When we read in the Bible about Jesus' teaching regarding marriage and remarriage, one message rings out loud, clear, and uncompromising: remarriage after divorce is adultery. In today's society, where moral values are often distorted or adjusted to suit personal feelings and social needs, this stern warning from Jesus is not only shocking, but also controversial. However, if we believe in the eternal truth of God's Word, then what He said cannot be ignored or softened.
Let us begin with Jesus' own words in Mark 10:11-12:
"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
This is not a metaphor, without conditions, without exceptions. This is a direct, clear, and unmistakable statement. Jesus declares that divorce and remarriage are not a new beginning, but a betrayal of the marriage covenant established by God.
In Matthew 19, when the Pharisees came to test Jesus, they asked whether a man could divorce his wife for any reason. His answer not only rejected the lenient view of divorce, but also took them back to the roots of creation:
"From the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female... for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh... Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate." (Matthew 19:4-6)
Jesus was not saying that marriage was merely a social contract. He did not say it was a contract that could be broken when feelings changed. He affirmed that it was a sacred covenant, a union that God Himself made – not for man to break.
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Yet man continues to look for a way out, justifying his actions with every possible argument. Even in the modern church, there are pastors, leaders, and believers who try to reinterpret God's teachings, claiming that there are "exceptions," that there is "forgiveness" for remarriage after divorce. But this raises a big question: Are we living according to God's Word or are we bending it to suit our own desires?
Jesus mentioned the only exception in Matthew 19:9:
"Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery."
This is one of the most controversial verses in the Bible. Some people understand that “except for fornication” is a valid reason for divorce and remarriage. However, many biblical scholars, especially from the Primitive and Conservative traditions, believe that this passage is not a license to remarry, but simply a determination of the only valid reason for divorce that is not a sin—but not for remarriage. Because, even if a spouse commits adultery, the marriage covenant is not broken by human standards.
The scary thing here is that many people today take the sacred bond of marriage for granted. Modern culture exalts personal choice, emotional freedom, and the right to “be happy.” But in God’s eyes, marriage is sacred, an image of the relationship between Christ and the Church. When a person betrays a marriage, he or she not only hurts his or her spouse, but also offends God.
What happens if a person has remarried? Are their lives completely cursed? No, because God’s grace is always available to those who repent. But true repentance does not mean continuing to live in a wrong state. Many people choose to “comfort themselves with grace” without changing what is wrong – this is a serious risk.
The question is: If a person recognizes that their remarriage is wrong before God, will they dare to leave that relationship to live up to their holy calling? This is not an easy choice – but it is the right choice.
Another important thing to note: Jesus is not speaking just to pagans – he is speaking to God’s people, to those who know the law, who know God’s will. This makes the responsibility even heavier. When a person knows the truth but still chooses to live contrary to it, they can no longer plead ignorance.
We live in a time of distorted truth, moral chaos, and the church increasingly compromising with the world. But God’s Word remains unwavering. On the subject of marriage and remarriage, God has made it clear: remarriage after divorce—except in the case of sexual immorality—is adultery.
As believers, we must face this truth seriously. Not with judgment, but with humility, repentance, and a determination to live by the holy standards God has set for us. Marriage is not a contract to be broken at our convenience, but a lifelong covenant witnessed by God.
