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ÐÓYÓÌò òÓ  ÓOURÔ_Ô€PURPOSE€IN€THIS€CHAPTERó óÐ ä4 ÐÓJÓÌÔ#†X·XX#X·¼#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôò òó óà  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Í#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔOur€purpose€in€this€chapter€is€to€report€some€secular€statistical€facts€and€to€give€a€scripturalÐ ¼  Ðpresentation€of€what€the€Bible€has€to€say€about€ò òÔ#†X·XX#X·!#Ôó óadultery,€fornication,€desertion,€divorce€andÐ ¨ ø ÐremarriageÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô.€This€chapter€is€a€very€strong€doctrinal€chapter.€Therefore,€it€is€not€intended€to€be€a€primerÐ ” ä Ðon€divorce€counseling.€For€Bible€believing€pastors€and€counsellors,€there€is€no€solution€to€theÐ € Ð Ðexploding€wickedness€of€divorce€in€the€church€outside€of€the€willingness€of€those€whom€theyÐ l ¼  Ðcounsel€to€yield€to€the€conviction€of€the€Holy€Ghost€and€the€plain€teaching€of€the€Scriptures€on€theseÐ X¨  Ðsubjects.€Without€repentance€and€forgiveness€there€is€no€balm€of€Gilead€for€our€divorces.€The€LordÐ D”  ÐJesus€Christ€has€already€nailed€the€chief€cause€of€divorce€when€he€stated€in€Matthew€19:7€that€it€wasÐ 0€  Ðthe€hardness€of€menððs€and€womenððs€hearts€that€is€at€the€root€of€all€divorces.€God€hates€divorces.Ð l  Ðà  àThe€doctrine€of€divorce€and€remarriage€is€among€one€of€the€most€controversial€doctrines€inÐ X  ÐScripture€especially€in€this€day€when€divorce€rates€among€professing€Christians€are€equal€to€that€ofÐ ôD Ðsecular€divorce€rates.€That€ought€not€to€be.€Both€legally€and€scripturally€a€bill€of€divorcement€is€aÐ à0 Ðdocument€declaring€the€intent€of€one€or€both€parties€to€a€marriage€to€divorce.€In€the€Bible,€theÐ Ì Ðdivorce€breaks€both€the€scriptural€legal€bond€and€the€physical€bond€whereas€in€civil€law€it€may€onlyÐ ¸ Ðbreak€the€legal€bond€with€the€sexual€relationship€being€allowed€to€continue.€We€state€again€and€againÐ ¤ô Ðthroughout€this€book€that€Godððs€intent€for€marriage€has€from€the€beginning€been€ð ðone€man€with€oneÐ à Ðwoman€for€a€lifetimeðð.€ò òÔ#†X·XX#X·Z#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ôó óGodððs€intent€in€becoming€one€flesh€is€best€illustrated€by€the€statement:Ð |Ì Ðð ðNothing€but€death€separates€a€man€or€a€woman€from€their€own€fleshððÔ#†X·XXX·K #ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô.Ô#†X·XX#X·9 #ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€God€hates€the€action€ofÐ h¸ Ðdivorce€and€he€plainly€states€that€very€strongly€in€Malachi€2:16.€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€plainlyÐ T¤ Ðrestated€in€Matthew€19:6€what€Godððs€original€intent€for€marriage€was€and€then€stated€in€MatthewÐ @ Ð19:8€that€the€reason€God€allowed€divorce€was€because€of€the€hardness€of€the€peopleððs€hearts.€In€otherÐ ,| Ðwords,€the€cause€for€divorce€was€sin€that€proceeded€from€hardened€hearts.€There€are€those€whoÐ h Ðvehemently€argue€that€divorce€is€never€scriptural,€but€what€does€the€Bible€say?€There€are€fiveÐ T Ðdifferent€conditions€where€divorces€are/were€scriptural€including:€(1)€An€unspecified€act€ofÐ ð@ Ðuncleanness€from€Deuteronomy€24;€(2)€God€put€away€(divorced)€Israel€for€her€idolatry;€(3)€Ô#†X·XX#X·| #ÔGodððsÐ Ü, Ðcommand€to€divorcešÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€given€to€the€people,€the€priests,€and€the€Levites€of€Israel€in€Ezra€chapter10Ô#†X·XX#X·3#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô;€(4)Ð È  ÐThe€fornication/adultery€of€oneððs€spouse;€(5)€The€act€of€desertion€by€an€unbelieving€spouse€as€statedÐ ´! Ðin€1€Corinthians€7€(This€one€is€hotly€contested€by€many,€if€not€most).€We€will€elaborate€on€thoseÐ  "ð  Ðlater€in€our€study.€There€are€three€divorces€recorded€in€scripture€and€one€of€those€involved€multipleÐ Œ#Ü! Ðdivorces.€These€are:€(1)€A€case€could€be€made€that€the€casting€out€of€Hagar€in€Genesis€21:10€byÐ x$È" ÐAbraham€at€the€insistence€of€Sarah€was€a€divorce;€(2)€God€divorced€Israel€in€Ô#†X·XX#X·Ã#ÔIsaiah€50:1„2,€JeremiahÐ d%´ # Ð3:8šÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô;€(3)€Ô#†X·XX#X·}#ÔGod€commanded€Ô‡#X·XXX·Ôthe€people,€the€priests,€and€the€Levites€of€Israel€to€divorceÔ#†X·XX#X·Ó#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€their€paganÐ P& !$ Ðspouses€in€Ezra€chapter10€because€they€had€taken€to€themselves€the€strange€wives.Ô#†X·XX#X·R#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ <'Œ"% Ðà  àThe€terms€ð ðdivorceðð€and€ð ðputting€awayðð€and€their€cognates€are€the€general€terms€that€theÐ ((x#& ÐScriptures€use€for€dissolving€a€marriage.€In€addition€to€the€three€scriptural€grounds€for€divorce,€thereÐ )d$' Ðare€at€least€18€(eighteen)€grounds€for€divorce€identified€in€the€civil€law€of€many€government€courtÐ *P%( Ðsystems€including€Ô#†X·XX#X·#Ôdesertion,€natural€impotency,€insanity€or€idiocy,€a€wife's€pregnancy€by€anotherÐ ì*<&) Ðperson€at€the€time€of€the€marriage,€adultery,€imprisonment€for€crimes,€incurable€insanity€thatÐ Ø+('* Ðdevelops€after€marriage,€habitual€drunkenness,€habitual€and€excessive€drug€use,€habitual€cruel€andÐ P Ðinhuman€treatment,€bigamy,€incest,€sodomy,€bestiality,€conviction€of€a€felony,€attempting€to€take€theÐ <ì Ðother€spouseððs€life,€infecting€the€other€spouse€with€a€sexually€transmitted€disease,€irreconcilableÐ ( Ø Ðdifferences€(no€fault€divorce),€and€non€support€.Ô‡#X·XXX·Ô€All€state€courts€in€the€United€States€now€allow€forÐ  Ä Ðno€fault€divorces.€Divorce€has€become€a€very€serious€issue€in€the€Church€and€in€secular€society.Ð  ° ÐWithout€getting€into€a€lot€of€detail,€the€reasoÖ€3ÿÿÖn€that€the€divorce€rate€has€skyrocketed€in€the€church€isÐ ì œ Ðbecause€our€churches€in€America€are€full€of€unbelieving,€professing€Christians€and€the€few€that€areÐ Ø ˆ Ðsaved€are€in€open€apostasy€because€they€lack€Godly€leadership.€They€have€also€divorced€the€1611Ð Ä t ÐKing€James€Bible€that€built€the€church€in€America€and€took€up€with€pagan€harlots.€The€corruptionÐ °` Ðof€the€God€ordained€institution€of€marriage€has€run€hand€in€hand€with€the€corruption€of€the€KingÐ œL  ÐJames€Bible.Ð ˆ8  ÐÌò òÓ  ÓSOME€VERY€TROUBLING€DIVORCE€STATISTICSó óÐ `  ÐÓÊÓÌà  àThe€statistics€concerning€divorce€in€the€United€States€are€shocking.€Ô#†X·XX#X·a#ÔThe€country€with€theÐ 8è  Ðhighest€divorce€rate€in€the€world€is€the€United€States€of€America.€Before€getting€underway€with€ourÐ $Ô  Ðstudy€we€cite€the€following€statistics:Ð À ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðThe€percentages€of€divorces€expressed€in€percentage€of€membership€inÐ è˜ ÐAmerican€religious€organizations€are€as€follows:€Nondenominational,€34%;€Jews,Ð Ô„ Ð30%;€Baptist,€29%;€Episcopal,€28%;€Pentecostal,€28%;€Methodist,€26%;€Mormons,Ð Àp Ð24%;€Presbyterian,€23%;€Catholic,€21%;€Lutheran,€21%;€Atheist/Agnostic,€21%.Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔððÐ ¬\ ÐCited€from:€Ô4‚sÝ Ú ÔÝ‚\ÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·ý#Ôhttp://facts.randomhistory.com/divorce-facts.htmlò òó óÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÔ6A ÔÝ‚\ÍOU ƒÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7Ý `ƒ ÔИHÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ç #Ôà ` àð ðThe€following€divorce€rates€apply€for:€first€marriages€=€41%,€secondÐ p  Ðmarriages€=€60%,€third€marriages€=€73%.€There€are€16,865€divorces€per€week€inÐ \  ÐAmerica.ððÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€(Cited€from€2011€US€Census€Data)ÐHøÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·…"#Ôà ` àð ðAmericans€have€become€less€likely€to€marry.€This€is€reflected€in€a€declineÐ  !Ð Ðof€more€than€50€percent,€from€1970€to€2010,€in€the€annual€number€of€marriages€perÐ  "¼ Ð1,000€unmarried€adult€women€(Figure€1).€In€real€terms,€the€total€number€of€marriagesÐ ø"¨ Ðfell€from€2.45€million€in€1990€to€2.11€million€in€2010...Since€1960,€the€overallÐ ä#” Ðpercentage€of€the€married€population€has€declined€by€16%.€Since€1960,€there€hasÐ Ð$€  Ðbeen€an€average€22.5%€drop€in€those€married€in€the€age€group€35„44...The€decline€inÐ ¼%l! Ðmarriage€does€not€mean€that€people€are€giving€up€on€living€together€with€a€sexualÐ ¨&X" Ðpartner.€On€the€contrary,€with€the€incidence€of€unmarried€cohabitation€increasingÐ ”'D # Ðrapidly,€marriage€is€giving€ground€to€unwed€unions.€Most€people€now€live€togetherÐ €(0!$ Ðbefore€they€marry€for€the€first€time.€An€even€higher€percentage€of€divorced€personsÐ l)"% Ðwho€subsequently€remarry€live€together€first....The€American€divorce€rate€today€isÐ X*#& Ðabout€twice€that€of€1960,€but€has€declined€since€hitting€its€highest€point€in€our€historyÐ D+ô#' Ðin€the€early€1980s.€For€the€average€couple€marrying€for€the€first€time€in€recent€years,Ð 0,à$( Ðthe€lifetime€probability€of€divorce€or€separation€now€falls€between€40€and€50Ð P Ðpercent....€Teenagers€and€the€nonreligious€who€marry€have€higher€divorceÐ <ì Ðrates....Having€a€religious€affiliation€(vs.€none)€makes€you14%€less€likely€to€get€aÐ ( Ø Ðdivorce....€Between€1960€and€2011,€as€indicated€in€Figure€8,€the€number€of€unmarriedÐ  Ä Ðcouples€in€America€increased€more€than€seventeen-fold.€Unmarried€cohabitation€ð"ðÐ  ° Ðthe€status€of€couples€who€are€sexual€partners,€not€married€to€each€other,€and€sharingÐ ì œ Ða€household€ð"ð€is€particularly€common€among€the€young....€More€than€60€percent€ofÐ Ø ˆ Ðfirst€marriages€are€now€preceded€by€living€together,€compared€to€virtually€none€fiftyÐ Ä t Ðyears€ago....€In€fact,€some€evidence€indicates€that€those€who€live€together€beforeÐ °` Ðmarriage€are€more€likely€to€break€up€after€marriage....€Children€from€single€parentÐ œL  Ðhomes€are€three€times€more€likely€to€get€into€trouble.€The€number€of€children€bornÐ ˆ8  Ðin€homes€without€fathers€are€about€1€million€new€children€each€year....€Since€1960,Ð t$  Ðthe€percentage€of€babies€born€to€unwed€mothers€has€increased€more€thanÐ `  Ðsevenfold....Consequently,€there€has€been€about€a€fifteen-fold€increase€in€the€numberÐ Lü  Ðof€cohabiting€couples€who€live€with€children€since€1960....Children€who€grow€upÐ 8è  Ðwith€cohabiting€couples€tend€to€have€worse€life€outcomes€compared€to€those€growingÐ $Ô  Ðup€with€married€couples.€The€primary€reasons€are€that€cohabiting€couples€have€aÐ À Ðmuch€higher€breakup€rate€than€married€couples,€a€lower€level€of€household€income,Ð ü¬ Ðand€higher€levels€of€child€abuse€and€domestic€violence....With€more€than€50€percentÐ è˜ Ðof€teenagers€now€accepting€out-of-wedlock€childbearing€as€a€ð ðworthwhile€lifestyle,ððÐ Ô„ Ðat€least€for€others,€they€do€not€seem€to€grasp€the€enormous€economic,€social,€andÐ Àp Ðpersonal€costs€of€nonmarital€childbearing.ðð€(Cited€from:€ð ðThe€2012€State€Of€OurÐ ¬\ ÐUnions€Reportðð€from€the€University€of€Virginia)Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔИHÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·b1#Ôà ` àð ðLiving€together€prior€to€getting€married€can€increase€the€chance€of€gettingÐ p  Ðdivorced€by€as€much€as€40€percent.ðð€(Cited€from:ò òó ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð \  Ѐ€Ô4‚tevlÔÝ‚\ÍOÝÔÿÔòòÝ  ÝÔ5  Ôhttp://www.mckinleyirvin.com/blog/divorce/32-shocking-divorce-statistics/Ô6è2ÔÝ‚\ÍOü2teenÝóóÔÿÔÝ  ÝÔ7ev*3ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€)€ÐHøÐ Ð  ÐÌò òÓ  ÓSOME€QUESTIONS€POSEDó óÐ  !Ð ÐÓ4Óà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àÌà  àIn€the€study€that€is€before€us,€we€have€some€difficult€and€controversial€questions€to€answer.Ð ø"¨ ÐDuring€the€course€of€our€study,€we€will€deal€with€definitions€and€descriptions€of€the€words€adultery,Ð ä#” ÐfornicationÔ#†X·XX#X·Ö3#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,€adulterer,€adulteress,Ô#†X·XX#X·6#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Ô#†X·XX#X·t6#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔuncleannessÔ#†X·XX#X··6#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,€boundÔ#†X·XX#X·7#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,€loosed,€€putting€awayÔ#†X·XX#X·M7#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,€Ô#†X·XX#X·¦7#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôdivorce,€divorced,Ð Ð$€  ÐdivorcementÔ#†X·XX#X·ê7#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,Ô#†X·XX#X·^8#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€desertion,€andÔ#†X·XX#X·¡8#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€sodomiteÔ#†X·XX#X·ò8#Ô.ò òÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€ó óSome€of€the€questions€that€we€will€deal€with€include:(1)€WhatÐ ¼%l! Ðis€adultery?€(2)€What€is€fornication?€(3)€What€is€the€difference€between€fornication€and€adultery?Ô#†X·XX#X·A9#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ ¬&\" Ð(4)€Can€a€married€person€be€guilty€of€fornication?Ô#†X·XX#X·;:#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€(5)€Is€adultery€a€sexual€act€or€a€ceremonial€act?Ô#†X·XX#X·Ä:#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ ˜'H # Ð(6)€What,€if€any,€are€the€scriptural€grounds€for€divorce?€(7)€Does€unmarried€mean€separated,€but€notÐ „(4!$ Ðdivorced?€(8)€Is€desertion€a€scriptural€ground€for€divorce?€Ô#†X·XX#X·8;#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô(9)€Are€all€divorces€absolutely€prohibited?Ð p) "% Ð(10)€Is€divorce€always€wrong?€Ô#†X·XX#X·D<#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô(11)€Is€divorce€always€a€sin€for€all€parties€to€the€divorce?€Ô#†X·XX#X·ä<#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô(12)€UnderÐ \* #& Ðwhat€circumstances€is€a€divorce€scriptural?Ô#†X·XX#X·c=#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€(13)€Is€divorce€an€unforgivable€sin?Ô#†X·XX#X·ï=#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô.€(14)€If€a€person€getsÐ H+ø#' Ðdivorced€can€they€remarry?Ô#†X·XX#X·V>#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€(15)€If€a€divorced€person€gets€remarried€are€they€in€perpetual€adultery?Ô#†X·XX#X·Þ>#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ 4,ä$( Ð(16)€Should€a€person€who€has€been€guilty€of€an€unscriptural€divorce€put€away€(divorce)€their€currentÐ P Ðspouse€and€reunite€with€their€former€spouse?Ô#†X·XX#X·i?#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€(17)€Can€you€be€married€to€someone€and€them€not€beÐ <ì Ðyour€spouse?€Now€letððs€turn€to€the€definition€of€some€terms?Ð ( Ø ÐÌò òÓ  ÓDEFINITIONS€AND€DESCRIPTIONS€OF€TERMSó óÐ  ° ÐÓ$AÓÌÔ#†X·XX#X·e@#Ôà  àSome€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€churches€believe€that€the€only€scriptural€grounds€for€divorceÐ Ø ˆ Ðis€adultery€while€other€churches€believe€that€adultery€and€desertion€are€scriptural€grounds€forÐ Ä t Ðdivorce.€€Some€Baptist€churches€teach€that€there€are€no€scriptural€grounds€for€divorce.€SomeÐ °` Ðfundamentalist€and€Baptist€churches€believe€that€if€a€divorced€person€ever€remarries€they€are€livingÐ œL  Ðin€perpetual€adultery.€Some€Baptist€churches€will€not€allow€a€divorced€man€to€testify€of€his€salvationÐ ˆ8  Ðin€church€services.€There€are€even€some€Baptist€churches€that€will€not€allow€a€divorced€man€orÐ t$  Ðwoman€to€be€a€member€of€THEIR€church.€Some€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€Bible€schools,€pastors,Ð `  Ðand€evangelists€teach€that€a€married€person€cannot€be€guilty€of€fornication.€Many€fundamentalist€andÐ Lü  ÐBaptist€Bible€schools,€pastors,€preachers,€and€evangelists€believe€that€both€parties€to€a€divorce€areÐ 8è  Ðguilty€of€sin.€Some€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€preachers€teach€and€preach€that€it€is€heresy€to€stateÐ $Ô  Ðthat€the€sexual€act€constitutes€a€scriptural€marriage€(God€says€that€a€man€and€a€woman€becomeÐ À Ðhusband€and€wife€when€they€become€one€flesh€in€the€sexual€act.€There€is€no€scriptural€requirementÐ ü¬ Ðfor€a€ceremony.€There€is€no€requirement€for€a€marriage€license.€There€is€no€requirement€either€in€theÐ è˜ ÐOld€Testament€or€the€New€Testament€for€a€religious€official€such€as€a€priest,€a€pastor,€or€a€preacherÐ Ô„ Ðto€perform€a€ceremony).€€We€are€NOT€stating€here€that€we€believe€that€marriage€is€nothing€more€thanÐ Àp Ða€sexual€relationship,€but€we€are€saying€that€a€sexual€relationship€establishes€a€covenant€that€Ð ¬\ Ðimposes€upon€a€couple€the€obligation€to€enter€into€a€permanent€scriptural€relationship€as€husbandÐ ˜H Ðand€wife.€When€they€do€not,€or€cannot€enter€into€a€permanent€husband€and€wife€relationship,€theyÐ „4 Ðare€both€guilty€of€fornication€even€if€one€or€both€of€them€is€married.€If€one€or€both€of€them€isÐ p  Ðmarried,€but€not€to€each€other,€then€the€act€of€fornication€becomes€the€crime€of€adultery.€SomeÐ \  Ðfundamentalist€and€Baptist€Bible€schools,€pastors,€preachers,€and€evangelists€teach€that€it€is€not€theÐ Hø Ðsexual€act€that€constitutes€adultery,€but€that€it€is€the€marriage€ceremony€itself€that€constitutesÐ 4 ä Ðadultery.šÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€We€address€these€and€other€issues€in€the€discussion€that€follows.Ð  !Ð ÐÌò òà@»»&ìàòòADULTERYóóó óˆÐ ø"¨ ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·âK#Ôà  àUnder€the€Old€Testament€law,€a€man€could€not€be€guilty€of€adultery€unless€he€had€sex€withÐ Ð$€  Ða€woman€that€was€married€to€another€man.€What€that€means€is€that€if€he€had€sex€with€an€unmarriedÐ ¼%l! Ðwoman,€he€was€not€guilty€of€adultery€even€if€he€had€a€wife.€However,€if€he€laid€with€an€unmarriedÐ ¨&X" Ðwomen,€he€was€under€the€obligation€to€take€care€of€her€as€a€wife.€Perhaps€that€is€why€so€many€of€theÐ ”'D # Ðkings€of€Judah€and€Israel€had€so€many€wives.