A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW      

MARRIAGE IS SACRED 

Matthew 5:31-32 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” 

Pharisees came to Jesus questioning if divorce was permissible. Here is the reply Jesus gave them: “Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6) 

Divorce remains a thorny issue in society and in the Christian church. Church members come to their pastor wanting him to give them permission to divorce their spouse. You say, that is not true. They want the pastor to give them spiritual counsel. So, which is it? Permission! Spiritual counsel! 

The Pharisees who came to Jesus believed that a person simply needed to have a valid reason to divorce their spouse. Today, a person no longer, legally speaking, needs even that. With no fault divorces merely desiring to dissolve the marriage is all that is necessary. In either case, the important matter was/is to carry out the divorce in the right way. 

The fact is, Jesus taught what He taught. Divorce is sin! It breaks a sacred union (Matthew 19:6.) God created marriage to be a life-long union. With God there is no such thing as an “amicable divorce” or “no fault on the part of either party.” To divorce is to stray far away from what God wants.   

Jesus simply said, “Do not divorce.” He said, “what God has joined together, do not separate.” The marriage of a man and woman to each other is to bring honor to their heavenly Father. Looking for reasons to justify a divorce is to try to find ways to negate what Jesus has taught. At the same time, Jesus’ teaching does not cover every conceivable situation. He did specifically state that the sexual unfaithfulness of a spouse does break the marriage vow. However, even that sin can be overcome by His shed blood. That is why Jesus taught that sinners should reconcile with one another.   

Prayer: Father in heaven, bless and guide all who are married and soon will be with a commitment to their spouse to remain married until death parts them. In the name of Jesus. Amen. 

(A hymn for a wedding and for all the seasons of marriage) 

Gracious Savior, grant Your blessing To this husband and this wife,  
That in peace they live together In Your love throughout their life.  
Christ, defend them from the tempter And from all that would destroy   
Love’s foundation You have laid here, And its threshold paved with joy. 

Lord, if You are not the builder, Then the house is built in vain,  
For a home without Your presence Shall without true love remain.  
Yet when You within a marriage Come and dwell with grace divine,  
There You fill the empty vessels, Changing water into wine. 

Cana’s guest, this union hallow; Tenderly embrace this pair.  
Clothe this couple with the garments They will daily need to wear;  
Patience, kindness, and compassion, Gentleness, humility;  
Robe the, Lord, with love to bind them In a perfect unity. 

Make their love a living picture Showing how You loaved Your bride;  
When You gave Yourself to cleanse her,   
When for her You bled and died. Jesus, You have made her holy,  
Pure and fair her radiant train; To Yourself, Your Church presenting,  
Without wrinkle, spot, or stain.  

Father, You created Adam, Crafted Eve, and made them one;  
Jesus, from their sin You saved us, As God’s true incarnate Son;  
Holy Spirit, You forgive us; From our sins we are released.  
Bring us, Lord, at last to heaven, To the endless wedding feast.  (LSB 860)