriage Covenant
Notice what Jesus did in this instance: He leap-frogged over Deuteronomy 24, which covers divorce and remarriage and sets a foundation of principles from which divorce-and-remarriage decisions can be made. Jesus skipped right over this passage in the midst of Israel's civil law. In fact, He skipped over the whole Old Covenant, reaching all the way back to Genesis 2 for His authority for a judgment regarding marriage and divorce.
There is instruction here. Even though God permitted them to divorce and remarry because of their unconversion (hardness of heart), the higher and greater authority—the standard—where God originally established His intention. This is a clear example from Christ: The higher and greater authority lies in God's originally established intention.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Nineteen)Related Topics: Divorce | Divorce and Remarriage Decisions | Hardness of Hearts | Marriage | Marriage Covenant