€Under€that€same€law,€an€unmarried€man€could€be€guiltyÐ €(0!$ Ðof€both€fornication€and€adultery€if€he€had€sex€with€another€manððs€wife.Ô‡X·XXX·Ô€The€following€definition€forÐ l)"% Ðadultery€is€from€the€Oxford€English€Dictionary:Ð X*#& ÐÌà8  àòòò òAdulteryóó:ó ó€Violation€of€the€marriage€bed€;€the€voluntary€sexual€intercourse€of€aÐ 0,à$( Ðmarried€person€with€one€of€the€opposite€sex,€whether€unmarried,€or€married€toÐ P Ðanother€(the€former€case€being€technically€designated€single,€the€latter€doubleÐ <ì Ðadultery).€[Oxford€English€Dictionary]Ô#†X·XXX·XO#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·ÔÐ( ØÐ Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X·XXX·yQ#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ôà  àIn€1388,€the€Wycliffe€translation€of€€Jeremiah€3:9€read€as€follows:€€Ð  ° ÐÌà8  àð ðBi€ligtnesse€of€hir€fornicacioun€sche€defoulide€the€erthe,€and€dide€auowtrie€with€aÐ Ø ˆ Ðstoon,€and€with€a€tree.ððÔ#†X·XXX·ÛQ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Ô#†X·XX#X·S#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ô[Oxford€English€Dictionary]Ô#†X·XXX·ZS#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐÄ tÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àLet€us€put€the€above€sentence€into€Modern€English:€By€lightness€of€her€fornication€sheÐ œL  Ðdefiled€the€earth,€and€did€adultery€with€a€stone,€and€with€a€tree.€What€this€dictionary€definition€andÐ ˆ8  Ðcontextual€definition€tells€us€is€that€adultery€is€considered€to€be€an€act€of€fornication.€WycliffeððsÐ t$  Ðtranslation€of€Jeremiah€3:9€gives€us€our€contextual€definition.€You€will€see€the€definition€of€adulteryÐ `  Ðrepeated€several€times€in€this€book€Ô#†X·XX#X··S#ÔAdultery€is€usually€defined€as€a€voluntary€sexual€act€committedÐ Lü  Ðbetween€two€people€who€are€not€married€to€each€other,€but€at€least€one€of€whom€is€a€married€person.Ð 8è  ÐBoth€parties€to€this€sin€are€said€to€be€committing€adultery,€even€the€unmarried€party.šÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€If€both€partiesÐ $Ô  Ðare€married,€but€not€to€each€another,€then€double€adultery€is€involved.€Regardless€of€the€maritalÐ À Ðstatus€of€the€individuals€involved,€all€are€guilty€of€fornication.€Adultery€is€a€special€class€ofÐ ü¬ Ðfornication€committed€by€married€persons.€In€the€Scriptures,€adultery€is€never€based€upon€aÐ è˜ Ðceremony.€Adultery€is€always€based€upon€a€sexual€act.€The€BibleÔ#†X·XX#X·KW#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€nowhere€states€or€implies€that€aÐ Ô„ Ðceremony€must€take€place€in€order€for€a€marriage€to€be€scripturally€valid€and€binding.Ô#†X·XX#X·MY#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€You€canÐ Àp Ðperform€all€the€ceremonies€you€want€to,€but€until€a€sexual€act€takes€place€there€is€no€scripturalÐ ¬\ Ðmarriage.€In€quoting€and€refuting€Brother€Stinnett€Ballew,€Brother€Karl€Baker€has€this€to€say:Ð ˜H ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Z#Ôà ` àð ðKarl€Baker€quotes€Stinnett€Ballew€as€saying:€ð ðVery€plainly,€it€is€the€marryingÐ p  Ðanother€that€is€adultery,€not€the€living€together.€It€is€not€the€sex€act€in€the€secondÐ \  Ðmarriage,€but€the€second€marriage€itself.€If€it€were€the€sex€act,€which€was€theÐ Hø Ðadultery,€then,€a€person€that€is€too€old€or€physically€unable€to€function€sexually€couldÐ 4 ä Ðdivorce€and€remarry€many€times€without€committing€adultery.€Again€I€emphasize€theÐ  !Ð Ðadultery€is€a€second€marriage€itself.ðð...Using€Dr.€Ballewððs€definitions€would€run€youÐ  "¼ Ðinto€some€serious€problems€when€it€came€to€teaching€about€Davidððs€sins€of€2€SamuelÐ ø"¨ Ð11€and€12.€You€canððt€have€David€committing€adultery€when€he€went€into€UriahððsÐ ä#” Ðwife€in€chapter€11:4€because€he€didnððt€have€a€ceremony,€in€fact,€according€to€Dr.Ð Ð$€  ÐBallewððs€definition,€David€never€did€commit€adultery,€because€when€David€didÐ ¼%l! Ðmarry€Bathsheba€in€11:27,€Uriah€was€already€dead,€verse€26!€David€couldnððt€haveÐ ¨&X" Ðcommitted€fornication€because€he€wasnððt€having€sex€before€marriage,€so€I€guess€theÐ ”'D # Ðonly€sin€David€really€committed€was€killing€Uriah!ðð€ò òšó ó[The€Marriage€&€DivorceÐ €(0!$ ÐControversy,€Karl€Baker,€pages€103„104]Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔÐl)"%Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àWe€could€not€have€said€it€better.Ô#†X·XX#X·ù`#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€The€words€ð ðadulteryðð€and€ð ðadulteriesðð€occur€a€total€of€45Ð D+ô#' Ðtimes€in€our€King€James€Bibles:€20€times€in€the€Old€Testament€and€25€times€in€the€New€Testament.Ð 0,à$( ÐIn€the€Old€Testament,€the€words€are€used€of€physical€adultery€but€five€times€with€the€remaining€15Ð P Ðtimes€used€of€spiritual€adultery€against€God.€In€the€New€Testament,€the€word€adultery€is€used€23Ð <ì Ðtimes€of€a€physical€act€of€adultery€with€the€remaining€2€times€used€of€idolatry.€Only€three€differentÐ ( Ø Ðincidents€of€physical€adultery€are€recorded€in€the€whole€Bible.€In€neither€of€those€three€incidents,€isÐ  Ä Ðthe€word€adultery€used.€The€first€act€of€adultery€recorded€in€the€Bible€took€place€when€Reuben€ð ðlayÐ  ° Ðwithðð€his€fatherððs€wife,€Bilhah,€in€Genesis€35:22.€The€next€act€of€adultery€is€recorded€when€DavidÐ ì œ Ðcommitted€adultery€with€Uriah€the€Hittiteððs€wife€Bathsheba€when€ð ðhe€lay€with€herðð€in€2€SamuelÐ Ø ˆ Ð11:3„4.€The€last€recorded€act€of€adultery€is€by€an€unnamed€son€who€ð ðhad€his€fatherððs€wifeðð€in€1Ð Ä t ÐCorinthians€5:1.€€Below,€we€quote€all€those€passages€of€Scripture€we€have€referenced€in€thisÐ °` Ðparagraph:Ð œL  ÐÌà8  àÔˆ8 t$ ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·ˆa#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔGenesis€35:22Ј8 Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔˆ8 t$ ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô22ÔUS.,UK.,gÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€it€came€to€pass,€when€Israel€dwelt€in€that€land,€that€Reuben€went€and€lay€withÐ ˆ8  ÐBilhah€his€fatherððs€concubine:€and€Israel€heard€ÔUS.,UK.,¾gÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔitÔUS.,UK.,ˆhÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô.€Now€the€sons€of€Jacob€wereÐ t$  Ðtwelve:€ÔUS.,UK.,¹hÔÐ` Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·g#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àExodus€20:14€Ð8èÐ Ð  Ðà8  à14€Thou€shalt€not€commit€adultery.Ð$ÔÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·`i#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLeviticus€20:10€Ðü¬Ð Ð  Ðà8  à10€And€the€man€that€committeth€adultery€withòò€anotheróó€manððs€wife,òò€even€heóó€thatÐ è˜ Ðcommitteth€adultery€with€his€neighbourððs€wife,€the€adulterer€and€the€adulteress€shallÐ Ô„ Ðsurely€be€put€to€death.ÐÀpÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·yj#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔDeuteronomy€5:18€Ð˜HÐ Ð  Ðà8  à18€Neither€shalt€thou€commit€adultery.Є4Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔp \ ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·9l#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔDeuteronomy€22:22Ðp Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔp! \! ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô22ÔUS.,UK.,‘mÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€If€a€man€be€found€lying€with€a€woman€married€to€an€husband,€then€they€shall€bothÐ p!  Ðof€them€die,€ÔUS.,UK.,ÂmÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔbothÔUS.,UK.,dnÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€the€man€that€lay€with€the€woman,€and€the€woman:€so€shalt€thou€putÐ \"  Ðaway€evil€from€Israel.€ÔUS.,UK.,—nÔÐH#øÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ4%ä %ÐÔÔ#†X·XX#X·m#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô2€Samuel€11:3„4Ð4%ä Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ4&ä &ÐÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô3ÔUS.,UK.,pÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€David€sent€and€enquired€after€the€woman.€And€ÔUS.,UK.,6pÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔoneÔUS.,UK.,—pÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€said,€ÔUS.,UK.,ÉpÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔIsÔUS.,UK.,ÿpÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€not€this€Bathsheba,Ð 4&ä! Ðthe€daughter€of€Eliam,€the€wife€of€Uriah€the€Hittite?€ÔUS.,UK.,0qÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô4ÔUS.,UK.,¾qÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€David€sent€messengers,Ð  'Ð" Ðand€took€her;€and€she€came€in€unto€him,€and€he€lay€with€her;€for€she€was€purifiedÐ  (¼ # Ðfrom€her€uncleanness:€and€she€returned€unto€her€house.€ÔUS.,UK.,îqÔÔ#†X·XX#X·•o#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐø(¨!$Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X· s#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ks#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔProverbs€6:32„33€ÐÐ*€#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  à32€òòBut€óówhoso€committeth€adultery€with€a€woman€lacketh€understanding:€he€thatÐ ¼+l$' ÐÑ|OYÑâ |âÑ°°Ñâ |âÑ  Ñdoeth€it€destroyeth€his€own€soul.€33€A€wound€and€dishonour€shall€he€get;€and€hisÐ P Ðreproach€shall€not€be€wiped€away.Ð<ìÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àEzekiel€16:32€Ð ÄÐ Ð  Ðà8  à3€òòBut€as€óóa€wife€that€committeth€adultery,€òòwhichóó€taketh€strangers€instead€of€herÐ  ° Ðhusband!Ô#†X·XX#X·ºs#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐì œÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Gv#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·´v#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMatthew€19:9€ÐÄ tÐ Ð  Ðà8  à9€And€I€say€unto€you,€Whosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,€exceptòò€it€beóó€for€fornication,Ð °` Ðand€shall€marry€another,€committeth€adultery:€and€whoso€marrieth€her€which€is€putÐ œL  Ðaway€doth€commit€adultery.Ј8 Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·-w#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMark€10:11„12€Ð` Ð Ð  Ðà8  à11€And€he€saith€unto€them,€Whosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,€and€marry€another,Ð Lü  Ðcommitteth€adultery€against€her.€12€And€if€a€woman€shall€put€away€her€husband,€andÐ 8è  Ðbe€married€to€another,€she€committeth€adultery.Ð$Ô Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·æx#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLuke€16:18€Ðü¬Ð Ð  Ðà8  à18€Whosoever€putteth€away€his€wife,€and€marrieth€another,€committeth€adultery:€andÐ è˜ Ðwhosoever€marrieth€her€that€is€put€away€fromòò€heróó€husband€committeth€adultery.ÐÔ„Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ªz#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔJohn€8:3„5€Ð¬\Ð Ð  Ðà8  à3€And€the€scribes€and€Pharisees€brought€unto€him€a€woman€taken€in€adultery;€andÐ ˜H Ðwhen€they€had€set€her€in€the€midst,€4€They€say€unto€him,€Master,€this€woman€wasÐ „4 Ðtaken€in€adultery,€in€the€very€act.€5€Now€Moses€in€the€law€commanded€us,€that€suchÐ p  Ðshould€be€stoned:€but€what€sayest€thou?Ð\ Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔH ø4 äÔÔ#†X·XX#X·*|#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€5:1ÐH øÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÔH!ø4!äÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô1ÔUS.,UK.,¬~ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€It€is€reported€commonly€ÔUS.,UK.,Ü~ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôthat€there€isÔUS.,UK.,$ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€fornication€among€you,€and€such€fornicationÐ H!ø Ðas€is€not€so€much€as€named€among€the€Gentiles,€that€one€should€have€his€fatherððsÐ 4"ä Ðwife.€ÔUS.,UK.,`ÔÐ #ÐÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·9~#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àHebrews€13:4€Ðø$¨ Ð Ð  Ðà8  à4€Marriageòò€isóó€honourable€in€all,€and€the€bed€undefiled:€but€whoremongers€andÐ ä%”! Ðadulterers€God€will€judge.Ô#†X·XX#X·}€#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐÐ&€"Ð Ð  ÐÌWe€deal€in€great€depth€with€these€Scriptures€that€relate€to€adultery€in€the€section€describing€adulteryÐ ¨(X!$ Ðas€scriptural€grounds€for€divorce.€Our€next€term€we€describe€is€fornication.Ô#†X·XX#X·§#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ ”)D"% ÐÌÐ l+$' Їò òà@%ìàòòFORNICATIONóóó óˆÐ P ÐÌà  àThe€Oxford€English€Dictionary€definition€of€fornication€is:Ð ( Ø ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Ñ‚#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ôòòò òFornicationóó:ó ó€Voluntary€sexual€intercourse€between€a€man€(in€restricted€use,€anÐ  ° Ðunmarried€man)€and€an€unmarried€woman.€In€Scripture€extended€to€adultery.€[OxfordÐ ð   ÐEnglish€Dictionary]ÐÜ ŒÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€a€1450€A.D.€document€called€the€Knights€de€la€Tour€a€phrase€in€that€document€with€aÐ ´d Ðreference€to€Bathsheba€had€this€to€say:€Ð  P  ÐÌà8  àð ðKing€David...felle€into€avowtry€and€fornicacion€with€herðð.€Ðx( Ð Ð  Ðà8  à[Cited€from€Oxford€English€Dictionary€under€the€entry€for€òòò òfornicationóó€ó óand€fromÐ d  ÐKnights€de€la€Tour.]Ô#†X·XXX·èƒ#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·ÔÐT Ð Ð  ÐÌð ðAvowtryðð€is€Middle€English€for€adultery€and€ð ðfornicacionðð€is€Middle€English€forš€fornication.Ô#†X·XXX·ã†#Ô€WhatÐ ,Ü  Ðthe€dictionary€definition€and€the€contextual€definition€is€telling€us€is€that€adultery€is€an€act€ofÐ È Ðfornication.€The€only€time€fornication€is€called€ð ðuncleanlinessðð€in€the€Bible€is€in€Numbers€5:19Ð ´ Ðwhere€it€is€describing€the€fornication/adultery€of€a€wife€after€a€couple€is€married.€We€deal€with€that€Ð ð  Ðunder€the€definition€of€ð ðuncleannessðð€below.€Concerning€the€definition€of€what€fornication€is€BrotherÐ ÜŒ ÐHarold€Sightler€had€this€to€say:Ð Èx ÐÌà8  àÔ‡X·XXX·Ôà ` àð ðNow,€what€is€fornication?€Certainly,€it€is€reasonable€for€us€to€desire€to€knowÐ  P Ðjust€what€this€sin€is.€From€the€usage€of€the€word€in€the€New€Testament€there€can€beÐ Œ< Ðlittle€doubt€but€that€it€is€the€word€for€sexual€intercourse€of€unmarried€persons.€TheÐ x( ÐOld€Testament€word€for€the€same€sin€is€ð ðuncleannessðð€as€used€in€DeuteronomyÐ d Ð24:1.ðð€(Page€6,€Divorce€and€Remarriage,€Harold€B.€SightlerÔ#†X·XXX·ú‰#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ô)ò òšó óÔ#†X·XXX·$Œ#ÔÐPÐ Ð  ÐÌÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà  àBrother€Sightlerððs€definition€is€wrong.€We€would€agree€that€one€of€the€Old€Testament€wordsÐ (!Ø Ðused€for€fornication€is€uncleanness,€but€it€is€not€in€Deuteronomy€24:1.€The€only€time€in€the€OldÐ "Ä ÐTestament€that€uncleanness€is€used€of€fornication€is€in€Numbers€5:19€where€it€is€used€to€describe€aÐ #° Ðpossible€case€of€adultery.€Some€Old€Testament€words€and€phrases€that€are€used€to€refer€to€fornicationÐ ì#œ Ðare€ð ðadulteryðð,€ð ðuncover€the€nakednessðð,€ð ðgo€in€untoðð,€ð ðlie€withðð,€ð ðlie€carnally€withðð,€ð ðplay€theÐ Ø$ˆ  Ðharlotðð,€ð ðplaying€the€whoreðð,€ð ðgo€a€whoringðð,€ð ðprostituteðð,€ð ðsodomyðð,€ð ðsodomiteðð,€and€so€forth.€AÐ Ä%t! Ðproper€definition€of€the€word€fornication€would€include€any€perverted€or€illicit€sexual€relationshipÐ °&`" Ðbetween€two€individuals€that€are€not€married€to€each€other.€That€would€properly€put€sodomy,Ð œ'L # Ðadultery,€premarital€sex,€child€molestation,€beastiality,€and€pornography€under€the€umbrella€ofÐ ˆ(8!$ Ðfornication€because€that€is€the€way€it€is€used€in€the€New€Testament.€Do€you€think€for€a€moment€thatÐ t)$"% Ðthose€same€sort€of€actions€would€not€have€ended€a€marriage€in€the€Old€Testament€and€that€by€stoningÐ `*#& Ðto€death?!€€In€the€Old€Testament,€the€penalty€was€stoning€to€death€and€in€the€New€Testament€theÐ L+ü#' Ðpenalty€is€divorce.€Fornication€is€never€used€of€a€sexual€act€in€the€Old€Testament.€It€is€always€usedÐ 8,è$( Ðof€a€spiritual€act€that€is€committed€with€idolsÔ#†X·XX#X·ŽŒ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô.€The€fornication€of€Matthew€19:9€is€not€the€uncleannessÐ P Ðof€Deuteronomy€24:1€because€the€penalty€for€fornication€in€the€Old€Testament€was€death€and€not€theÐ <ì Ðputting€away€of€divorce€allowed€in€Deuteronomy€24:1.€We€discuss€this€issue€in€some€length€laterÐ ( Ø Ðon.€Adultery€and€other€unlawful€sexual€activity€between€a€man€and€a€woman€in€the€Old€TestamentÐ  Ä Ðwas€dealt€with€according€to€the€law€of€Leviticus€20:10€and€Deuteronomy€22:12„30€and€in€most€casesÐ  ° Ðrequired€the€death€penalty.€The€exception€to€this€rule€was€Deuteronomy€22:28„29€where€if€anÐ ì œ Ðunmarried€man€and€woman€were€found€lying€together€they€were€forced€to€become€husband€and€wifeÐ Ø ˆ Ðand€the€man€had€to€give€the€womanððs€father€50€shekels€of€silver.€Fornication€can€best€be€defined€asÐ Ä t Ðany€illicit€sexual€activity€outside€of€the€scripturally€established€confines€of€marriage.Ô#†X·XX#X·M“#Ô€Speaking€of€thisÐ °` Ðword€Karl€Baker€had€the€following€to€say:Ð œL  ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðò òšó óIn€talking€of€Stinnett€Ballew€he€says:€he€further€states€that€fornication€isÐ t$  Ðcommonly€accepted€to€mean€sexual€involvement€before€marriage;€and€the€only€placeÐ `  ÐMoses€mentions€divorcement€is€Deuteronomy€24:1„4.€He€uses€Jesusðð€remarks€inÐ Lü  ÐMatthew€19:9€as€a€pretext€for€this€conclusion,€consequently,€interpreting€theÐ 8è  Ðuncleanliness€of€Deuteronomy€24€to€be€the€fornication€of€Matthew€19.