What Does the Bible Say About Divorce — In Biblical Context
The Bible teaches that God hates divorce but permits it in cases of sexual immorality and abandonment by an unbelieving spouse.
The Bible teaches that God hates divorce but permits it in cases of sexual immorality and abandonment by an unbelieving spouse.
"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." — Matthew 19:8-9 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
God's original design was for marriage to be permanent — 'What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder' (Matthew 19:6). Malachi 2:16 expresses God's heart: 'For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away.' However, Jesus acknowledged that Moses permitted divorce 'because of the hardness of your hearts' (Matthew 19:8). Jesus taught that the only legitimate ground for divorce was 'fornication' (sexual immorality) — Matthew 19:9. Paul added a second exception in 1 Corinthians 7:15: if an unbelieving spouse departs, 'a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases.' These two exceptions — sexual immorality and abandonment — are the biblical grounds for divorce. Even when divorce is permitted, it is never commanded, and reconciliation is always the preferred outcome. God extends grace and healing to those who have experienced divorce. The church should be a place of compassion, not condemnation, for those walking through this painful experience while still upholding God's ideal for marriage.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Matthew 19:8-9, sits inside Matthew 19. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"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."
Supporting Passages
"But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace."
"For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away."
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