(Matthew 19:3-9)
I. Question and answer #1
- A. Pharisees: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (19:3)
B. Jesus explains God’s intent at creation: one man and one woman for life (19:4-6; cf. Genesis 2:23-24)
II. Question and answer #2
- A. Pharisees: “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” (19:7)
B. Jesus explains “because of the hardness of your hearts” and identifies one (and only one) exception that allows for a subsequent marriage after divorce (19:8-9)
III. The seriousness of the sins of adultery and fornication
- A. “Will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21)
B. “Shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
IV. Those who are eligible to marry
- A. Those never married (1 Corinthians 7:28)
B. Those whose former spouse has died (Romans 7:2-3)
C. Those who have divorced a spouse because of that spouse’s fornication (Matthew 19:9)