€In€all€theseÐ $Ô  Ðpoints,€Dr.€Ballew€is€totally€and€scripturally€wrong.€In€fact,€we€might€as€well€throwÐ À Ðin€Dr.€Ballewððs€previous€paragraph€where€he€accused€the€Pharisees€of€twisting€theÐ ü¬ ÐScriptures€by€asking€why€Moses€would€command€to€give€a€writing€of€divorcementÐ è˜ Ðand€put€her€away,€when€Jesus€said€Moses€suffered€them€to€put€away€their€wives€toÐ Ô„ Ðshow€it€was€an€optional€decree€not€an€original€design.€Dr.€Ballew€is€wrong€in€thatÐ Àp Ðstatement,€as€well.€Moses€did€command€to€give€her€a€writing€of€divorcement€ð!ð€readÐ ¬\ ÐDeuteronomy€24:1.€The€bill€of€divorcement€had€to€be€given€to€her€or€she€would€beÐ ˜H Ðcalled€an€ADULTERESS€(Romans€7:1„3).€Anybody€knows€that€who€knows€the€law!Ð „4 ÐA€woman€could€marry€another€man€under€the€law€by€either€death€or€divorcement,€butÐ p  Ðif€it€was€by€divorcement;€she€had€to€have€proof€or€she€would€be€stoned€(LeviticusÐ \  Ð20:10).€The€good€doctor€forgot€to€study€Scripture€with€Scripture€before€he€made€suchÐ Hø Ða€statement,€for€if€he€had€checked€the€cross„reference€of€Matthew€19€in€his€centerÐ 4 ä Ðreference€Bible,€it€would€have€taken€him€to€Mark€10:2„4€where€it€is€Jesus€who€askedÐ  !Ð Ðwhat€did€Moses€command€you,€and€itððs€the€Pharisees€who€replied€Moses€suffered€usÐ  "¼ Ðto€write€a€bill€of€divorcement.€Kind€of€messes€up€his€accusation€a€little,€doesnððt€it?Ð ø"¨ ÐOne€thing€is€for€sure,€contrary€to€Dr.€Ballewððs€assumption,€Jesus€was€not€interpretingÐ ä#” Ðthe€uncleanliness€of€Deuteronomy€24:1€to€be€fornication€as€a€sex€act€committedÐ Ð$€  Ðbefore€marriage.€All€we€have€to€do€is€go€to€Deuteronomy€22....€Look€at€DeuteronomyÐ ¼%l! Ð22€and€see€if€it€does€not€wash€away€Dr.€Ballewððs€foundation€of€sand,€(theÐ ¨&X" Ðuncleanliness€of€Deuteronomy€24€is€fornication€before€marriage)....ððš[The€MarriageÐ ”'D # Ð&€Divorce€Controversy,€Karl€Baker,€pages€80„81]Ѐ(0!$Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðJesus€said€except€it€be€for€fornication.€You€have€no€right€to€corrupt€the€wordÐ X*#& Ðof€God€by€saying€it€is€an€act€before€you€get€married€when€all€the€evidence€points€toÐ D+ô#' Ðany€time€a€man€or€woman€is€unfaithful€to€their€marriage€vows,€the€offended€party€hasÐ 0,à$( Ða€right€to€seek€a€divorce€if€they€cannot€live€with€it.€God€did€it€any€Ezekiel€16€andÐ P ÐJeremiah€3.€If€the€offended€party€decides€to€remarry,€they€have€not€sinned!€JesusÐ <ì Ðmade€the€allowance!€You€have€no€right€to€condemn€what€God€allows.ððò òšó óÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Ô#†X·XX#X·¥¤#Ô[TheÐ ( Ø ÐMarriage€&€Divorce€Controversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€100]Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ ÄÐ Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·6¥#Ôò òšó óÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔBrother€Karl€Bakerððs€point€is€well€taken€that€the€uncleanness€of€Deuteronomy€24€is€not€theÐ ì œ Ðfornication€of€Matthew€19:9.€We€deal€with€that€issue€several€times€in€this€chapter.€One€could€ask€atÐ Ø ˆ Ðwhat€point€does€adultery€become€fornication.Ô#†X·XX#X·Ÿ¥#Ôò òšó óÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ÿ¦#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Ä t ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·M§#Ôà  àA€woman€is€guilty€of€being€a€whore€and€a€harlot€when€she€commits€her€first€act€of€fornicationÐ °` Ðand/or€adultery.€A€man€is€guilty€of€being€a€whoremonger€when€he€commits€his€first€act€of€fornicationÐ œL  Ðand/or€adultery.€What€that€means€is€that€if€you€come€together€sexually€with€multiple€partners,€thenÐ ˆ8  Ðyou€have€had,€or€do€have,€multiple€(living)€spouses.€Many€pastors€scream€against€acts€of€fornicationÐ t$  Ðbeing€called€marriages€because€they€and€many€of€their€deacons€are€guilty€of€premarital€sex€and/orÐ `  Ðadultery€after€their€marriages.€The€act€of€adultery€also€constitutes€an€act€of€fornication.€If€the€sexualÐ Lü  Ðact(s)€constitute€a€marriage€(and€it€does),€then€they€are€guilty€of€having€multiple€wives€which€by€theirÐ 8è  Ðown€twisted€interpretation€and€application€would€permanently€disqualify€them€from€the€ministry.Ð $Ô  ÐAgain,€the€Holy€Ghost€plainly€states€in€1€Corinthians€6:16€that€when€a€man€joins€himself€unto€anÐ À Ðharlot€that€they€become€one€flesh.€That€is€the€definition€of€a€scriptural€marriage.€Some€of€the€menÐ ü¬ Ðwe€are€talking€about€were€guilty€of€fornication€before€they€were€saved€and€some€of€them€were€guiltyÐ è˜ Ðof€fornication€after€they€were€saved.€God€does€not€give€a€different€set€of€qualifications€for€theÐ Ô„ Ðministry€based€upon€whether€a€man€was€saved€or€lost.€Many€self„righteous,€once„married€peacocksÐ Àp Ðtake€what€they€consider€to€be€the€ð ðsafeðð€route€by€not€allowing€anyone€who€has€ever€been€divorced,Ð ¬\ Ðsaved€or€lost,€to€enter€into€the€ministry.€While€we€partially€agree€with€that€interpretation€thatÐ ˜H Ðsalvation€is€not€the€issue,€we€totally€disagree€that€divorce€is€the€disqualifying€issue.€The€issue€is€howÐ „4 Ðmany€scriptural€wives€does€a€man€have€in€the€present€tense.€Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔWhat€that€means€is€if€a€man€has€a€formerÐ p  Ðwife€that€he€has€been€scripturally€divorced€from,€that€she€is€no€longer€counted€as€a€wife.€If€theÐ \  Ðdivorced€man€did€not€remarry,€he€does€not€have€a€wife.€If€he€remarried,€then€he€has€only€one€wife.Ð Hø ÐThe€same€reasoning€applies€to€a€widower.Ð 4 ä ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·l¯#Ôà  àFor€those€who€say€that€a€married€person€cannot€fornicate€you€need€to€reread€Matthew€19:9Ð  !Ð Ðwhere€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€uses€both€the€word€ð ðadulteryðð€and€the€word€ð ðfornicationðð.€You€also€needÐ  "¼ Ðto€read€Ezekiel€16€where€adultery€is€equated€with€fornication€at€least€three€times.€For€those€of€youÐ ø"¨ Ðwho€like€running€to€ð ðthe€Greekðð€you€also€need€to€know€that€we€know€that€two€entirely€differentÐ ä#” ÐGreek€words€are€used€for€fornication€and€adultery€in€Matthew€19:9.Ô‡#X·XXX·Ô€Many€fundamentalists€claim€toÐ Ð$€  Ðlove€the€King€James€Bible€until€you€challenge€their€doctrine.€Then€they€like€to€run€to€ð ðthe€GreekððÐ ¼%l! Ðand€that€is€especially€true€in€interpreting€1€Timothy€3:2.€We€do€not€speak€Greek€and€if€we€did,€weÐ ¨&X" Ðwould€still€use€the€King€James€Bible.Ô¨'X ”'D ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·F³#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€òòóóÔUKUS.,Ôð ðYet€in€the€church€I€had€rather€speak€five€words€with€myÐ ¨'X # Ðunderstanding,€that€ÔUS.,UK.,µÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôby€my€voiceÔUS.,UK.,¢µÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€I€might€teach€others€also,€than€ten€thousand€words€in€an€ÔUS.,UK.,ܵÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔunknownÔUS.,UK.,E¶ÔóóÔUKUS.,ÔÐ ”(D!$ Ðtongueðð(ÔUS.,UK.,{¶Ô1€Corinthians€14:19ÔUKUS.,ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·é´#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô).€ÔUS.,UK.,Ú¶ÔGreek€is€an€unknown€tongue€in€an€English€speaking€congregation.Ð €)0"% ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X··#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ X+$' Ðò òà@%ìàòòUNCLEANNESSó óóóˆÐ P ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·÷#Ôà  àIt€is€sometimes€difficult€to€determine€the€exact€definition€of€the€word€uncleanness€becauseÐ ( Ø Ðit€is€used€in€so€many€different€ways€in€the€Old€Testament€to€describe€such€things€as€ceremonialÐ  Ä Ðuncleanness,€religious€uncleanness,€unlawful€sexual€activity,€a€womanððs€menstrual€cycle,€anyÐ  ° Ðdischarge€of€waste€from€the€human€body,€dead€human€bodies,€leprosy,€the€touching€of€dead€animals,Ð ì œ Ðthe€consumption€of€certain€unclean€animals,€and€so€forth.€In€the€New€Testament,€the€wordÐ Ø ˆ Ðð ðuncleannessðð€is€also€used€in€a€number€of€different€ways€that€fall€into€two€different€categories:Ð Ä t Ðspiritual€uncleanness€and€sexual€uncleanness.€Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔThe€Oxford€English€Dictionary€definition€ofÐ °` Ðuncleanness€is:Ô#†X·XX#X·K»#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ œL  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Ü»#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ôð ðLack€of€moral€cleanness€;€moral€impurity.ððÔ#†X·XXX·@¼#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€[Oxford€English€Dictionary]Ðt$ Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·³¼#Ôà  àIn€a€1603€Shakespeare€work€called€ð ðMeasure€For€Measureðð,€we€have€the€followingÐ Lü  Ðcontextual€definition€for€uncleanness:Ð 8è  ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðMarry€sir,€by€my€wife,€who,€if€she€had€bin€a€woman€Cardinally€giuen,€mightÐ À Ðhaue€bin€accus'd€in€€fornication,€adultery,€and€all€vncleanlinesse€there.ðð€[Cited€fromÐ ü¬ Ðthe€Oxford€English€Dictionary€and€Shakespeareððs€1603€work€ð ðMeasure€For€Measure]Ðè˜Ð Ð  ÐÌTo€put€this€phrase€in€todayððs€English€it€would€say:€ð ðMarry€sir,€by€my€wife,€who,€if€she€had€been€aÐ Àp Ðwoman€Cardinally€given,€might€have€been€accused€in€€fornication,€adultery,€and€all€uncleannessÐ ¬\ Ðthereðð.€Notice€in€this€definition€that€the€words€fornication€AND€adultery€are€equated€with€allÐ ˜H Ðuncleanness.€That€is€the€same€sense€that€it€is€used€in€the€Old€Testament€in€Numbers€chapter€5.Ð „4 ÐNumbers€chapter€5€verses€12,€13,€and€19€state:Ð p  ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔNumbers€5:12„13ÐHøÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô12ÔUS.,UK.,ÅÁÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Speak€unto€the€children€of€Israel,€and€say€unto€them,€If€any€manððs€wife€go€aside,Ð 4 ä Ðand€commit€a€trespass€against€him,€ÔUS.,UK.,öÁÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô13ÔUS.,UK.,²ÂÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€a€man€lie€with€her€carnally,€and€it€be€hidÐ  !Ð Ðfrom€the€eyes€of€her€husband,€and€be€kept€close,€and€she€be€defiled,€and€ÔUS.,UK.,ãÂÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôthere€beÔUS.,UK.,ŸÃÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€noÐ  "¼ Ðwitness€against€her,€neither€she€be€taken€ÔUS.,UK.,ÖÃÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôwith€the€mannerÔUS.,UK.,GÄÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô;€ÔUS.,UK.,…ÄÔÔ#†X·XX#X·iÁ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐø"¨Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ÖÄ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔNumbers€5:19€ÐÐ$€ Ð Ð  Ðà8  à19€And€the€priest€shall€charge€her€by€an€oath,€and€say€unto€the€woman,€If€no€manÐ ¼%l! Ðhave€lain€with€thee,€and€if€thou€hast€not€gone€aside€to€uncleannessòò€with€anotheróóÐ ¨&X" Ðinstead€of€thy€husband,€be€thou€free€from€this€bitter€water€that€causeth€the€curse:Ô#†X·XX#X·DÅ#ÔД'D #Ð Ð  Ðò òó óÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà  àIf€the€woman€in€Numbers€5€had€actually€been€caught€in€the€act€of€adultery,€then€both€her€andÐ l)"% Ðthe€adulterer€would€have€been€stoned€to€death€as€required€by€Leviticus€20:10.Ô#†X·XX#X·Ç#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Leviticus€20:10€reads:Ð X*#& ÐÌÐ 0,à$( Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·È#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLeviticus€20:10ÐPÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô10ÔUS.,UK.,ÿÈÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€the€man€that€committeth€adultery€with€ÔUS.,UK.,0ÉÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔanotherÔUS.,UK.,ŠÉÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€manððs€wife,€ÔUS.,UK.,ÀÉÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôeven€heÔUS.,UK.,ÿÉÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€thatÐ <ì Ðcommitteth€adultery€with€his€neighbourððs€wife,€the€adulterer€and€the€adulteress€shallÐ ( Ø Ðsurely€be€put€to€death.€ÔUS.,UK.,5ÊÔÐ ÄÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·£È#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌIn€the€context€of€Numbers€5,€€it€is€obvious€that€the€husband€and€the€woman€suspected€of€adultery€orÐ ì œ Ðfornication€had€been€married€for€some€time.€The€woman€is€said€to€have€lain€with€a€man€carnally€inÐ Ø ˆ ÐNumbers€5:13.Verse€13€also€indicates€that€her€adultery€had€not€resulted€in€a€pregnancy.€That€fact€isÐ Ä t Ðrevealed€in€the€phrase€ð ðneither€be€she€taken€with€the€mannerðð.€€In€Numbers€5:19€we€see€thatÐ °` Ðuncleanness€is€equated€with€adultery€and/or€fornication,€but€that€is€not€the€case€in€DeuteronomyÐ œL  Ð24:1„2€where€it€is€stated:ò òÐ ˆ8  ÐÌà8  àó óDeuteronomy€24:1„2€Ð` Ð Ð  Ðà8  à1€When€a€man€hath€taken€a€wife,€and€married€her,€and€it€come€to€pass€that€she€findÐ Lü  Ðno€favour€in€his€eyes,€because€he€hath€found€some€uncleanness€in€her:€then€let€himÐ 8è  Ðwrite€her€a€bill€of€divorcement,€and€giveòò€itóó€in€her€hand,€and€send€her€out€of€his€house.Ð $Ô  Ð2€And€when€she€is€departed€out€of€his€house,€she€may€go€and€be€another€manððsòò€wifeóó.Ô#†X·XX#X·BË#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôò òÐÀÐ Ð  ÐÌó óÔ#†X·XX#X·óÏ#Ôà  àThe€marginal€note€in€the€King€James€Bible€for€Deuteronomy€24:1€sheds€some€light€on€theÐ è˜ Ðinterpretation€of€the€phrase€ð ðfound€some€uncleannessðð.€The€King€James€marginal€note€refers€to€itÐ Ô„ Ðas€a€matter€of€nakedness.€In€other€words,€it€may€have€been€some€defect€that€could€not€be€observedÐ Àp Ðuntil€the€woman€was€naked€in€the€marriage€bed.€It€is€also€possible€that€the€uncleanness€described€inÐ ¬\ ÐDeuteronomy€could€be€a€physical€defect€that€was€not€evident€until€there€was€an€attempt€toÐ ˜H Ðconsummate€the€sexual€relationship€in€the€marriage€bed.€ò òó óIf€the€uncleanness€of€Deuteronomy€24:1„2Ð „4 Ðwere€adultery€then€the€law€of€Leviticus€20:10€and€Deuteronomy€22:13„21€would€apply€which€wouldÐ p  Ðbring€the€death€penalty€and€not€divorce.€Brother€Karl€Baker€had€this€to€say€about€the€uncleannessÐ \  Ðof€Deuteronomy€24:Ð Hø ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðThe€€uncleanliness€of€Deuteronomy€24€is€not€fornication€before€marriage,Ð  !Ð Ðbecause€that€is€covered€in€Deuteronomy€22!€It€is€evident€that€Jesus€cannot€beÐ  "¼ Ðinterpreting€fornication€to€be€the€uncleanliness€of€Deuteronomy€24:1,€because€whenÐ ø"¨ Ða€man€found€his€espoused€wife€had€fornicated€before€marriage,€he€did€not€give€herÐ ä#” Ða€writing€of€divorcement;€rather,€he€took€her€to€the€elders€of€the€city€to€be€proved,Ð Ð$€  Ðand€she€better€have€proof€in€hand€or€she€was€to€be€stoned.€Divorce€for€uncleannessÐ ¼%l! Ðcannot€be€fornication.€It€must€be€something€her€husband€could€not€stand€about€herÐ ¨&X" Ðthat€he€considered€unclean.€Why€do€you€think€the€Pharisees€are€saying€ð ðfor€everyÐ ”'D # Ðcauseðð?€One€more€reason€we€should€know€that€Deuteronomy€24:1€is€not€premaritalÐ €(0!$ Ðsex€is€that€when€the€woman€goes€out€with€her€divorce€papers€she€can€be€anotherÐ l)"% Ðmanððs€wife;€do€you€believe€the€divorce€does€not€state€why€he€put€her€away?Ð X*#& ÐMoreover,€do€you€believe€that€the€second€husband€does€not€know€he€is€not€marryingÐ D+ô#' Ða€virgin?€Also,€does€not€Deuteronomy€24:3€say€that€if€the€latter€husband€hates€her,Ð 0,à$( Ðthat€he€can€divorce€are€also?€Is€the€latter€husband€putting€her€away€for€fornicationÐ P Ðalso?€Why€would€the€first€husband€want€her€back€if€she€were€a€fornicator€in€the€firstÐ <ì Ðplace?ðð€[The€Marriage€&€Divorce€Controversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€83]ò òšó óÐ( ØÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€word€uncleanness€is€used€much€the€same€way€in€the€New€Testament€as€it€is€in€the€OldÐ  ° ÐTestament.€It€is€used€in€both€a€spiritual€sense€and€in€a€sexual€sense.€It€is€used€eight€times€in€relationÐ ì œ Ðto€sexual€uncleanness.€We€will€look€at€Romans€1:24„28,€Galatians€5:19,€and€Colossians3:5€whereÐ Ø ˆ Ðwe€see:Ô‡#X·XXX·Ôà ` àÐ Ä t Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·$Ü#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔRomans€1:24„28€ÐœL Ð Ð  Ðà8  à24€Wherefore€God€also€gave€them€up€to€uncleanness€through€the€lusts€of€their€ownÐ ˆ8  Ðhearts,€to€dishonour€their€own€bodies€between€themselves:€25€Who€changed€the€truthÐ t$  Ðof€God€into€a€lie,€and€worshipped€and€served€the€creature€more€than€the€Creator,€whoÐ `  Ðis€blessed€for€ever.€Amen.€26€For€this€cause€God€gave€them€up€unto€vile€affections:Ð Lü  Ðfor€even€their€women€did€change€the€natural€use€into€that€which€is€against€nature:€27Ð 8è  ÐAnd€likewise€also€the€men,€leaving€the€natural€use€of€the€woman,€burned€in€their€lustÐ $Ô  Ðone€toward€another;€men€with€men€working€that€which€is€unseemly,€and€receivingÐ À Ðin€themselves€that€recompence€of€their€error€which€was€meet.€28€And€even€as€theyÐ ü¬ Ðdid€not€like€to€retain€God€inòò€theiróó€knowledge,€God€gave€them€over€to€a€reprobateÐ è˜ Ðmind,€to€do€those€things€which€are€not€convenient;ÐÔ„Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·¶Ü#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·3á#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔGalatians€5:19€Ð¬\Ð Ð  Ðà8  à19€Now€the€works€of€the€flesh€are€manifest,€which€areòò€theseóó;€Adultery,€fornication,Ð ˜H Ðuncleanness,€lasciviousness,Є4Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·˜á#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Éâ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔColossians€3:5€Ô#†X·XX#X·.