A Writing of Divorce Matthew 5:31

Matthew shared how Jesus began to preach saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, and He called Peter, Andrew, James and John to be His followers. Matthew continued to share how Jesus' fame spread throughout Galilee, and many others were gathered unto Him. Matthew continued by sharing how Jesus taught concerning the “beatitudes” of the “Kingdom of Heaven”, and He said His disciples were the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” and if their “righteousness” did not “exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” they would, “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus continued with the example, “You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: ... whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought against you: Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Verily I say unto you, You shall by no means come out from there, till you have paid the uttermost farthing. You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery. But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her

has committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if your right eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell”, and in chapter five and verse thirty-one of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus referred to the law concerning,“whosoever shall put away his wife” where we read:

It has been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

The verse reads, “It has been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife,” Matthew began with the words, “it has been said” which means “in the past it was declared, uttered and proclaimed”, “whosoever” which means “that any person or anyone that” “shall put away” or “set free, detain no longer, dismiss, send away, loose his bonds and bid depart and divorce, dismiss from the house and or repudiate”“his wife” which means “the person's female spouse”. Jesus referred to the instruction that was given to the disciples in the past concerning divorcing a wife.

The verse continues, “let him give her a writing of divorcement:” Matthew added the words, “let him give” or “grant, supply, furnish and bestow upon” “her“ or “the person's wife” “a writing of divorcement” which refers to “repudiation, separation and a bill of divorce”. Jesus continued His thought as He reminded the disciples of the known rule to “grant a divorce” to a “wife” who was displeasing to him.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we should keep in mind the context of Jesus' words. He is giving examples of how “the spirit” of the law is primary in a person's life, and though “murder” and “adultery” are easily recognized outwardly, they are really matters of the “heart”. Jesus employed the example of a man issuing a “divorce” to a wife who displeased him, and in those days it may have been for reasons as simple as not cooking his eggs properly to committing adultery with another man. One school of thought believed any reason was sufficient to divorce, and another believed only “fornication” was justified. Regardless of the thinking, God's original plan was for the man and woman to be married for life - “And he answered and said unto them, Have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, 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 has joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:4-6) However, people have failed to keep God's way, and therein lies the need for a “Savior”. People have violated God's law of “murder” and “committing adultery” both inwardly and outwardly, and this is why He said, “Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, everyone needs Jesus.

Next time Jesus declares, “whosoever shall put away his wife” except for “fornication, causes her to commit adultery”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.