EXCEPT IT BE FOR FORNICATION

 EXCEPT IT BE FOR FORNICATION

“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. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away doth also commit adultery.” Matthew 19:8-9. The question of the Pharisees in tempting Jesus was, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” Matthew 19:3. Jesus has stated God’s divine will in marriage to be one man and one woman for life. When the marriage vow between a male and a female is taken, that vow usually says, “Until death do us part.” This is the arrangement of God. But, the Pharisees in their persistence point out to Jesus that Moses permitted divorce or “putting away.” Jesus explains that such action took place, not because God had changed his law, but because of the “hardness of heart.” Man, since time began, has always been reluctant to comply with the will of God. But, let it be understood that when we do not comply with God, we sin. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.” I John 3:4. “Whosoever” includes everyone whether they be in Christ or out of Christ, for Christ or against Christ. Jesus declares that God’s law for the marriage union remains as it did even from the beginning. God is not tolerant when his law is violated. We live in a culture that permits divorce for every cause. We, by civil law, allow male with male and female with female to marry. This is not God’s law for marriage. Man’s law never replaces God’s law. When God’s law is violated, we can expect serious, even eternal, consequences. Jesus says that those who put away their spouse and marry another commit adultery. Adultery is a sin that will keep one out of the kingdom of heaven. I Corinthians 6:9. This is the serious nature of divorce. Jesus does give an exception to the marriage law. That exception is fornication. Fornication is sexual immorality. When one spouse is unfaithful to the other, divorce and remarriage can take place. But, this is the only exception. Any other reason than fornication causes one to commit adultery.