ã#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ\ Ð Ð  Ðà8  à5€Ô#†X·XX#X·ã#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMortify€therefore€your€members€which€are€upon€the€earth;€fornication,€uncleanness,Ð Hø Ðinordinate€affection,€evil€concupiscence,€and€covetousness,€which€is€idolatry:Ð4 äÐ Ð  ÐÌIn€all€three€occurrences€of€the€word€ð ðuncleannessðð€in€the€above€Scriptures,€we€can€see€from€theÐ  "¼ Ðcontext€of€the€word€that€it€is€a€reference€to€some€sort€of€sexual€sin.€It€is€not€identified€with€anyÐ ø"¨ Ðparticular€sexual€sin€just€sexual€sin€in€general.€It€obviously€has€more€to€do€with€a€wicked€mind€setÐ ä#” Ðor€tendency€to€commit€sexual€sins.€It€is€used€in€the€context€of€sexual€acts€such€sodomy,€adultery,Ð Ð$€  Ðfornication,€lasciviousness,Ô#†X·XX#X·îã#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€inordinate€affection,€and€evil€concupiscenceÔ#†X·XX#X·ç#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô.€These€are€all€actions€thatÐ ¼%l! Ðlead€to€divorce€and€the€destruction€of€the€God€ordained€institution€of€marriage.€A€more€and€moreÐ ¨&X" Ðfrequent€event€in€our€reprobate€American€society€is€that€of€same€sex,€sodomite€relationshipsÐ ”'D # Ðdestroying€scriptural€marriages.€So,€it€is€a€very€serious€issue€that€must€be€dealt€with.€The€questionÐ €(0!$ Ðthat€must€be€answered€by€those€who€advocate€no€divorce€under€any€circumstance,€no€divorce€exceptÐ l)"% Ðfor€adultery,€and€no€divorce€except€for€fornication€is€what€if€any€scriptural€grounds€exist€for€aÐ X*#& Ðdivorce€when€an€innocent€spouse€has€been€the€victim€of€a€spouse€who€has€been€guilty€of€sodomy,Ð D+ô#' Ðor€pornography,€or€beastiality,€or€child€molestation?€Are€you€actually€going€to€tell€me€that€theÐ 0,à$( Ðexception€clauses€ð ðsaving€for€the€cause€of€fornicationðð€in€Matthew€5:32€and€ð ðexcept€it€be€forÐ P Ðfornicationðð€in€Matthew€19:9€do€not€apply€to€acts€of€fornication€that€involve€sodomy,€pornography,Ð <ì Ðbeastiality,€child€molestation,€and€adultery??€Speaking€strictly€to€the€issue€of€marriage,€divorce,€andÐ ( Ø Ðremarriage,€how€do€you€administer€justice€and€punishment€in€the€New€Testament€economy€forÐ  Ä Ðsexual€sins€that€required€the€death€penalty€in€the€Old€Testament€economy?€The€obvious€conclusionÐ  ° Ðis€that€divorce€is€the€recourse€for€the€offenses€of€fornication€and/or€adultery€in€marriage.Ð ì œ Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·sç#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôò òÓ  ÓòòDIVORCEó óÔ#†X·XX#X·î#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔóóÐ Ä t ÐÓ#îÓÌÔ#†X·XX#X·_î#Ôà  àWe€open€this€section€by€quoting€Brother€Karl€Baker€who€wrote:Ð œL  ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðIt€is€evident€that€divorce€can€be€the€only€action€to€alleviate€the€suffering€thatÐ t$  Ðonce€was€a€capitol€punishment€(Leviticus€20:10).€It€replaces€the€Old€Testament€formÐ `  Ðof€judgment€against€the€unchaste€in€marriage.€The€Lord€in€his€omniscience€knew€thatÐ Lü  Ðbecause€nations€and€laws€outside€of€Israelððs€theocracy€were€going€to€be€reached,€andÐ 8è  Ðjust€as€the€Jews€were€unable€to€enforce€certain€laws€after€it€fell€into€secular€powersÐ $Ô  Ðand€their€jurisdictions€(John€18:31„32),€so€would€the€Christians€in€those€countriesÐ À Ðwhere€the€gospel€would€be€ministered,€need€effectual€ordinances€for€the€sake€ofÐ ü¬ Ðmoral€and€spiritual€relief...€One€thing€more,€if€adultery€is€the€second€ð ðceremonyðð€andÐ è˜ Ðnot€a€ð ðsex€actðð€(page€33,€Dr.€Ballewððs€book),€does€it€include€the€ð ðadulteryðð€of€1Ð Ô„ ÐCorinthians€6:10?ððò òÔÿÔ€ó óÔÿóÔ[The€Marriage€&€Divorce€Controversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€128]ÔÿÔò òÐÀpÐ Ð  Кó óÔÿ~óÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌÔ#†X·XX#X·Èó#Ôà  àDivorce€is€the€putting€away€of€a€husband€or€wife.€God€put€away€Israel€for€adultery.€ThoughÐ œL ÐGod€hates€putting€away,€he€regulated€divorce€in€the€Old€Testament€Law€because€he€knew€theÐ ˆ8 Ðhardness€and€the€wickedness€of€mens€hearts€would€lead€to€divorces€that€would€bring€great€harm€ifÐ t$ Ðthey€were€not€restrained€by€the€Law.€God€also€regulates€divorce€in€the€New€Testament€by€limitingÐ ` Ðits€grounds€to€adultery,€fornication,€and€desertion.€There€was€no€divorce€allowed€in€the€OldÐ Lü ÐTestament€for€adultery€and€fornication€because€the€adulterer€and€the€adulteress€were€put€to€death.Ð 8 è ÐThough€allowing€for€divorce€in€the€New€Testament,€God€has€deliberately€made€divorce€as€difficultÐ $!Ô Ðand€as€painful€as€possible€because€if€He€did€not€the€institution€of€marriage€would€be€destroyed€byÐ "À Ðthe€unbridled€lust€and€wickedness€of€menððs€and€womenððs€hearts.€By€the€time€God€€was€incarnate€inÐ ü"¬ Ðthe€person€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ,€divorce€was€being€practiced€for€every€cause€by€the€Jewish€peopleÐ è#˜ Ðcontrary€to€the€law€and€the€original€intent€of€God€that€marriage€be€one€man€and€one€womanÐ Ô$„  Ðbecoming€ð ðone€fleshððfor€a€lifetime€(No€man€or€woman€separates€from€their€flesh€without€dying).Ð À%p! ÐGod€in€the€flesh€rebuked€the€Pharisees€for€their€licentious€interpretation€and€application€ofÐ ¬&\" ÐDeuteronomy€24:1„4.Ð ˜'H # Ðà  àThe€words€used€in€our€King€James€Bibles€to€describe€the€destruction€of€a€marriage€are€putÐ „(4!$ Ðaway,€putteth€away,€putting€away,€divorce,€divorced,€divorcement,€unmarried,€and€loosed.€TheseÐ p) "% Ðwords€are€used€to€describe€the€breakup€of€human€marriages€and€the€putting€away€of€Godððs€wife,Ð \* #& ÐIsrael.€These€words€occur€in€only€twenty„seven€(27)€verses€in€the€whole€Bible.€These€27€verses€occurÐ H+ø#' Ðin€the€context€of€only€105€verses€dealing€with€the€issue€of€divorce.€Forty„four€of€those€verses€comeÐ 4,ä$( Ðfrom€Ezra€chapter€10€alone.€ò òó óSo€that€you€may€go€and€read€all€these€Scriptures€in€context€we€includeÐ P Ðthem€here€and€they€are:€Leviticus€21:7,€Leviticus€21:14,€Leviticus€22:13,€Numbers€30:9,Ð <ì ÐDeuteronomy€24:1„4,€Ezra€10:1„44,€Isaiah€50:1,€Jeremiah€3:1„11,€Ezekiel€44:22,€Malachi€2:10„16,Ð ( Ø ÐMatthew€5:31„32,€Matthew€19:3„12,€Mark€10:2„12,€Luke€16:18,€1€Corinthians€7:10„15,€and€1Ð  Ä ÐCorinthians€7:27„28.€Make€sure€that€you€read€and€study€all€the€verses€in€context€because€a€verseÐ  ° Ðtaken€out€of€context€is€a€pretext€for€false€doctrine.€Some€would€include€Romans€7:1„4€in€the€list€ofÐ ì œ Ðverses€that€we€just€gave,€but€those€verses€are€not€about€divorce.€Those€verses€are€about€a€woman€whoÐ Ø ˆ Ðwould€be€guilty€of€adultery.€Those€verses€are€not€being€used€by€the€Holy€Ghost€to€teach€doctrineÐ Ä t Ðabout€menððs€divorces.€The€Holy€Ghost€is€using€those€verses€to€teach€that€once€we€die€to€our€sin€weÐ °` Ðare€no€longer€in€bondage€to,€or€married€to€Satan,€and€are€therefore€loosed€and€free€to€marry€the€LordÐ œL  ÐJesus€Christ.€€Yet,€Romans€7:1„4€can€be€used€to€interpret€the€words€ð ðloosedðð€and€ð ðboundððin€1Ð ˆ8  ÐCorinthians€7:27.€And€we€do€use€them€later€for€that€purpose.ò ò€ó óGodððs€attitude€toward€divorce€is€bestÐ t$  Ðillustrated€by€Malachi€2:10„16€where€He€states:Ð d  ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÔP <ì ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·d#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMalachi€2:10„16ÐP Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔP<ì ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô10ÔUS.,UK.,,ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Have€we€not€all€one€father?€hath€not€one€God€created€us?€why€do€we€dealÐ P Ðtreacherously€every€man€against€his€brother,€by€profaning€the€covenant€of€ourÐ <ì Ðfathers?€ÔUS.,UK.,]ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô11ÔUS.,UK.,TÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Judah€hath€dealt€treacherously,€and€an€abomination€is€committed€in€IsraelÐ (Ø Ðand€in€Jerusalem;€for€Judah€hath€profaned€the€holiness€of€the€LORD€which€he€loved,Ð Ä Ðand€hath€married€the€daughter€of€a€strange€god.€ÔUS.,UK.,…ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô12ÔUS.,UK.,ªÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€The€LORD€will€cut€off€the€manÐ ° Ðthat€doeth€this,€the€master€and€the€scholar,€out€of€the€tabernacles€of€Jacob,€and€himÐ ìœ Ðthat€offereth€an€offering€unto€the€LORD€of€hosts.€ÔUS.,UK.,ÛÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô13ÔUS.,UK.,ÙÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€this€have€ye€done€again,Р؈ Ðcovering€the€altar€of€the€LORD€with€tears,€with€weeping,€and€with€crying€out,Ð Ät Ðinsomuch€that€he€regardeth€not€the€offering€any€more,€or€receiveth€ÔUS.,UK., ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔitÔUS.,UK.,ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€with€good€willÐ °` Ðat€your€hand.€ÔUS.,UK.,AÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô14ÔUS.,UK.,¢ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Yet€ye€say,€Wherefore?€Because€the€LORD€hath€been€witnessÐ œL Ðbetween€thee€and€the€wife€of€thy€youth,€against€whom€thou€hast€dealt€treacherously:Ð ˆ8 Ðyet€ÔUS.,UK.,ÓÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔisÔUS.,UK.,½ ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€she€thy€companion,€and€the€wife€of€thy€covenant.€ÔUS.,UK.,î ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô15ÔUS.,UK.,O ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€did€not€he€make€one?Ð t$ ÐYet€had€he€the€residue€of€the€spirit.€And€wherefore€one?€That€he€might€seek€a€godlyÐ `  Ðseed.€Therefore€take€heed€to€your€spirit,€and€let€none€deal€treacherously€against€theÐ L!ü Ðwife€of€his€youth.€ÔUS.,UK.,€ ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô16ÔUS.,UK., ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€For€the€LORD,€the€God€of€Israel,€saith€that€he€hateth€puttingÐ 8"è Ðaway:€for€ÔUS.,UK.,ó ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔoneÔUS.,UK., ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€covereth€violence€with€his€garment,€saith€the€LORD€of€hosts:€thereforeÐ $#Ô Ðtake€heed€to€your€spirit,€that€ye€deal€not€treacherously.€ÔUS.,UK.,± ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·»#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Ô#†X·XX#X·– #ÔÐ$ÀÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àNot€only€were€these€wicked€men€and€wicked€priests€divorcing€the€wives€of€their€youth,€theyÐ è%˜! Ðwere€taking€up€with€ð ðthe€daughters€of€a€strange€Godðð€who€were€nothing€but€temple€prostitutes.€TheÐ Ô&„" Ðpriests€were€the€leaders€in€this€wickedness€before€God€as€is€documented€in€Malachi€2:1„9€and€yetÐ À'p # Ðthey€continued€to€minister€in€the€house€of€God€while€committing€adultery€with€temple€prostitutes.Ð ¬(\!$ ÐThat€sounds€like€some€ð ðfundamentalistðð€churches€of€today.€Now,€letððs€go€pick€up€twenty„three€moreÐ ˜)H"% Ðof€the€verses€that€we€called€out€above€(We€deal€with€Ezra€chapter€10€under€a€separate€topic€in€thisÐ „*4#& Ðchapter):Ð p+ $' Їà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLeviticus€21:13„14€ÐPÐ Ð  Ðà8  à13€And€he€shall€take€a€wife€in€her€virginity.€14€A€widow,€or€a€divorced€woman,€orÐ <ì Ðprofane,òò€oróó€an€harlot,€these€shall€he€not€take:€but€he€shall€take€a€virgin€of€his€ownÐ ( Ø Ðpeople€to€wife.Ô#†X·XX#X·ý#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà8Ð Ð àÐ ÄÈÈ Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·b#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Ð Ð  ÐÓ€ [(ÿÿ03cÓà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ã#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLeviticus€22:13€Ô#†X·XX#X·É#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐì œÐ Ð  Ðà8  à13€Ô#†X·XX#X·#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔBut€if€the€priestÔ#†X·XX#X·‹#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔððÔ#†X·XX#X·Þ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôs€daughter€be€a€widow,€or€divorced,€and€have€no€child,€and€isÐ Ø ˆ Ðreturned€unto€her€fatherÔ#†X·XX#X·$#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔððÔ#†X·XX#X·Ð#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôs€house,€as€in€her€youth,€she€shall€eat€of€her€fatherÔ#†X·XX#X·#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔððÔ#†X·XX#X·#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôs€meat:Ð Ä t Ðbut€there€shall€no€stranger€eat€thereof.а`Ð Ð  ÐÌThese€verses€in€Leviticus€give€us€no€real€insight€into€the€meaning€of€the€word€divorce.€We€do€notÐ ˆ8  Ðget€a€scriptural€definition€of€divorce€until€we€reach€Deuteronomy€24:1„4€where€it€is€written:Ð t$  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Ó#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔDeuteronomy€24:1„4€ÐLü Ð Ð  Ðà8  à1€When€a€man€hath€taken€a€wife,€and€married€her,€and€it€come€to€pass€that€she€findÐ 8è  Ðno€favour€in€his€eyes,€because€he€hath€found€some€uncleanness€in€her:€then€let€himÐ $Ô  Ðwrite€her€a€bill€of€divorcement,€and€giveòò€itóó€in€her€hand,€and€send€her€out€of€his€house.Ð À Ð2€And€when€she€is€departed€out€of€his€house,€she€may€go€and€be€another€manððsòò€wifeóó.Ð ü¬ Ð3€Andòò€ifóó€the€latter€husband€hate€her,€and€write€her€a€bill€of€divorcement,€and€givethòòÐ è˜ Ðitóó€in€her€hand,€and€sendeth€her€out€of€his€house;€or€if€the€latter€husband€die,€whichÐ Ô„ Ðtook€heròò€to€beóó€his€wife;€4€Her€former€husband,€which€sent€her€away,€may€not€take€herÐ Àp Ðagain€to€be€his€wife,€after€that€she€is€defiled;€for€thatòò€isóó€abomination€before€theÐ ¬\ ÐLORD:€and€thou€shalt€not€cause€the€land€to€sin,€which€the€LORD€thy€God€giveth€theeòòÐ ˜H Ðforóó€an€inheritance.Ô#†X·XX#X·#ÔšÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔЄ4Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àNote€that€a€bill€of€divorcement€had€to€be€written€and€given€to€the€woman€that€was€beingÐ \  Ðdivorced€so€that€she€would€be€allowed€to€go€out€of€her€former€husbandððs€house€and€remarry.€If€sheÐ Hø Ðtried€to€marry€another€man€without€a€bill€of€divorce,€both€she€and€the€man€she€would€marry€wouldÐ 4 ä Ðbe€stoned€to€death€for€adultery€as€required€by€Leviticus€20:10€and€Deuteronomy€22:22.€For€thatÐ  !Ð Ðreason,€the€uncleanness€of€Deuteronomy€24:1€could€not€be€fornication€or€adultery€because€a€divorceÐ  "¼ Ðwas€allowed€in€Deuteronomy€24.€Now,€we€come€to€the€matter€of€Godððs€divorce€which€we€haveÐ ø"¨ Ðalready€stated€was€caused€by€Israelððs€adultery.€This€divorce€is€recorded€in€Isaiah€50:1€and€JeremiahÐ ä#” Ð3:8€where€we€read:Ð Ð$€  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ÿ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔIsaiah€50:1Ш&X"Ð Ð  Ðà8  à1€Thus€saith€the€LORD,€Whereòò€isóó€the€bill€of€your€motherððs€divorcement,€whom€IÐ ”'D # Ðhave€put€away?€or€which€of€my€creditorsòò€is€itóó€to€whom€I€have€sold€you?€Behold,€forÐ €(0!$ Ðyour€iniquities€have€ye€sold€yourselves,€and€for€your€transgressions€is€your€motherÐ l)"% Ðput€away.ÐX*#&Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÐ0,à$(Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ó #ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔJeremiah€3:8€€ÐPÐ Ð  Ðà8  à8€[The€Lord€said]€And€I€saw,€when€for€all€the€causes€whereby€backsliding€IsraelÐ <ì Ðcommitted€adultery€I€had€put€her€away,€and€given€her€a€bill€of€divorce;€yet€herÐ ( Ø Ðtreacherous€sister€Judah€feared€not,€but€went€and€played€the€harlot€also.Ð ÄÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àSo€much€for€the€statements€of€many€fundamentalists€preachers€and€pastors€that€adultery€isÐ ì œ Ðnot€a€grounds€for€divorce€as€we€have€already€discussed€above.€To€get€a€real€grasp€of€the€issuesÐ Ø ˆ Ðinvolved€here,€you€really€need€to€read€and€study€all€of€Ezekiel€16€and€Jeremiah€3:1„11.€EzekielÐ Ä t Ð44:21„22€is€the€last€Old€Testament€Scripture€we€will€look€at.Ð °` ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X· ##ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·l&#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔEzekiel€44:21„22€Ðˆ8 Ð Ð  Ðà8  à21€Neither€shall€any€priest€drink€wine,€when€they€enter€into€the€inner€court.€22Ð t$  ÐNeither€shall€they€take€for€their€wives€a€widow,€nor€her€that€is€put€away:€but€theyÐ `  Ðshall€take€maidens€of€the€seed€of€the€house€of€Israel,€or€a€widow€that€had€a€priestÐ Lü  Ðbefore.Ð8è Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€Ezekiel€44:22,€the€phrase€Ô#†X·XX#X·º&#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôð ðher€that€is€put€awayðð€refers€to€a€divorced€woman.€Now,€lets€turnÐ À Ðto€the€New€Testament€where€a€great€deal€of€controversy€exists€over€Matthew€5:31„32Ô#†X·XX#X·½(#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,€Matthew€19:6„Ð ü¬ Ð9Ô#†X·XX#X·­)#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,€€Mark€10:7„12,€Luke€16:18,€1€Corinthians€7:10„11Ô#†X·XX#X·*#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,€and€1€Corinthians€7:27„28.€Turn€in€your€BiblesÐ è˜ Ðto€Matthew€5:Ð Ô„ ÐÌò òÔ#†X·XX#X·ˆ*#Ôó óÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·8+#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMatthew€5:31„32€Ð¬\Ð Ð  Ðà8  à31€It€hath€been€said,€Whosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,€let€him€give€her€a€writingÐ ˜H Ðof€divorcement:€32€But€I€say€unto€you,€That€whosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,Ð „4 Ðsaving€for€the€cause€of€fornication,€causeth€her€to€commit€adultery:€and€whosoeverÐ p  Ðshall€marry€her€that€is€divorced€committeth€adultery.