Using Bible Principles to Address the Controversy
Once again, the question is: Can one put away their spouse for fornication and remarry after their spouse put them away for just any cause? We noticed in the previous section that this particular scenario is not specifically addressed in Scripture. Without a parallel example, we must look at the principles and precepts of God's word to determine the truth. So let us take a look at what we know from the word of God.
1. Marriage is a divine institution. God established marriage in the beginning (Gen. 2:24; Mt. 19:4-6). Since God established it, His laws are what govern it. He is the one who determines who has a right to marry and who has a right to put away their mate. Nothing man says or does can change the mandate of God.
2. Marriage is a life-long relationship. The marriage bond that is formed when two eligible people enter the covenant of marriage lasts as long as they are both living (Rom. 7:2-3). God never intended for people to be able to get out of marriage for just any reason (Mt. 19:8).
3. There is only one cause that authorizes one to put away their spouse and remarry. Jesus only gave one exception to the rule that one was not to put away their spouse. This exception was fornication on the part of their spouse (Mt. 19:9). When this occurred, the innocent spouse (the one whom adultery was committed against) was extended the permission to put away their mate and remarry, if they chose to do so.
4. Putting away for another cause does not result in the dissolution of the marriage bond. Most of the time one puts away their mate, they do so for a reason other than fornication. The majority of times putting away is mentioned or alluded to in Scripture, fornication is not involved. God does not authorize such actions, no matter how common it may be. The Scriptures teach that even after one puts away their spouse for just any cause, they are still bound to that mate (Mk. 6:17-18; 10:11; Rom. 7:3).
5. Jesus addressed divorce cause, not procedure or timing. The Pharisees asked Jesus about a lawful cause for divorce (Mt. 19:3). Jesus answered their question. He explained that one could only put away their mate for fornication (Mt. 19:9). The Pharisees did not ask Jesus about lawful procedure or lawful timing (sequence of events). Hence, Jesus' answer did not address procedure or timing. He addressed their question -- the lawful cause for divorce. Additionally, we don't find any other New Testament writings that deal with divorce procedure or timing either.
These are the things we know from Scripture. We know that God instituted and thus regulates marriage. We know that marriage is a life-long relationship. We know fornication is the only lawful cause for divorce. We know that a couple is still bound following an unlawful divorce. And we know that the New Testament specifies divorce cause, but not procedure or timing.
So back to our question: Can one put away their spouse for fornication and remarry after their spouse put them away for just any cause? Let's examine this question by looking at the five points we just reviewed.
1. God makes the rules for marriage. So the permission or restriction of remarriage for this person will have to be found in His word, not in the opinions of men.
2. God's intention was for these two people to remain married for life.
3. The only cause that allows one to put away their mate and remarry is fornication. The one in this question is said to be putting away their mate for fornication.
4. The marriage bond is intact following an unlawful divorce. This one's spouse previously put them away. Since they did so for a cause other than fornication, this couple was still bound in marriage.
5. Jesus specified the cause for divorce, not procedure or timing. In this case, fornication (the cause) was committed.
Based on what the Scriptures teach, can one put away their spouse for fornication and remarry after their spouse put them away for just any cause? Yes! In this situation, we have one putting away their bound mate for fornication. Jesus taught that one who does this has the right to remarry (Mt. 19:9).
