The Home And Divorce

THE HOME

DIVORCE-PART I

Eph. 5:22--I Pet. 3:1-7

1. The Home is the seat of Revival---If it fails, it is because we have too often, Husbands and Wives that are Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

a. The Bible says, “a house divided against itself shall not stand.”

2. It is important that our homes be right because of prayer-I Pet. 3:7

3. Are our Homes right? The latest facts I have. Every day:

a. 2,740 kids runaway d. 30 teenage suicides

b. 3,000 teenage pregnancies e. 67,000 new cases of venereal

c. 1,967 divorces disease

(1) Ascending divorce rates: 1920-1 out of 7, 1940-1 out of 6, 1960-

1 out of 4, 1972-1 out of 3, 1977-1 out of 2. It is now over one divorce for ever marriage in America.

4. The Home is Scriptural--Gen. 2:18-- “And the Lord God said, it is

not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet

for him.”

5. Divorce has no place in the home. In fact, Mal. 2:16 says that God

hates Divorce. “For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he

hateth putting away.”

a. Rom. 7:2-- “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by

the law to her husband so long as he liveth”

(1) When are they bound? Matt. 19:5-6-- “...For this cause shall a

man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they

twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but

one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man

put asunder.” “Cleave”--glued together not taped--Permanent.

(2) “Joined together” is an aorist active indicative which

emphasizes the finality of the action.

(3) Prov. 2:16-18--God sees marriage as a Covenant Relationship

and God does not break Covenants (Lev. 26:40-45).

b. Matt. 19:8-- “He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness

of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the

beginning it was not so.” A Bill of Divorce was given by Moses to

protect the woman who could be put away for “every cause.”

(1) The School of Hillel says the man could divorce his wife if she

“spoiled a dish for him.” The wife would be divorced without

any recourse on her part.

c. Matt. 19:9-- “And I say unto you, Whoseover 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.” (You have to agree--Only One Exception)

(1) Fornication is translated from a Greek word “porneia” and can

mean “incest”, “harlotry”, or “sex before marriage” depending

on the context. In the case of Divorce as in Matt. 19:9, it means

“sex before marriage and not “incest” or “harlotry.”

(2) One Proof Text--Matt. 1:18-19--Joseph found out Mary was

expecting with Child when they got married. “Then Joseph her

husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick

example, was minded to put her away privily.” Vs. 24-25 “Then

Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had

bidden him, and took unto him his wife. And knew her not till she

had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS”

(3) Second Proof Text--If Mary had committed Adultery, Joseph

could not “put her away” (divorced her) but she would have been

stoned according to the Law. Lev. 20:10-- “And the man that

committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that

committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and

the adulteress shall surely be put to death (not “put away”). The

Punishment for Adultery was Death not Divorce. In fact,

Adultery is not mentioned anywhere in the matter of Divorce!!

(4) Adultery is translated from the Greek word “moicheuo” (the act)

“moichalis” (female adulteress) and “moichos (male adulterer).

The adulterer is a “paramour.” A paramour is “a person who

takes the place of a husband or wife.” The “place” is the part

occupied by a particular person, in this case the mate.

6. Adultery is a Wicked Sin--Heb. 13:4-- “Marriage is honourable in

all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will

judge.

a. Adultery is the hardest sin for man to forgive--Prov. 6:30, 32-35

“Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is

hungry: ...But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh

understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A

wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be

wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not

spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom;

neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.”

b. Adultery is contrary to the Doctrine of Eternal Security. Eph.