Ð\ Ð Ð  ÐÌNow€letððs€turn€to€Matthew€19:6€where€we€read:Ð 4 ä ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·†+#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÔ "Ð "¼ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·Ü-#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMatthew€19:6„9Ð "ÐÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÔ #Ð #¼ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô6ÔUS.,UK.,£.ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,Ó.ÔÔUKUS.,ÔWhereforeÔUS.,UK.,/ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€they€areÔUS.,UK.,5/ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€no€moreÔUS.,UK.,j/ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€twain,ÔUS.,UK.,ž/ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€butÔUS.,UK.,Ñ/ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€oneÔUS.,UK.,0ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€flesh.ÔUS.,UK.,10ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€WhatÔUS.,UK.,d0ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€thereforeÔUS.,UK.,•0ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€GodÔUS.,UK.,Ë0ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€hath€joinedÐ  #Ð Ðtogether,ÔUS.,UK.,û0ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€letÔUS.,UK.,Q1ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€notÔUS.,UK.,1ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€manÔUS.,UK.,±1ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€put€asunderÔUS.,UK.,á1ÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,2ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,F2ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô7ÔUS.,UK.,v2ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€They€say€unto€him,€Why€did€Moses€thenÐ  $¼ Ðcommand€to€give€a€writing€of€divorcement,€and€to€put€her€away?€ÔUS.,UK.,¦2ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô8ÔUS.,UK.,O3ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€He€saith€untoÐ ø$¨  Ðthem,€ÔUS.,UK.,3ÔÔUKUS.,ÔMosesÔUS.,UK.,Ô3ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€because€ofÔUS.,UK.,4ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€the€hardnessÔUS.,UK.,<4ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€of€yourÔUS.,UK.,u4ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€heartsÔUS.,UK.,©4ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€sufferedÔUS.,UK.,Ü4ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€youÔUS.,UK.,5ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€to€put€awayÔUS.,UK.,A5ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€yourÔUS.,UK.,y5ÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ ä%”! Ðwives:ÔUS.,UK.,ª5ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€butÔUS.,UK.,ñ5ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fromÔUS.,UK.,!6ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€the€beginningÔUS.,UK.,R6ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€it€wasÔUS.,UK.,Œ6ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€notÔUS.,UK.,¿6ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€soÔUS.,UK.,ï6ÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,7ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,K7ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô9ÔUS.,UK.,{7ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,«7ÔÔUKUS.,ÔAndÔUS.,UK.,Ø7ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€I€sayÔUS.,UK.,8ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€unto€you,ÔUS.,UK.,98ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€WhosoeverÔUS.,UK.,o8ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€shallÐ Ð&€" Ðput€awayÔUS.,UK.,¥8ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€hisÔUS.,UK.,ô8ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€wife,ÔUS.,UK.,$9ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€exceptÔUS.,UK.,V9ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,‰9ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôit€beÔUS.,UK.,¹9ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€forÔUS.,UK.,í9ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fornication,ÔUS.,UK.,:ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,V:ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€shall€marryÔUS.,UK.,†:ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€another,ÔUS.,UK.,¾:ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€committethÐ ¼'l # Ðadultery:ÔUS.,UK.,ó:ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,H;ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€whoso€marriethÔUS.,UK.,x;ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€her€whichÔUS.,UK.,³;ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€is€put€awayÔUS.,UK.,é;ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€doth€commit€adulteryÔUS.,UK.,!<ÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,b<ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,<ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·3.#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔШ(X!$Ð Ð  ÐÌNow€letððs€turn€to€Mark€10€and€begin€reading€in€verse€7:Ô#†X·XX#X·ß<#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ €*0#& Ðà8  àÐl+$'Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·{=#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMark€10:7„12€ÐPÐ Ð  Ðà8  à4€And€they€said,€Moses€suffered€to€write€a€bill€of€divorcement,€and€to€putòò€heróó€away.Ð <ì Ð5€And€Jesus€answered€and€said€unto€them,€For€the€hardness€of€your€heart€he€wroteÐ ( Ø Ðyou€this€precept.€6€But€from€the€beginning€of€the€creation€God€made€them€male€andÐ  Ä Ðfemale.€7€For€this€cause€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€mother,€and€cleave€to€hisÐ  ° Ðwife;€8€And€they€twain€shall€be€one€flesh:€so€then€they€are€no€more€twain,€but€oneÐ ì œ Ðflesh.€9€What€therefore€God€hath€joined€together,€let€not€man€put€asunder.€10€And€inÐ Ø ˆ Ðthe€house€his€disciples€asked€him€again€of€the€sameòò€matteróó.€11€And€he€saith€untoÐ Ä t Ðthem,€Whosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,€and€marry€another,€committeth€adulteryÐ °` Ðagainst€her.€12€And€if€a€woman€shall€put€away€her€husband,€and€be€married€toÐ œL  Ðanother,€she€committeth€adultery.Ô#†X·XX#X· >#ÔЈ8 Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔt$ ` ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLuke€16:18Ðt$ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔt$ ` ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô18ÔUS.,UK.,óBÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,$CÔÔUKUS.,ÔWhosoeverÔUS.,UK.,QCÔÔUKUS.,Ô€putteth€awayÔUS.,UK.,†CÔÔUKUS.,Ô€hisÔUS.,UK.,¿CÔÔUKUS.,Ô€wife,ÔUS.,UK.,ïCÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,!DÔÔUKUS.,Ô€marriethÔUS.,UK.,QDÔÔUKUS.,Ô€another,ÔUS.,UK.,†DÔÔUKUS.,Ô€committeth€adultery:ÔUS.,UK.,»DÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,üDÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ t$  ÐwhosoeverÔUS.,UK.,,EÔÔUKUS.,Ô€marriethÔUS.,UK.,vEÔÔUKUS.,Ô€her€that€is€put€awayÔUS.,UK.,«EÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fromÔUS.,UK.,ìEÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,FÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔherÔUS.,UK.,MFÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€husbandÔUS.,UK.,FÔÔUKUS.,Ô€committeth€adulteryÔUS.,UK.,³FÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,óFÔÔÿÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,0GÔÔÿ GÔÐ` Ð Ð  ÐÌÔLü8èÔÔ#†X·XX#X·‡B#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà  àThose€verses€in€Matthew€5€and€Matthew€19€do€not€say€that€a€person€cannot€marry€anyÐ Lü Ðdivorced€person.€What€these€verses€are€saying€is€that€a€person€cannot€marry€another€person€who€hasÐ 8è Ðbeen€put€away€(divorced)€for€fornication€else€he€or€she€is€guilty€of€adultery.€What€this€also€meansÐ $Ô Ðis€that€a€single€person€can€commit€adultery€because€it€is€said€that€both€are€guilty€of€adultery.€ThatÐ À Ðis€why€both€were€stoned€to€death€under€the€Old€Testament€law.€These€verses€do€not€say€that€a€manÐ ü¬ Ðor€woman€commits€perpetual€adultery€if€they€marry€a€divorced€person.€We€deal€with€that€issue€inÐ è˜ Ða€separate€topic€that€follows.€The€conditional€statements€ð ðsaving€for€the€cause€of€fornicationðð€andÐ Ô„ Ðð ðexcept€it€be€for€fornicationððis€what€drives€the€interpretation€of€both€of€these€passages€as€it€relatesÐ Àp Ðto€who€is€guilty€of€adultery€and€who€is€allowed€to€divorce€and€remarry.ò òÔ#†X·XX#X·ÉG#Ôó ó€We€deal€with€those€issuesÐ ¬\ Ðbelow€under€the€topics€of€the€scriptural€grounds€for€divorce€and€remarriage.Ð ˜H Ðà  àMany€argue€on€the€basis€of€Matthew€19:6€and€Mark€10:9€that€God€puts€all€marriagesÐ „4 Ðtogether.€This€false€doctrine€creates€its€own€list€of€difficult€problems€and€impossible€situations€thatÐ p  Ðare€to€numerous€to€be€dealt€with€here.€Imagine€the€myriad€of€scenarios€that€could€be€documented€orÐ \!  Ðdevised€that€would€be€almost€impossible€to€resolve.€From€a€human€perspective,€the€sin€and€damageÐ H"ø Ðof€most€divorces€cannot€be€undoneš€and€must€be€dealt€with€in€an€attitude€of€forgiveness€that€does€notÐ 4#ä Ðbring€the€repentant€sinner€under€endless€condemnation.€However,€if€they€will€not€repent,€they€areÐ  $Ð Ðunder€the€condemnation€of€God.€Those€repentant€sinners€guilty€of€causing€divorces€should€beÐ  %¼  Ðforgiven€and€charged€€to€ð ðgo,€and€sin€no€moreðð.€If€an€unrepentant€sinner€continues€down€a€path€ofÐ ø%¨! Ðadultery,€they€must€be€put€out€of€the€church.€This€discussion€brings€us€to€this€conclusion:€ContraryÐ ä&”" Ðto€what€many€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€preachers€and€pastors€preach€and€teach,€God€does€not€putÐ Ð'€ # Ðmost€marriages€together.€While€God€in€his€permissive€will€allows€unscriptural€marriages,€he€doesÐ ¼(l!$ Ðnot€put€them€together.€God€does€not€put€a€believer€and€an€unbeliever€together.€God€did€not€put€a€JewÐ ¨)X"% Ðand€a€pagan€together.€The€scriptures€do€not€say:€ð ðwhat€therefore€God€has€òòò òallowedó óóó€to€be€joinedÐ ”*D#& Ðtogether,€let€not€man€put€asunderðð.€The€scripture€is€emphatic€that€God€joined€them€together.šš€ThereÐ „+4$' Ðhave€been€a€lot€of€unholy€unions€down€through€the€years.€The€last€such€unholy€union€will€take€placeÐ P Ðduring€the€tribulation€when€the€apostate€church,€THE€MOTHER€OF€HARLOTS,€€becomes€the€brideÐ <ì Ðof€Satan.€How€many€marriages€today€do€you€think€God€has€actually€joined€together?Ð ( Ø Ðò òó óà  àð ðDivorcedðð€in€the€Old€Testament€and€the€New€Testament€is€a€term€meaning€having€beenÐ  Ä Ðmarried€but€now€unmarried.€Being€scripturally€unmarried,€gives€you€the€right€to€remarryÐ  ° Ð(Deuteronomy€24:2„3;€Matthew€19:9;€and€1€Corinthians€7:15,€27„28).€In€1€Corinthians€7€we€haveÐ ì œ Ðthe€case€of€a€believing€wife€that€has€left€an€unbelieving€husband€and€the€following€instructions€areÐ Ø ˆ Ðthe€charge€to€the€believer€from€the€Holy€Ghost:Ð Ä t ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€7:10„11Ô#†X·XX#X·±V#ÔÐœL Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô10€And€unto€the€married€I€command,òò€yetóó€not€I,€but€the€Lord,€Let€not€the€wife€departÐ ˆ8  Ðfromòò€heróó€husband:€11€But€and€if€she€depart,€let€her€remain€unmarried,€or€beÐ t$  Ðreconciled€toòò€heróó€husband:€and€let€not€the€husband€put€awayòò€hisóó€wife.€Ô#†X·XX#X·3W#ÔÐ` Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€7:27„28Ð8è Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô27ÔUS.,UK.,)YÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Art€thou€bound€unto€a€wife?€seek€not€to€be€loosed.€Art€thou€loosed€from€a€wife?Ð $Ô  Ðseek€not€a€wife.€ÔUS.,UK.,ZYÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô28ÔUS.,UK.,ÿYÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€But€and€if€thou€marry,€thou€hast€not€sinned;€and€if€a€virgin€marry,Ð À Ðshe€hath€not€sinned.€Nevertheless€such€shall€have€trouble€in€the€flesh:€but€I€spare€you.Ð ü¬ ÐÔUS.,UK.,0ZÔÔ#†X·XX#X·ÇX#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àFirst€Corinthians€7:10„11,€plainly€states€that€the€departed€spouse€is€unmarried.€Ô#†X·XX#X·E[#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔYou€cannotÐ Àp Ðbe€unmarried€without€a€divorce.Ô#†X·XX#X·ü[#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€That€does€away€with€the€whole€false€idea€that€the€term€ð ðunmarriedððÐ ¬\ Ðof€1€Corinthians€7:11€is€referring€to€a€temporary€separation.€Therefore,€ð ðunmarriedðð€applies€to€thoseÐ ˜H Ðwho€have€never€been€married€and€to€those€who€have€been€married€but€are€no€longer€married€becauseÐ „4 Ðof€death€or€divorce.€Ô#†X·XX#X·|\#ÔThe€term€unmarried€only€occurs€four€times€in€our€Bibles€and€all€these€are€in€1Ð p  ÐCorinthians€7.€Concerning€this€term€ð ðunmarriedðð€in€1€Corinthians€7:11,€Brother€Karl€Baker€had€thisÐ \  Ðto€say:Ð Hø ÐÌà8  à€à ` àð ðò òUnmarriedó ó,€or€be€reconciled€to€her€ò òhusbandó ó!€Now€if€married€means€aÐ  !Ð Ðceremony€and€she€had€one,€because€she€had€a€husband,€how€can€she€remainÐ "À Ðò òunmarriedó ó?€Unless€the€word€ð ðmarriedðð€means,€as€we€have€implied,€not€to€join€herÐ ü"¬ Ðflesh€to€another€manððs€flesh,€thereby€marrying€with€him.€Is€that€not€also€how€Paul€useÐ ì#œ Ðthe€term€in€Romans€7,€ò òð ðSo€then€if,€while€her€husband€liveth,€she€be€married€toÐ Ø$ˆ  Ðanother€man,€she€shall€be€called€an€adulteress,ððó ó?€That€is€why€Paul€in€1Ð È%x! ÐCorinthians€6€emphasizes€not€joining€ourselves€to€harlots,€because€in€so€doing€weÐ ¸&h" Ðbecome€ð ðone€fleshðð€even€though€we€did€not€intend€to€ð ðmarryðð€her.€We€technically€areÐ ¤'T # Ðmarrying€her€when€we€join€our€flesh€with€hers.šðð€[The€Marriage€&€DivorceÐ (@!$ ÐControversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€94]Ð|),"%Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àBrother€Baker€is€driving€home€the€idea€that€it€is€the€sexual€relationship€that€establishes€theÐ T+$' Ðmarriage.€Divorce€ends€that€sexual€relationship.€Divorce€is€a€very€painful€thing€because€it€is€theÐ @,ð$( Ðripping€asunder€of€one€flesh.€Divorce€is€a€knife€in€the€heart€of€love.€Divorce€is€death€itself.€In€manyÐ P Ðways€divorce€is€much€more€painful€than€the€death€of€a€spouse€because€if€you€love€someone€you€willÐ <ì Ðalways€wonder€if€there€was€something€you€could€have€done€to€have€prevented€the€divorce.€DivorceÐ ( Ø Ðis€not€always€a€sin€in€the€Bible€for€all€parties€involved.€There€can€be€an€innocent€party€in€a€divorce.Ð  Ä ÐThe€Bible€no€where€says€that€divorce€is€sin.€Sin€can€and€does€lead€to€divorce.€In€quoting€StinnettÐ  ° ÐBallew,€Brother€Karl€Baker€had€this€to€say€about€the€doctrineÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€that€states€that€divorce€is€sin:Ð ì œ ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·¯f#Ôà ` àð ðlet€me,€[Stinnett€Ballew],€say€in€the€very€beginning€divorce€is€sin.€It€is€notÐ Ä t Ðthe€unpardonable€sin,€but€it€certainly€is€sin.€I€do€not€believe€any€couple€is€ever€led€ofÐ °` Ðthe€Lord€to€get€a€divorce.€Divorce€is€manððs€way€out,€not€Godððs.ðð€Then€Brother€KarlÐ œL  ÐBaker€states:€ð ðBut€Dr.€Ballew,€the€Bible€states€in€1€John€3:4,€ð ðsin€is€a€transgressionÐ ˆ8  Ðof€the€lawðð.€ò òWhereó ó€is€the€Scripture€that€backs€up€the€statement€that€divorce€is€sin?Ð t$  ÐI€realize€that€divorce€can€be€sin€(Matthew€19:9)€and€can€cause€sin€(Matthew€19:9)€butÐ d  Ðdivorce€is€ò ònot€ó ósin€in€every€case.€Deuteronomy€24€is€the€law,€and€what€the€lawÐ P  Ðallowed€or€made€a€provision€for€ò òcannotó ó€be€called€sin€(Romans€7:12,€14€also,€RomansÐ @ð  Ð5:13).€Jesus€allow€divorced€for€fornication€and€desertion€by€an€unbeliever€(MatthewÐ 0à  Ð19:9,€1€Corinthians€7:15€),€and€it€òòò òcannot€be€sinó óóó€if€our€Lord€condoned€it€asÐ Ì Ðacceptable....€ò òGod€himself€has€gone€through€a€divorce!ó óððò òÔÿÔ€ó óÔÿ¾kÔ[The€Marriage€&€DivorceÐ ¸ ÐControversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€75]ò òšó óÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐø¨Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àWe€have€heard€it€stated€many€times€that€divorce€is€always€sin€and€that€both€parties€to€theРЀ Ðdivorce€are€guilty€of€sin.€That€is€not€true.€Ô#†X·XX#X·:l#ÔTo€state€that€ð ðDivorce€is€ALWAYS€wrongðð€or€ð ðGodÐ ¼l ÐNEVER€approves€of€divorceðð€is€to€contradict€the€Scriptures.€The€following€scriptural€facts€contradictÐ ¨X Ðthose€views:€(1)€God€gave€a€law€that€permitted€and€regulated€divorce€AND€REMARRIAGEÐ ”D Ð(Deuteronomy€24:1-4).(2)€It€was€the€will€of€God€that€the€priests€and€the€people€of€Israel€put€awayÐ €0 Ðtheir€strange€wives€(Ezra€10:10-11).(3)€God€Himself€divorced€the€nation€of€Israel€(Isaiah€50:1„2,Ð l ÐJeremiah€3:8).(4)€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€granted€permission€to€divorce€AND€REMARRY€if€a€spouseÐ X Ðwas€guilty€of€fornication€(Matthew€19:9).šÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€(5)€the€Holy€Ghost€allows€for€divorce€inÔ#†X·XX#X·ÿo#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€1€Corinthians€7Ð D ô Ðin€cases€of€desertion€by€an€unbeliever.€Next€in€our€discussion,€we€will€deal€with€the€scripturalÐ 0!à Ðgrounds€for€divorce.Ð "Ì ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·jp#ÔššÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà@Ž Ž ìàò òTHE€SCRIPTURAL€GROUNDS€FOR€DIVORCEó óˆÐ ô#¤ ÐÌà  àIf€your€doctrine€states€that€divorce€is€manððs€way€and€not€Godððs€way,€then€how€does€thatÐ Ì%|! Ðdoctrine€line€up€with€Ezra€chapter€10€where€God€required€the€people€and€priests€of€Israel€to€put€awayÐ ¸&h" Ðtheir€strange€wives€and€how€does€your€doctrine€line€up€with€Isaiah€50:1€and€Jeremiah€3:7„8€whereÐ ¤'T # ÐGod€divorced€Israel?