Divorce
Perversion of the marriage institution. Marriage was ordained by God as an intimate and complementing union between a man and a woman in which the two become one physically, in the whole of life, in its purpose to reflect the relationship of the Godhead, and to serve God. With the fall of humankind the divine purpose and function of marriage were damaged by sin, and the marriage relationship often destroyed.
Effect of the Fall on Marriage. The fall of humankind ( Gen 3 ) caused human hearts to become hard toward God and toward each other. The relational aspect of God's image, reflected in marriage, became marred. Satan tempted Eve to rebel against male leadership ( Genesis 3:1-6 Genesis 3:17 ; contra. Eph 5:33 ; 1 Peter 3:1 ). Men tended to become dominant and harsh in their leadership (cf. Col 3:19 ; 1 Peter 3:7 ). Sin brought polygamy, concubinage, incest, adultery, rape, prostitution, and all kinds of immorality (cf. Lev 18 , 20 ; Rom 1:26-32 ) that have damaged or destroyed the marriage relationship. Marriage covenants have been violated (cf. Mal 2:14 ).
Termination of the marriage relationship is caused by sin that entered the world after Genesis 2:21-24. Death itself, which terminates marriage ( Rom 7:1-3 ), came by Adam's sin. Because of sin divorce arose, and Moses sought to regulate it ( Deut 24:1-4 ; Matt 19:8 ). Divorce is not instituted or ordained by God; rather it is generated by sin and is contrary to God's ideal for marriage (cf. Mal 2:14 ).
Divorce in the Old Testament. Divorce is first mentioned in the Mosaic covenant (cf. Lev 21:14 ; Deuteronomy 22:13-19 Deuteronomy 22:28-29 ), but it was already occurring in Israel. Under the Mosaic covenant divorce was regulated in situations in which it might become common. It was not permitted (1) when false accusations were made about a bride's virginity; and (2) when marriage occurred because a man had forcibly violated a woman sexually. A high priest was not to marry a divorcee. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 prohibited remarriage of a woman to her first husband after the death or divorce of her second husband. These texts present legal policy whereby quick and frequent divorce is restrained and discouraged. Divorce is not commended, commanded, or approved by God in these passages, but failure to forbid divorce, especially in Deuteronomy 24, de facto means that God's law tolerated divorce to the extent that no civil or ecclesiastical penalty was imposed.
The basis for divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1 is "some indecency" (ervat dabar). The precise meaning of this phrase is uncertain. When the rest of the Old Testament and New Testament are examined, it appears that "some indecency" probably had sexual overtonessome lewd or immoral behavior including any sexual perversion, even adultery. The imagery of spiritual adultery, resulting in God's "divorcing" Israel ( Isa 50:1 ; Jer 3:8 ), is based on a real referent. Divorce was socially permissible for adultery. Although adultery was punishable by death ( Deut 22:22-24 ), it could still be included in the broad concept of ervat dabar. It is likewise possible that Jesus employed the general term porneia [porneiva] ( Matt 5:32 ; 19:9 ) to refer to ervat dabar in Deuteronomy 24:1. However this phrase is understood, the text implies that this continued "indecency" was so vile that divorce was preferred by the husband. To protect the wife, however, he must provide her a certificate of divorce.