ò ò€ó óTurn€in€your€Bibles€to€Isaiah€50:1€and€Jeremiah€3:7„8:Ð (@!$ Ðà  àÌà8  àIsaiah€50:1€Ðl*#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  à1€Thus€saith€the€LORD,€Whereòò€isóó€the€bill€of€your€motherððs€divorcement,€whom€IÐ X+$' Ðhave€put€away?€or€which€of€my€creditorsòò€is€itóó€to€whom€I€have€sold€you?€Behold,€forÐ P Ðyour€iniquities€have€ye€sold€yourselves,€and€for€your€transgressions€is€your€motherÐ <ì Ðput€away.€Ô#†X·XX#X·rq#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ( ØÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ru#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àJeremiah€3:7„8€Ð °Ð Ð  Ðà8  à7€And€I€said€after€she€had€done€all€theseòò€thingsóó,€Turn€thou€unto€me.€But€she€returnedÐ ì œ Ðnot.€And€her€treacherous€sister€Judah€sawòò€itóó.€8€And€I€saw,€when€for€all€the€causesÐ Ø ˆ Ðwhereby€backsliding€Israel€committed€adultery€I€had€put€her€away,€and€given€her€aÐ Ä t Ðbill€of€divorce;€yet€her€treacherous€sister€Judah€feared€not,€but€went€and€played€theÐ °` Ðharlot€also.Ô#†X·XX#X·ßu#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐœL Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·7x#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà  àSo,€is€divorce€manððs€way€out€and€not€Godððs€way€out?€We€will€deal€with€Ezra€chapter€10€aÐ t$  Ðlittle€later€on.€We€realize€that€some€of€what€we€are€about€to€say€here€is€very€controversial,€but€hereÐ `  Ðwe€go€anyhow.€The€real€question€here€is€not€how€we€feel€about€the€issue,€but€what€does€the€BibleÐ Lü  Ðsay?€What,€if€any,€are€the€scriptural€grounds€for€divorce?Ô#†X·XX#X·™x#Ô€From€Malachi€2:16,€we€realize€that€GodÐ 8è  Ðhates€divorce,€but€we€also€realize€that€God€made€provision€for€it€under€the€law€and€under€graceÐ $Ô  Ðbecause€of€the€hardness€of€menððs€and€womenððs€hearts.€While€death€does€end€a€marriage,€there€areÐ À Ðalso€€three€other€scriptural€justifications€for€divorce.€These€are:€(1)€Godððs€command€to€divorcešÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€givenÐ ü¬ Ðto€the€people,€the€priests,€and€the€Levites€of€Israel€in€Ezra€chapter10€because€they€had€taken€toÐ è˜ Ðthemselves€the€strange€wives€as€identified€in€Ezra€10:2,€10,€11,€14,€17,€18,and€44.€There€are€someÐ Ô„ Ðobject€lessons€that€can€be€learned€from€Ezra€chapter€10,€if€we€will€just€set€aside€the€unscripturalÐ Àp Ðteachings€that€have€been€hammered€into€us€on€the€anvil€of€false€teaching.(2)€A€second€ground€forÐ ¬\ Ða€scriptural€divorce€is€an€act€of€fornication€known€as€adultery.Ô#†X·XX#X·|#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€(3)€The€third€ground€for€a€scripturalÐ ˜H Ðdivorce€is€an€act€of€desertion€whereby€an€unbeliever€rejects€and€deserts€a€believing€spouse.Ô#†X·XX#X·ˆ~#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€We€willÐ „4 Ðnow€proceed€to€deal€with€these€three€grounds€for€divorce.Ð p  ÐÌÓ  Óà@@ÿ ÿ ìàò òòòGODððS€COMMAND€IN€EZRA€10€AS€SCRIPTURALÐ Hø ÐGROUNDS€FOR€DIVORCEóóó óÐ 4 ä ÐÓìÓÌÔ#†X·XX#X·a#Ôà  àOur€first€scriptural€justification€for€divorce€is€Godððs€command€to€divorcešÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€given€to€the€people,Ð  "¼ Ðthe€priests,€and€the€Levites€of€Israel€in€Ezra€chapter10€because€they€had€taken€to€themselves€theÐ ø"¨ Ðstrange€wives€as€identified€in€Ezra€10:2,€10,€11,€14,€17,€18,and€44.Ô#†X·XX#X· #ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€The€women€were€called€strangeÐ ä#” Ðwives€because€they€were€pagans.Ô#†X·XX#X·0‚#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€The€reason€for€the€divorces€was€to€enforce€ecclesiastical€separationÐ Ð$€  Ðbetween€the€priests,€the€Levites,€and€the€congregation€of€Israelis€as€a€unit€and€the€pagan€nations€thatÐ ¼%l! Ðsurrounded€them.€The€law€that€had€been€violated€was€Leviticus€21:7,€Leviticus€21:14,€andÐ ¨&X" ÐDeuteronomy€7:3.€The€indictment€of€Israel€took€place€in€Ezra€9:1„2€and€the€trial€and€sentence€wasÐ ”'D # Ðpronounced€in€Ezra€chapter€10.€The€divorces€were€probably€carried€out€at€least€in€part€in€accordanceÐ €(0!$ Ðwith€Deuteronomy€24:1.€These€Scriptures€state:Ð l)"% ÐÌÌÐ 0,à$( Ðà8  àLeviticus€21:7ÐPÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô7ÔUS.,UK.,·…ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€They€shall€not€take€a€wife€ÔUS.,UK.,ç…ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôthat€isÔUS.,UK.,2†ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€a€whore,€or€profane;€neither€shall€they€take€aÐ <ì Ðwoman€put€away€from€her€husband:€for€he€ÔUS.,UK.,h†ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔisÔUS.,UK.,‡ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€holy€unto€his€God.€ÔUS.,UK.,4‡ÔÐ( ØÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Ä‚#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLeviticus€21:14Ð °Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô14ÔUS.,UK.,ˆÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€A€widow,€or€a€divorced€woman,€or€profane,€ÔUS.,UK.,PˆÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔorÔUS.,UK.,ªˆÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€an€harlot,€these€shall€he€not€take:Ð ì œ Ðbut€he€shall€take€a€virgin€of€his€own€people€to€wife.€ÔUS.,UK.,ÛˆÔÐØ ˆÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·Ç#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·¸‰#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔDeuteronomy€7:3а`Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô3ÔUS.,UK.,cŠÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Neither€shalt€thou€make€marriages€with€them;€thy€daughter€thou€shalt€not€give€untoÐ œL  Ðhis€son,€nor€his€daughter€shalt€thou€take€unto€thy€son.€ÔUS.,UK.,“ŠÔÔ#†X·XX#X·Š#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔЈ8 Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·‚‹#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔEzra€9:1„2Ð` Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô1ÔUS.,UK.,GŒÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Now€when€these€things€were€done,€the€princes€came€to€me,€saying,€The€people€ofÐ Lü  ÐIsrael,€and€the€priests,€and€the€Levites,€have€not€separated€themselves€from€the€peopleÐ 8è  Ðof€the€lands,€ÔUS.,UK.,wŒÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔdoingÔUS.,UK.,„ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€according€to€their€abominations,€ÔUS.,UK.,¸ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔevenÔUS.,UK., ŽÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€of€the€Canaanites,€theÐ $Ô  ÐHittites,€the€Perizzites,€the€Jebusites,€the€Ammonites,€the€Moabites,€the€Egyptians,Ð À Ðand€the€Amorites.€ÔUS.,UK.,<ŽÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô2ÔUS.,UK.,ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€For€they€have€taken€of€their€daughters€for€themselves,€and€forÐ ü¬ Ðtheir€sons:€so€that€the€holy€seed€have€mingled€themselves€with€the€people€of€ÔUS.,UK.,BÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔthoseÔUS.,UK.,ÔóóÔUKUS.,ÔÐ è˜ Ðlands:€yea,€the€hand€of€the€princes€and€rulers€hath€been€chief€in€this€trespass.€ÔUS.,UK.,FÔÔ#†X·XX#X·ð‹#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐÔ„Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·û#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔEzra€10:1„3Ь\Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô1ÔUS.,UK.,Á‘ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Now€when€Ezra€had€prayed,€and€when€he€had€confessed,€weeping€and€castingÐ ˜H Ðhimself€down€before€the€house€of€God,€there€assembled€unto€him€out€of€Israel€a€veryÐ „4 Ðgreat€congregation€of€men€and€women€and€children:€for€the€people€wept€very€sore.Ð p  ÐÔUS.,UK.,ñ‘ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô2ÔUS.,UK.,K“ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€Shechaniah€the€son€of€Jehiel,€ÔUS.,UK.,{“ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔoneÔUS.,UK.,Í“ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€of€the€sons€of€Elam,€answered€and€said€untoÐ \  ÐEzra,€We€have€trespassed€against€our€God,€and€have€taken€strange€wives€of€theÐ Hø Ðpeople€of€the€land:€yet€now€there€is€hope€in€Israel€concerning€this€thing.€ÔUS.,UK.,ÿ“ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô3ÔUS.,UK.,•ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€NowÐ 4 ä Ðtherefore€let€us€make€a€covenant€with€our€God€to€put€away€all€the€wives,€and€such€asÐ  !Ð Ðare€born€of€them,€according€to€the€counsel€of€my€lord,€and€of€those€that€tremble€at€theÐ  "¼ Ðcommandment€of€our€God;€and€let€it€be€done€according€to€the€law.€ÔUS.,UK.,L•ÔÐø"¨Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·i‘#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·é–#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔEzra€10:10„12ÐÐ$€ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô10ÔUS.,UK.,’—ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€Ezra€the€priest€stood€up,€and€said€unto€them,€Ye€have€transgressed,€and€haveÐ ¼%l! Ðtaken€strange€wives,€to€increase€the€trespass€of€Israel.€ÔUS.,UK.,×ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô11ÔUS.,UK.,‘˜ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Now€therefore€makeÐ ¨&X" Ðconfession€unto€the€LORD€God€of€your€fathers,€and€do€his€pleasure:€and€separateÐ ”'D # Ðyourselves€from€the€people€of€the€land,€and€from€the€strange€wives.€ÔUS.,UK.,˜ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô12ÔUS.,UK.,Á™ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Then€all€theÐ €(0!$ Ðcongregation€answered€and€said€with€a€loud€voice,€As€thou€hast€said,€so€must€we€do.€ÔUS.,UK.,ò™ÔÐl)"%Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·8—#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Öš#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔEzra€10:18„19ÐD+ô#'Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô18ÔUS.,UK.,›ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€among€the€sons€of€the€priests€there€were€found€that€had€taken€strange€wives:Ð 0,à$( ÐÑ5OaÑâ 5âÑ°°Ñâ 5âÑ  ÑÔUS.,UK.,°›ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔnamelyÔUS.,UK.,ŠœÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô,€of€the€sons€of€Jeshua€the€son€of€Jozadak,€and€his€brethren;€Maaseiah,€andÐ P ÐEliezer,€and€Jarib,€and€Gedaliah.€ÔUS.,UK.,¿œÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô19ÔUS.,UK.,pÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€they€gave€their€hands€that€they€would€putÐ <ì Ðaway€their€wives;€and€ÔUS.,UK.,¡ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔbeingÔUS.,UK.,)žÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€guilty,€ÔUS.,UK.,]žÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôthey€offeredÔUS.,UK.,•žÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€a€ram€of€the€flock€for€their€trespass.€ÔUS.,UK.,ОÔÐ( ØÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·%›#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔDeuteronomy€24:1Ð °Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô1ÔUS.,UK.,ПÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€When€a€man€hath€taken€a€wife,€and€married€her,€and€it€come€to€pass€that€she€findÐ ì œ Ðno€favour€in€his€eyes,€because€he€hath€found€some€uncleanness€in€her:€then€let€himÐ Ø ˆ Ðwrite€her€a€bill€of€divorcement,€and€give€ÔUS.,UK., ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔitÔUS.,UK.,&¡ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€in€her€hand,€and€send€her€out€of€his€house.€ÔUS.,UK.,W¡ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·sŸ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐÄ tÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·Ó¡#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌÔ#†X·XX#X·4¢#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà  àWhat€about€that?!€In€Ezra€chapter€10,€we€have€a€commandment€from€God€to€divorce€(putÐ œL  Ðaway)€their€pagan,€unbelieving€wives.Ô#†X·XX#X·w¢#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€The€law€in€Leviticus€chapter€21€was€given€specifically€to€theÐ ˆ8  Ðpriests€and€the€law€in€Deuteronomy€7€was€given€generally€to€all€the€people€of€the€nation€of€Israel.Ð t$  ÐWhat€is€significant€here,€is€not€only€did€God€allow€these€divorces,€but€also€that€he€commanded€them!Ð `  ÐSo,€were€these€divorces€wrong?€Put€another€way,€were€these€divorces€sin?€There€are€those€that€stateÐ Lü  Ðthat€divorce€is€always€wrong,€but€these€events€in€Ezra€10€prove€that€statement€to€be€entirely€false.Ð 8è  ÐWhile€we€know€that€there€is€sin€associated€with€divorce,€there€is€not€one€verse€in€the€Bible€that€statesÐ $Ô  Ðthat€divorce€is€sin€because€if€there€were,€God€could€be€accused€of€sin€because€He€divorced€(putÐ À Ðaway)€the€nation€of€Israel€because€she€was€unfaithful€to€God€when€she€went€a€whoring€after€falseÐ ü¬ Ðgods.€Brother€Karl€Baker€said€this:Ð è˜ ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·S£#Ôà ` àð ðYou€cannot€show€me€one€verse€in€either€Testament€that€states€that€divorceÐ Àp Ðis€a€sin€when€the€offended€party€divorces€the€guilty€party,€as€previously€stated€inÐ ¬\ ÐDeuteronomy€24,€Matthew€19,€and€a€1€Corinthians€7.ðð€[The€Marriage€&€DivorceÐ ˜H ÐControversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€76]Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔЄ4Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àWhile€we€know€that€divorce€always€involves€sin,€we€also€know€that€there€are€innocent€partiesÐ \  Ðin€some€divorces.€€Many€fundamentalists€and€Baptists€deny€that€because€it€destroys€their€theologyÐ Hø Ðthat€states€that€all€parties€to€a€divorce€are€guilty,€even€the€innocent,€and€if€the€innocent€partyÐ 4 ä Ðremarries€they€are€guilty€of€adultery€and/or€perpetual€adultery.€Brother€Karl€Baker€has€rightly€said:Ð  !Ð ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Ϩ#Ôà ` àð ðDivorce€is€the€only€act€in€the€whole€Bible€that€makes€a€guiltless€person€aÐ ø"¨ Ðsinner€by€association.ðð€ò òó ó[The€Marriage€&€Divorce€Controversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€61]ò òšó óÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐä#”Ð Ð  ÐÌIt€is€this€same€type€of€guilt€by€association€that€has€been€used€by€many€fundamentalists€and€BaptistsÐ ¼%l! Ðto€permanently€disqualify€an€innocent€divorced€man€from€the€ministry.€What€this€false€doctrineÐ ¨&X" Ðessentially€does€is€to€hold€an€innocent€party€responsible€for€the€sin€of€the€guilty€party.€What€comesÐ ”'D # Ðto€mind€here€is€Exodus€23:7€which€says:Ð €(0!$ ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ò«#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔExodus€23:7ÐX*#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô7ÔUS.,UK.,[®ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Keep€thee€far€from€a€false€matter;€and€the€innocent€and€righteous€slay€thou€not:€forÐ D+ô#' ÐI€will€not€justify€the€wicked.€ÔUS.,UK.,‹®ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·®#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ0,à$(Ð Ð  Їà  àThe€wicked€end€up€getting€justified€in€their€conduct€while€the€faithful€innocents€are€forcedÐ P Ðto€pay€the€penalty€for€the€guiltyððs€sin.€In€continuing€our€discussion€on€Ezra€chapter€10,€we€wouldÐ <ì Ðnote€that€the€priests€had€to€put€away€their€profane€wives€and€that€no€steps€were€taken€to€remove€themÐ ( Ø Ðfrom€the€priesthood.€In€fact,€there€is€every€indication€that€they€were€required€to€put€away€their€paganÐ  Ä Ðwives€so€that€they€would€be€ceremonially€clean€in€order€to€be€able€to€administer€the€sacrifices.€TheÐ  ° Ðguilt€and€sin€associated€with€the€divorces€in€Ezra€10€was€that€of€the€people,€the€priests,€and€the€rulersÐ ì œ Ðof€Israel€and€not€of€the€pagan€spouses€they€had€married.€The€pagans€were€innocent€in€the€divorces.Ð Ø ˆ ÐYet,€those€who€were€guilty€of€causing€the€divorces,€because€they€had€broken€the€law€in€the€first€placeÐ Ä t Ðwhen€they€had€married€the€pagan€wives,€were€allowed€to€continue€in€the€priesthood.€Can€youÐ °` Ðimagine€that:€a€divorced€priest€ministering€in€the€house€of€God!Ô#†X·XX#X·c¯#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ œL  ÐÌò òÓ  Óà@@“ “ ìàòòFORNICATION/ADULTERY€AS€SCRIPTURALÐ t$  ÐGROUNDS€FOR€DIVORCEóóó óÐ `  ÐÓ‚´ÓÌà  àOur€second€ground€for€a€scriptural€divorce€is€an€act€of€fornication€known€as€adultery.€ò òÔ#†X·XX#X·J´#Ôó óGodÐ 8è  Ðput€away€His€wife,€Israel,€for€adultery.Ô‡#X·XXX·Ô€€That€makes€adultery€a€scriptural€ground€for€divorce.€GodÐ $Ô  Ðcalled€that€wife€a€harlot€three€different€times€in€Jeremiah€3:1„11,€six€different€times€in€Ezekiel€16:1„Ð À Ð43,€and€four€different€times€in€the€book€of€Hosea.€That€adultery€and€whoredom€was€described€asÐ ü¬ Ðfornication€in€2€Chronicles€21:11,€Ezekiel€16:15,€Ezekiel€16:26,€and€in€Ô#†X·XX#X·åµ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔEzekiel€16:29.€In€RevelationÐ è˜ Ð2:20„22€we€see€fornication€equated€with€adultery€where€we€read:Ð Ô„ ÐÌà8  àRevelation€2:20„22Ð ¬\ Ðòò20€óóNotwithstanding€I€have€a€few€things€against€thee,€because€thou€sufferest€thatÐ ˜H Ðwoman€Jezebel,€which€calleth€herself€a€prophetess,€to€teach€and€to€seduce€myÐ „4 Ðservants€to€commit€fornication,€and€to€eat€things€sacrificed€unto€idols.€òò21€óóAnd€I€gaveÐ p  Ðher€space€to€repent€of€her€fornication;€and€she€repented€not.€òò22€óóBehold,€I€will€cast€herÐ \  Ðinto€a€bed,€and€them€that€commit€adultery€with€her€into€great€tribulation,€except€theyÐ Hø Ðrepent€of€their€deeds.Ô#†X·XX#X·®·#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ4 äÐ Ð  ÐÌSo,€how€is€it€that€adultery€is€not€fornication€and€how€is€it€that€fornication€and€adultery€are€notÐ  "¼ Ðgrounds€for€divorce€in€the€eyes€of€some€doctors€of€the€law?€A€friend€of€ours,€Brother€John€Asquith,Ð ø"¨ Ðargues€that€fornication€and€adultery€are€not€the€same€and€spends€eight€pages€in€his€book€proving€it.Ð ä#” ÐWe€are€not€saying€that€Brother€John€Asquith€is€a€doctor€of€the€law€because€he€is€an€outstandingÐ Ð$€  ÐChristian€man,€the€most€Biblically€literate€individual€we€know,€and€a€wonderful€pastor.€He€hasÐ ¼%l! Ðtaught€us€many€things€that€we€have€never€heard€from€another€man.€Nevertheless,€those€things€lineÐ ¨&X" Ðup€with€the€Scriptures.€He€has€been€a€wonderful€blessing€to€this€author€and€we€love€him,€but€we€doÐ ”'D # Ðnot€agree€with€him€on€this€issue.€While€we€agree€that€fornication€and€adultery€are€not€the€same,€weÐ €(0!$ Ðdo€not€agree€with€anyone€who€states€that€adultery€is€not€an€act€of€fornication.€Adultery€is€an€act€ofÐ l)"% Ðfornication€by€a€married€individual€with€an€individual€they€are€not€married€to.€First€Corinthians€5:1Ð X*#& Ðalso€proves€that€adultery€is€an€act€of€fornicationÔ#†X·XX#X·Ûº#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô.€This€verse€reads:Ð D+ô#' ÐÐ 0,à$( Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·À#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€5:1ÐPÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô1ÔUS.,UK.,ÿÀÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€It€is€reported€commonly€ÔUS.,UK.,/ÁÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôthat€there€isÔUS.,UK.,wÁÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€fornication€among€you,€and€such€fornicationÐ <ì Ðas€is€not€so€much€as€named€among€the€Gentiles,€that€one€should€have€his€fatherððsÐ ( Ø Ðwife.€ÔUS.,UK.,³ÁÔÐ ÄÐ Ð  ÐÌWe€here€quote€Brother€John€Asquith€with€whom€we€disagree€on€the€interpretation€of€1€CorinthiansÐ ì œ Ð5:1:Ð Ø ˆ ÐÌà8  àà ` àThe€Oxford€editors€go€no€further€with€their€proof.€Some€of€the€Brethren€have.Ð °` ÐCertain€of€the€brethren€have€seized€upon€another€use€of€the€word€fornication€as€beingÐ œL  Ðproof€that€its€definition€includes€adultery.€Again,€they€are€wrong.Ј8 Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThey€quote€òòI€Cor.€5:1,€It€is€reported€commonly€that€there€is€fornicationÐ t$  Ðamong€you,€and€such€fornication€as€is€not€so€much€as€named€among€the€Gentiles,Ð `  Ðthat€one€should€have€his€fatherððs€wife.€óóThis,€to€some,€is€proof€positive€thatÐ Lü  Ðfornication€can€mean€adultery.€A€closer€look€at€the€verse€proves€otherwise.Ð8è Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThe€assumption€made€here€is€that€there€is€a€living€father€whose€latest€wife€hasÐ $Ô  Ðbeen€having€an€affair€with€the€manððs€own€son.€Such€a€sin€is€not€without€precedent€inÐ À Ðthe€Word€of€God,€òòGen.€35:22,€49:4.€óóYet€such€a€sin€is€also€named€among€the€Gentiles.Ð ü¬ ÐIn€my€brief€sojourn€on€this€earth,€I€have€heard€of€a€couple€cases€reported.Ðè˜Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àThe€key€to€the€verse€is€the€phrase€òònot€so€much€as€named€among€the€Gentiles.Ð Ô„ ÐóóThere€is€a€perfectly€sound,€rational€explanation€that€does€not€alter€the€wordÐ Àp Ðòòfornication€óóto€give€it€a€definition€that€it€never€had€before€1611€and€has€nowhere€elseÐ ¬\ Ðin€the€AV€1611.€Ô#†X·XX#X·¡À#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôò òó ó[Further€Thoughts€On€The€Word€Of€God,€John€M.€Asquith,€pagesÐ ˜H Ð109„110,€copyright€2005]Є4Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·sÉ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌThis€particular€sin€of€adultery€with€a€stepmother€was€outlawed€in€the€Roman€Empire€when€the€bookÐ \  Ðof€1€Corinthians€was€written.€That€is€why€the€sin€was€not€so€much€as€named€among€the€Gentiles.€InÐ Hø Ðthe€Roman€Empire,€adultery€with€a€stepmother€was€considered€to€be€incest€also€and€resulted€inÐ 4 ä Ðpermanent€exile€and€the€loss€of€citizenship€and€all€property€[Cited€from:€Ô#†X·XX#X·CÊ#ÔJustinian€Code,€Book€IX,Ð  !Ð ÐTitle€IX€of€the€Roman€Code,€The€Law€of€Adultery€and€DebaucheryÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô,€dated€18€B.C.].€The€Holy€GhostÐ  "¼ Ðis€rebuking€the€church€at€Corinth€because€they€were€tolerating€something€that€would€not€even€beÐ ø"¨ Ðtolerated€amongst€unsaved€Gentiles€in€the€Roman€Empire.€The€point€of€the€Holy€Ghost€is€that€theÐ ä#” ÐRomans€were€putting€like€offenders€out€of€the€empire€while€the€church€at€Corinth€was€doing€nothingÐ Ð$€  Ðto€put€the€offender€out€of€the€church.€Brother€John€Asquith€states€that€the€father€called€out€in€1Ð ¼%l! ÐCorinthians€5:1€is€dead€while€we€believe€that€the€father€called€out€is€alive.€So,€what€would€be€theÐ ¨&X" Ðissue€here?€If€the€sonððs€father€was€dead€there€would€be€no€real€issue€here€under€Roman€law.€UnderÐ ”'D # ÐGodððs€law,€it€would€be€an€act€of€fornication€that€would€be€named€among€the€Gentiles.€The€issue€isÐ €(0!$ Ðthat€the€father€is€alive€and€the€son€is€guilty€of€an€act€of€fornication€known€as€adultery€with€hisÐ l)"% Ðfatherððs€wife,€in€other€words,€his€stepmother.€That€is€the€same€issue€with€Reuben€when€he€took€hisÐ X*#& Ðfathers€wife€(concubine),€Bilhah,€in€Genesis€35:22.€Bilhah€was€one€of€Reubenððs€stepmothers.€It€isÐ D+ô#' Ðclear€that€Leviticus€18:8,€Deuteronomy€22:30,€and€Deuteronomy€27:20€are€in€view€in€1€CorinthiansÐ 0,à$( Ð5:1€and€these€verses€read:Ð P ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·˜Ì#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLeviticus€18:8Ð( ØÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô8ÔUS.,UK.,ÅÒÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€The€nakedness€of€thy€fatherððs€wife€shalt€thou€not€uncover:€it€ÔUS.,UK.,õÒÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔisÔUS.,UK.,fÓÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€thy€fatherððsÐ  Ä Ðnakedness.€ÔUS.,UK.,—ÓÔÐ °Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·jÒ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·5Ô#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔDeuteronomy€22:30ÐØ ˆÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô30ÔUS.,UK.,âÔÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€A€man€shall€not€take€his€fatherððs€wife,€nor€discover€his€fatherððs€skirt.€ÔUS.,UK.,ÕÔÐÄ tÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·„Ô#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔDeuteronomy€27:20ÐœL Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô20ÔUS.,UK.,^ÖÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Cursed€ÔUS.,UK.,ÖÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔbeÔUS.,UK.,ÆÖÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€he€that€lieth€with€his€fatherððs€wife;€because€he€uncovereth€his€fatherððsÐ ˆ8  Ðskirt.€And€all€the€people€shall€say,€Amen.€ÔUS.,UK.,÷ÖÔÔ#†X·XX#X·Ö#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Ðt$ Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIf€the€father€were€dead,€the€law€just€cited€would€be€of€none€effect€just€like€the€law€of€notÐ Lü  Ðmarrying€two€sisters€was€of€none€effect€after€the€death€of€one€of€the€sisters€(Leviticus€18:18).€If€theÐ 8è  Ðfather€was€dead,€there€was€no€violation€of€the€law€and€therefore,€no€reason€to€call€it€out€as€the€HolyÐ $Ô  ÐGhost€did€in€1€Corinthians€5.€This€would€be€true€although€it€would€have€been€a€particularly€revoltingÐ À Ðact€of€fornication€with€no€need€to€reference€the€woman€as€being€the€fatherððs€wife€if€the€father€wasÐ ü¬ Ðalready€dead.€There€is€no€provision€in€the€Law€of€Moses€that€prohibited€a€man€from€marrying€a€deadÐ è˜ Ðmanððs€former€wife€provided€they€were€not€blood€kin€as€defined€by€Leviticus€18.€Ô#†X·XX#X·Õ×#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔIt€is€clear€that€theÐ Ô„ ÐKing€James€translatorsÔ#†X·XX#X·jÛ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€knew€that€the€Holy€Ghost€was€making€reference€to€the€Scriptures€we€justÐ Àp Ðquoted€because€they€are€given€as€marginal€cross€references€for€1€Corinthians€5:1.€€What€we€have€inÐ ¬\ Ð1€Corinthians€5:1€is€an€act€of€adultery€being€described€as€fornication€just€as€it€is€in€Matthew€19:9.Ð ˜H ÐIf€fornication€cannot€be€an€act€of€adultery,€then€there€are€no€scriptural€grounds€for€divorce€basedÐ „4 Ðupon€adultery€because€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€òòò òinitiallyó óóó€limited€just€grounds€for€divorce€to€fornication.Ð p  ÐWe€reject€that€notion.€What€that€would€mean€is€that€there€would€be€no€recourse€for€a€spouse€trappedÐ ` Ðin€a€marriage€to€an€adulterous€mate.€It€would€force€the€victimized€spouse€to€live€in€a€polygamousÐ Lü Ðstate€where€they€were€sharing€the€marriage€bed€with€another€mate€of€their€spouse.€Would€that€beÐ 8 è Ðright?Ô#†X·XX#X·ëÛ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€In€fact,€a€New€Testament€law€or€precept€that€allowed€that€situation€to€continue€would€violateÐ $!Ô Ðthe€spirit€of€the€restoration€of€the€ð ðone€fleshðð€ideal€reestablished€by€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€MatthewÐ "À Ð19:4„6€and€Mark€10:6„8.€ò òFor€those€of€you€who€believe€that€a€married€person€cannot€be€guiltyÐ ü"¬ Ðof€fornication,€why€would€adultery/fornication€in€marriage€not€be€justification€for€a€divorceÐ ì#œ Ðand€fornication€before€marriage€would€be?ó ó€Adultery€is€a€much€more€serious€matter€because€itÐ Ø$ˆ  Ðinvolves€an€illicit€sexual€act€and€the€breaking€of€€vows€and/or€a€covenant.€€Also,€if€divorce€is€notÐ È%x! Ðallowed€for€adultery,€how€can€a€spouse€who€is€having€continuous€sexual€affairs€be€stopped?€DoesÐ ´&d" Ðthe€innocent€party€have€to€run€the€risk€of€getting€a€fatal€sexually€transmitted€disease€by€continuingÐ  'P # Ðin€a€marriage€with€a€sexually€promiscuous€spouse€with€no€recourse€to€a€divorce€to€end€the€danger?Ð Œ(ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€it€is€givenÔUS.,UK.,f>ÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,ž>ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,Ë>ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô12ÔUS.,UK.,û>ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,,?ÔÔUKUS.,ÔForÔUS.,UK.,Y?ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€there€areÔUS.,UK.,ˆ?ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€some€eunuchs,ÔUS.,UK.,¾?ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€whichÔUS.,UK.,ø?ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€were€soÔUS.,UK.,*@ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€bornÔUS.,UK.,^@ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fromÔUS.,UK.,@ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,À@ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔtheirÔUS.,UK.,ð@ÔóóÔUKUS.,ÔÐ ü¬ ÐmotherððsÔUS.,UK.,$AÔÔUKUS.,Ô€womb:ÔUS.,UK.,pAÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,¢AÔÔUKUS.,Ô€there€areÔUS.,UK.,ÒAÔÔUKUS.,Ô€some€eunuchs,ÔUS.,UK.,BÔÔUKUS.,Ô€whichÔUS.,UK.,BBÔÔUKUS.,Ô€were€made€eunuchsÔUS.,UK.,tBÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ofÔUS.,UK.,²BÔÔUKUS.,Ô€men:ÔUS.,UK.,áBÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,CÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ è˜ Ðthere€beÔUS.,UK.,BCÔÔUKUS.,Ô€eunuchs,ÔUS.,UK.,‹CÔÔUKUS.,Ô€whichÔUS.,UK.,ÀCÔÔUKUS.,Ô€have€madeÔUS.,UK.,òCÔÔUKUS.,Ô€themselvesÔUS.,UK.,(DÔÔUKUS.,Ô€eunuchsÔUS.,UK.,_DÔÔUKUS.,Ô€forÔUS.,UK.,“DÔÔUKUS.,Ô€the€kingdomÔUS.,UK.,ÃDÔÔUKUS.,Ô€of€heavenððsÐ Ô„ Ðsake.ÔUS.,UK.,ûDÔÔUKUS.,Ô€He€that€is€ableÔUS.,UK.,PEÔÔUKUS.,Ô€to€receiveÔUS.,UK.,ŒEÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,ÃEÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔitÔUS.,UK.,óEÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô,€let€him€receiveÔUS.,UK.,$FÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,aFÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔitÔUS.,UK.,‘FÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,ÂFÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,ïFÔÐÀpÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·‡ #ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMark€10:2„12ИHÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô2ÔUS.,UK.,ÄGÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€the€Pharisees€came€to€him,€and€asked€him,€Is€it€lawful€for€a€man€to€put€awayÐ „4 ÐÔUS.,UK.,ôGÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔhisÔUS.,UK.,‰HÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€wife?€tempting€him.€ÔUS.,UK.,»HÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô3ÔUS.,UK.,ÿHÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€he€answered€and€said€unto€them,€ÔUS.,UK.,/IÔÔUKUS.,ÔWhatÔUS.,UK.,€IÔÔUKUS.,Ô€did€MosesÔUS.,UK.,°IÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ p  ÐcommandÔUS.,UK.,æIÔÔUKUS.,Ô€youÔUS.,UK.,.JÔÔUKUS.,Ô?ÔUS.,UK.,^JÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,‹JÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô4ÔUS.,UK.,»JÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€they€said,€Moses€suffered€to€write€a€bill€of€divorcement,€andÐ \  Ðto€put€ÔUS.,UK.,ëJÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔherÔUS.,UK.,xKÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€away.€ÔUS.,UK.,ªKÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô5ÔUS.,UK.,àKÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€Jesus€answered€and€said€unto€them,€ÔUS.,UK.,LÔÔUKUS.,ÔForÔUS.,UK.,dLÔÔUKUS.,Ô€the€hardnessÔUS.,UK.,“LÔÔUKUS.,Ô€of€yourÔUS.,UK.,ÌLÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ Hø ÐheartÔUS.,UK.,MÔÔUKUS.,Ô€he€wroteÔUS.,UK.,FMÔÔUKUS.,Ô€youÔUS.,UK.,{MÔÔUKUS.,Ô€thisÔUS.,UK.,«MÔÔUKUS.,Ô€preceptÔUS.,UK.,ÜMÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,NÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,=NÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô6ÔUS.,UK.,mNÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,NÔÔUKUS.,ÔButÔUS.,UK.,ÊNÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fromÔUS.,UK.,ùNÔÔUKUS.,Ô€the€beginningÔUS.,UK.,*OÔÔUKUS.,Ô€of€the€creationÔUS.,UK.,dOÔÔUKUS.,Ô€GodÔUS.,UK., OÔÔUKUS.,Ô€madeÔUS.,UK.,ÐOÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ 4 ä ÐthemÔUS.,UK.,PÔÔUKUS.,Ô€maleÔUS.,UK.,FPÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,wPÔÔUKUS.,Ô€femaleÔUS.,UK.,§PÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,ÚPÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,QÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô7ÔUS.,UK.,7QÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,gQÔÔUKUS.,ÔFor€this€causeÔUS.,UK.,”QÔÔUKUS.,Ô€shallÔUS.,UK.,ÎQÔÔUKUS.,Ô€a€manÔUS.,UK.,RÔÔUKUS.,Ô€leaveÔUS.,UK.,2RÔÔUKUS.,Ô€hisÔUS.,UK.,dRÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fatherÔUS.,UK.,”RÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,ÇRÔÔUKUS.,Ô€mother,ÔUS.,UK.,÷RÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,+SÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ  !Ð ÐcleaveÔUS.,UK.,[SÔÔUKUS.,Ô€toÔUS.,UK.,¢SÔÔUKUS.,Ô€hisÔUS.,UK.,ÑSÔÔUKUS.,Ô€wifeÔUS.,UK.,TÔÔUKUS.,Ô;ÔUS.,UK.,2TÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,_TÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô8ÔUS.,UK.,TÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,¿TÔÔUKUS.,ÔAndÔUS.,UK.,ìTÔÔUKUS.,Ô€they€twainÔUS.,UK.,UÔÔUKUS.,Ô€shall€beÔUS.,UK.,RUÔÔUKUS.,Ô€oneÔUS.,UK.,‡UÔÔUKUS.,Ô€flesh:ÔUS.,UK.,·UÔÔUKUS.,Ô€so€thenÔUS.,UK.,êUÔÔUKUS.,Ô€they€areÔUS.,UK.,VÔÔUKUS.,Ô€no€moreÔUS.,UK.,SVÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ  "¼ Ðtwain,ÔUS.,UK.,‡VÔÔUKUS.,Ô€butÔUS.,UK.,ÎVÔÔUKUS.,Ô€oneÔUS.,UK.,þVÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fleshÔUS.,UK.,.WÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,`WÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,WÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô9ÔUS.,UK.,½WÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,íWÔÔUKUS.,ÔWhatÔUS.,UK.,XÔÔUKUS.,Ô€thereforeÔUS.,UK.,JXÔÔUKUS.,Ô€GodÔUS.,UK.,€XÔÔUKUS.,Ô€hath€joined€together,ÔUS.,UK.,°XÔÔUKUS.,Ô€letÔUS.,UK.,òXÔÔUKUS.,Ô€notÔUS.,UK.,"YÔÔUKUS.,Ô€manÔUS.,UK.,RYÔÔUKUS.,Ô€putÐ ø"¨ ÐasunderÔUS.,UK.,‚YÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,ÎYÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,ûYÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô10ÔUS.,UK.,+ZÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€in€the€house€his€disciples€asked€him€again€of€the€same€ÔUS.,UK.,\ZÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔmatterÔUS.,UK.,ÇZÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô.€ÔUS.,UK.,üZÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô11ÔUS.,UK.,-[ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€AndÐ ä#” Ðhe€saith€unto€them,€ÔUS.,UK.,^[ÔÔUKUS.,ÔWhosoeverÔUS.,UK.,·[ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€shall€put€awayÔUS.,UK.,ì[ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€hisÔUS.,UK.,'\ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€wife,ÔUS.,UK.,W\ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,‰\ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€marryÔUS.,UK.,¹\ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€another,ÔUS.,UK.,ë\ÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ Ð$€  Ðcommitteth€adulteryÔUS.,UK., ]ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€againstÔUS.,UK.,t]ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€herÔUS.,UK.,¨]ÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,Ø]ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,^ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô12ÔUS.,UK.,5^ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,f^ÔÔUKUS.,ÔAndÔUS.,UK.,“^ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ifÔUS.,UK.,Â^ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€a€womanÔUS.,UK.,ñ^ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€shall€put€awayÔUS.,UK.,%_ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€herÔUS.,UK.,`_ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€husband,ÔUS.,UK.,_ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,Å_ÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ ¼%l! Ðbe€marriedÔUS.,UK.,õ_ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€to€another,ÔUS.,UK.,@`ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€she€committeth€adulteryÔUS.,UK.,x`ÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,¼`ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,é`ÔШ&X"Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·kG#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLuke€16:18Ѐ(0!$Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô18ÔUS.,UK.,ÞaÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,bÔÔUKUS.,ÔWhosoeverÔUS.,UK.,ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€wife.€ÔUS.,UK.,W>ÔÐÔ&„"Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·Ô:#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà8  àÔÀ(p!¬(\!ÔÔ#†X·XX#X·Ì>#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€7:15ÐÀ(p!$Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔÀ)p"¬)\"ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô15ÔUS.,UK.,¤?ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€But€if€the€unbelieving€depart,€let€him€depart.€A€brother€or€a€sister€is€not€underÐ À)p"% Ðbondage€in€such€ÔUS.,UK.,Õ?ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔcasesÔUS.,UK.,{@ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô:€but€God€hath€called€us€to€peace.€ÔUS.,UK.,¯@ÔЬ*\#&Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·0?#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ ˜+H$' Ðà8  àÔdPÔÔ#†X·XX#X·@A#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€7:27„28ÐdÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÔdPÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô27ÔUS.,UK.,/BÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Art€thou€bound€unto€a€wife?€seek€not€to€be€loosed.€Art€thou€loosed€from€a€wife?Ð d Ðseek€not€a€wife.€ÔUS.,UK.,`BÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô28ÔUS.,UK.,CÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€But€and€if€thou€marry,€thou€hast€not€sinned;€and€if€a€virgin€marry,Ð P  Ðshe€hath€not€sinned.€Nevertheless€such€shall€have€trouble€in€the€flesh:€but€I€spare€you.Ð < ì ÐÔUS.,UK.,6CÔÐ Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·¸A#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔIt€was€God€the€Holy€Ghost€that€made€those€statements.€Though€it€was€not€some€scribe€or€PhariseeÐ  Ä Ðthat€made€the€above€statements,€it€is€always€a€bunch€of€scribes€and€Pharisees€that€will€deny€them.Ð  ° ÐWe€have€heard€many€men€twist€and€contort€the€words€unmarried,€bondage,€bound,€and€loosed€in€1Ð ì œ ÐCorinthians€7€into€the€most€mangled€verbal€mess€we€have€ever€heard.€They€would€put€mostР؈ Ðpropagandists€to€shame.€It€makes€you€wonder€if€English€is€their€first€language.€If€you€have€a€problemÐ Ät  Ðinterpreting€the€words€bound€and€loosed,€go€and€look€again€at€Romans€7:1„4€for€the€contextualÐ °`  Ðdefinition€that€is€the€same€as€it€is€in€1€Corinthians€7.€The€reason€some€have€a€problem€with€thisÐ œL  Ðpassage€is€because€they€see€an€apparent€contradiction€with€the€words€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€thatÐ ˆ8  Ðis€somewhat€difficult€to€explain€without€the€application€of€the€Laws€of€Progressive€Revelation€andÐ t$  ÐProgressive€Mention.€What€we€have€in€1€Corinthians€7€is€not€a€contradiction€of€the€words€of€theÐ `  ÐLord€Jesus€Christ,€but€rather€further€revelation€on€the€doctrine€of€marriage,€divorce,€and€remarriageÔ#†X·XX#X·bD#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Lü  Ðby€the€Holy€Ghost.€It€is€an€addition€to€the€doctrine€of€marriage,€divorce,€and€remarriageÔ#†X·XX#X·–I#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€by€the€HolyÐ 8è ÐGhost.€Ð $Ô ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·FJ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà@b b ìàò òREMARRIAGE€AFTER€DEATH€AND€DIVORCEó óˆÐ ü¬ ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·ÅJ#Ôà  àWhen€the€scriptural€conditions€are€given€allowing€for€divorce€and€remarriage,€in€no€case€isÐ Ô„ Ða€ceremony€stated€or€implied.€It€is€assumed€that€the€marriage€is€made€and€broken€by€a€sexual€act.€Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔInÐ Àp Ðthe€case€of€a€broken€marriage,€a€bill€of€divorcement€was€required.€Ô#†X·XX#X·7L#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·ÔWe€are€going€to€turn€to€someÐ ¬\ Ðcomments€made€by€Brother€Harold€Sightler.€We€will€briefly€refute€his€comments€and€then€moveÐ ˜H Ðonto€a€deeper€analysis€of€the€whole€issue€of€remarriage.€Brother€Harold€Sightler€said:Ð „4 ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðIn€Matthew€19:8„9;€Mark€10:11„12;€Luke€16:18,€the€grounds€for€divorce€isÐ \  Ðonly€ð ðfornicationðð;€and€the€remarriage€of€the€divorced€person€is€forbidden.€And€letÐ H!ø Ðus€remember€that€this€is€the€ONLY€grounds€upon€which€one€may€scripturallyÐ 4"ä Ðdivorceðð.€(Page€7,€Divorce€and€Remarriage,€Harold€B.€SightlerÔ#†X·XXX·ÓL#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ô)ò òÔÿÔ€ó óÔÿÊOÔÔ#†X·XXX·§O#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·ÔÐ #ÐÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àLuke€16:18€does€not€include€fornication€as€a€grounds€for€divorce,€but€fornication€is€includedÐ ü$¬  Ðas€a€grounds€for€divorce€in€Matthew€19:8„9€and€Mark€10:11„12.€Ô#†X·XXX·P#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔIn€a€scriptural€divorce,€theÐ è%˜! Ðpermission€to€remarry€is€granted€by€the€bill€of€divorcement.€The€topic€under€discussion€in€MatthewÐ Ô&„" Ð19€and€Mark€10€was€divorce€and€òòò òremarriageó óóó.€There€was€no€question€in€the€words€of€the€Lord€JesusÐ À'p # ÐChrist€that€fornication€was€a€scriptural€(lawful)€ground€for€divorce.€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€made€itÐ °(`!$ Ðso€himself€when€he€said€a€married€woman€could€fornicate€and€that€it€was€grounds€for€divorce.€TheÐ œ)L"% Ðanswer€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€made€it€lawful€for€the€innocent€party€to€remarry€when€their€spouseÐ ˆ*8#& Ðwas€guilty€of€fornication.€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€made€it€plain€that€if€anyone€married€a€person€thatÐ t+$$' Ðhad€been€put€away€for€fornication€then€they€themselves€were€guilty€of€adultery.Ô#†X·XX#X·3Q#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ô€Brother€HaroldÐ P ÐSightler€also€said:Ð <ì ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðThe€question€is€often€asked,€Why€cannot€the€innocent€party€remarry€afterÐ  Ä Ðdivorcing€according€to€the€scripture?€Look€again€carefully€at€the€passage€above,Ð  ° ÐMatthew€19:€8„9,€ð ðWhosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife€except€it€be€for€fornication,Ð ì œ Ðand€shall€marry€another,€committeth€adultery.ðð€This€is€the€innocent€man€whose€wifeÐ Ø ˆ Ðis€put€away€for€fornication€who€is€forbidden€to€remarry.€If€we€reread€the€passagesÐ Ä t Ðfrom€Romans€7:2„3€and€I€Corinthians€7:10„12€as€well€as€the€passages€in€GenesisÐ °` Ðwhich€refer€to€the€origin,€purpose€and€sacredness€of€the€marriage€relation,€we€mustÐ œL  Ðconclude€that€it€was€never€in€the€mind€of€God,€nor€did€it€occur€to€Jesus€when€HeÐ ˆ8  Ðexplained€the€matter€to€the€Pharisees,€that€remarriage€could€be€permittedðð.€(Pages€7„Ð t$  Ð8,€Divorce€and€Remarriage,€Harold€B.€SightlerÔ#†X·XXX·ÈT#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ô)Ô#†X·XXX·9Y#Ôò òó óÔ‡X·XXX·ÔÐ` Ð Ð  ÐÌÔÿÔà  àÔÿÁYÔThe€innocent€man€is€òòò òNOTó óóó€forbidden€to€remarry.€This€interpretation€by€Brother€HaroldÐ 8è  ÐSightler€is€just€plain€wrong.€The€concept€of€remarriage€did€occur€to€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€becauseÐ (Ø  Ðhe€used€the€word€ð ðremarryðð€in€His€response€to€the€Pharisees.€When€the€Pharisees€came€to€the€LordÐ Ä ÐJesus€Christ€in€Matthew€19,€their€whole€fallacious€argument€was€based€upon€a€licentiousÐ ° Ðinterpretation€of€Deuteronomy€24:1„4.€The€context€of€the€question€that€the€Pharisees€asked€plainlyÐ ìœ Ðincluded€divorce€AND€remarriage:€twice,€in€fact.€Read€Deuteronomy€24:2„3€again€and€again€veryР؈ Ðslowly€and€very€carefully.€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€his€answer€to€the€Pharisees€also€answered€theirÐ Ät Ðquestion€in€the€context€of€ð ðputting€away€AND€shall€marry€another€(remarry)ðð.€In€His€response€to€theÐ °` ÐPharisees,€not€only€did€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€do€away€with€theð ðfor€every€causeðð€divorceÐ œL Ðinterpretation,€but€He€also€overrode€the€Old€Testament€death€penalty€required€for€adultery€fromÐ ˆ8 ÐLeviticus€20:10€and€Deuteronomy€22:21„24.€Brother€Sightler€goes€on€to€say:Ð t$ ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðTo€marry€the€second€time€is€wrong€and€sinful....It€is€better,€beloved,€to€beÐ Lü Ðon€the€safe€side€and€not€to€guess€at€the€will€of€God€or€risk€disobedienceðð.€(Page€8,Ð 8 è ÐDivorce€and€Remarriage,€Harold€B.€SightlerÔ#†X·XXX·‚Y#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ô)ò òó óÔ#†X·XXX·`#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ô€Ð$!ÔÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€Bible€nowhere€says€that€it€is€wrong€and€sinful€to€marry€a€second€time.€That€has€to€beÐ ü"¬ Ðread€into€the€Bible€through€the€prism€of€someoneððs€doctrinal€bias.€It€is€based€upon€the€false€ideas€thatÐ è#˜ Ðboth€parties€to€a€divorce€are€always€wrong,€that€God€does€not€allow€divorce€under€any€circumstances,Ð Ô$„  Ðand€that€God€does€not€allow€remarriage.šÔ#†X·XXX·g`#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€It€is€better€not€to€do€anything€less€or€do€anything€more€thanÐ À%p! Ðwhat€the€Scriptures€require€than€it€is€to€risk€adding€to€or€taking€away€from€the€Word€of€God€byÐ ¬&\" Ðyielding€to€the€unscriptural€prejudices€and€fears€of€men.€Yielding€to€the€prejudices€and€fears€of€menÐ ˜'H # Ðis€the€source€of€much€heresy€and€apostasy€in€the€Church.€That€is€why€we€demand€a€literalÐ „(4!$ Ðinterpretation€of€the€Scriptures.€When€we€do€not€yield€to€the€whole€counsel€of€God€on€a€particularÐ p) "% Ðsubject,€we€risk€disobedience,€apostasy,€and€heresy.Ð \* #& ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·eb#Ôà  àReturning€to€the€issue€of€fornication€as€it€relates€to€the€grounds€for€lawful€divorce€andÐ H+ø#' Ðremarriage€we€want€to€reemphasize€that€contrary€to€what€is€taught€and€preached€in€manyÐ 4,ä$( Ðfundamentalist€and€independent€and€denominational€Baptist€churches,€a€married€person€can€be€guiltyÐ P Ðof€fornication€(See€our€detailed€discussion€under€fornication€above).€€The€proof€of€that€statement€isÐ <ì Ðgiven€by€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€Matthew€19:9.€That€also€makes€sex€between€a€man€and€a€womanÐ ( Ø Ðwho€are€unmarried€fornication.€A€€married€person€who€commits€adultery€is€guilty€of€both€adulteryÐ  Ä Ðand€fornication.€€The€bottom€line€is€that€both€married€and€single€people€can€be€guilty€of€fornication.Ð  ° ÐFornication€is€any€sex€outside€of€the€God€ordained€boundaries€of€marriage.€€That€makes€pornographyÐ ì œ Ðfornication.€That€makes€sodomy€fornication.€€In€other€words,€that€makes€sex€between€a€man€and€aÐ Ø ˆ Ðman€and€a€woman€and€a€woman€€fornication.€What€the€world€calls€homosexuality€and€lesbianism,Ð Ä t Ðthe€word€of€God€calls€sodomy.€€The€Bible€does€not€refer€to€them€as€homosexuals,€and€lesbians,€andÐ °` Ðgays.€The€Bible€calls€them€sodomites.€The€necessity€of€dealing€with€€sodomy€as€being€fornicationÐ œL  Ðwhen€dealing€with€the€issue€of€scriptural€marriage€has€come€to€the€forefront€in€the€year€2014€becauseÐ ˆ8  Ðmany€relationships€between€husband€and€wife€are€being€destroyed€by€many€sodomites€andÐ t$  Ðsodmitesses€coming€out€of€Satanððs€closet€and€deserting€their€spouses.€For€those€of€you€who€believeÐ `  Ðthat€the€fornication€called€out€by€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€Matthew€5:32€and€Matthew€19:9€is€sexÐ Lü  Ðbefore€marriage,€or€sex€between€couples€neither€of€whom€is€married,€what€are€you€going€to€do€whenÐ 8è  Ðthe€sodomite€or€sodomitess€who€comes€out€of€Satanððs€closet€starts€running€around€on€their€mates€inÐ $Ô  Ða€same€sex€abominable€relationship?€Are€you€going€to€require€that€the€innocent€mate€remain€in€theÐ À Ðrelationship€and€endanger€their€lives?€If€they€get€scripturally€divorced,€are€you€going€to€require€themÐ ü¬ Ðto€remain€celibate€and€unmarried€for€the€rest€of€their€lives€in€violation€of€Matthew€19:9€and€1Ð è˜ ÐCorinthians€7€verses€15,€27,€and€28?€Or,€will€you€say€in€your€self€righteous,€pharisaical€hypocrisyÐ Ô„ Ðthat€they€should€not€have€the€desire€to€have€a€sexual€relationship€while€you€continue€to€have€aÐ Àp Ðnormal€sexual€relationship€with€your€spouse?€Brother€Karl€Baker€has€well€said:€Ð ¬\ ÐÌà8  àð ðThe€answer€the€good€doctors€have€for€all€this€is;€the€innocent€must€stay€unmarriedÐ „4 Ðand€wait€upon€their€spouses€return€or€the€tranquility€that€only€death€can€bring!€TheÐ p  Ðproblem€is,€this€sounds€fine€if€the€Lord€commanded€such.€However,€that€is€not€whatÐ \  Ðthe€Scriptures€say€and€I,€as€a€minister,€am€not€going€to€help€support€a€false€andÐ Hø Ðerroneous€method€of€sanctimonious€spiritualityðð.€ò òó ó[The€Marriage€&€DivorceÐ 4 ä ÐControversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€113]Ð !ÐÐ Ð  ÐÌÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔIn€Matthew€19:12€and€1€Corinthians€7:7,€celibacy€is€described€as€a€proper€gift€of€God€that€would€notÐ ø"¨ Ðbe€able€to€be€received€by€some.€€Forbidding€to€marry€or€remarry€when€the€Scriptures€allow€it€isÐ ä#” Ðdescribed€as€a€doctrine€of€devils€in€1€Timothy€4.€Ô#†X·XX#X·cr#ÔForbidding€to€marry€or€remarry€reeks€of€the€heresyÐ Ð$€  Ðof€Roman€Catholic€celibacy.€It€comes€from€the€same€Roman€Catholic€theological€crypt€as€forbiddingÐ ¼%l! Ðdivorce€under€any€circumstances.€THE€BIBLE€SAYS:€IT€IS€BETTER€TO€MARRY€THAN€BURN!Ð ¨&X" ÐTHE€BIBLE€SAYS:€BUT€AND€IF€THOU€MARRY,€THOU€HAST€NOT€SINNED!šÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ ”'D # Ðà  àMuch€of€the€argument€as€to€whether€a€divorced€person€can€remarry€is€based€upon€a€falseÐ €(0!$ Ðbelief€that€divorce€does€not€end€a€marriage€or€that€divorce€is€never€allowed€under€any€circumstances.Ð l)"% ÐTherefore,€so€the€unscriptural€argument€goes,€since€divorce€is€never€permitted,€then€remarriage€isÐ X*#& Ðout€of€the€question.€Now,€letððs€look€at€Matthew€19:3„12€where€it€is€written:Ð D+ô#' ÐÐ 0,à$( Ðà8  àMatthew€19:3„12€ÐPÐ Ð  Ðà8  à3€The€Pharisees€also€came€unto€him,€tempting€him,€and€saying€unto€him,€Is€it€lawfulÐ <ì Ðfor€a€man€to€put€away€his€wife€for€every€cause?€4€And€he€answered€and€said€untoÐ ( Ø Ðthem,€Have€ye€not€read,€that€he€which€madeòò€themóó€at€the€beginning€made€them€maleÐ  Ä Ðand€female,€5€And€said,€For€this€cause€shall€a€man€leave€father€and€mother,€and€shallÐ  ° Ðcleave€to€his€wife:€and€they€twain€shall€be€one€flesh?€6€Wherefore€they€are€no€moreÐ ì œ Ðtwain,€but€one€flesh.€What€therefore€God€hath€joined€together,€let€not€man€putÐ Ø ˆ Ðasunder.€7€They€say€unto€him,€Why€did€Moses€then€command€to€give€a€writing€ofÐ Ä t Ðdivorcement,€and€to€put€her€away?€8€He€saith€unto€them,€Moses€because€of€theÐ °` Ðhardness€of€your€hearts€suffered€you€to€put€away€your€wives:€but€from€the€beginningÐ œL  Ðit€was€not€so.€9€And€I€say€unto€you,€Whosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,€exceptòò€it€beóóÐ ˆ8  Ðfor€fornication,€and€shall€marry€another,€committeth€adultery:€and€whoso€marrieth€herÐ t$  Ðwhich€is€put€away€doth€commit€adultery.€10€His€disciples€say€unto€him,€If€the€caseÐ `  Ðof€the€man€be€so€withòò€hisóó€wife,€it€is€not€good€to€marry.€11€But€he€said€unto€them,€AllòòÐ Lü  Ðmenóó€cannot€receive€this€saying,€saveòò€theyóó€to€whom€it€is€given.€12€For€there€are€someÐ 8è  Ðeunuchs,€which€were€so€born€fromòò€theiróó€motherððs€womb:€and€there€are€someÐ $Ô  Ðeunuchs,€which€were€made€eunuchs€of€men:€and€there€be€eunuchs,€which€have€madeÐ À Ðthemselves€eunuchs€for€the€kingdom€of€heavenððs€sake.€He€that€is€able€to€receiveòò€itóó,Ð ü¬ Ðlet€him€receiveòò€itóó.Ðè˜Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·$u#Ôò òÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôó óÌò òà  àThe€whole€context€of€Matthew€19:3„12€is€lawful€divorce€and€lawful€remarriageó ó.€To€useÐ Àp Ðthese€verses€to€teach€that€a€divorced€person€cannot€remarry€is€twisting€the€whole€passage€out€ofÐ °` Ðcontext€to€promote€a€preconceived€unscriptural€doctrine€that€divorced€people€can€never€remarry.Ð œL ÐWhat€we€are€obviously€dealing€with€here€are€matters€hard€to€be€understood€because€most€of€ourÐ ˆ8 Ðfundamentalist€and€Independent€Baptist€preachers,€pastors,€and€teachers€wrest€these€Scriptures€to€theÐ t$ Ðdestruction€of€their€divorced€brethren€and€make€their€divorced€brethren€unto€themselves€as€heathenÐ ` Ðmen€and€publicans.€What€the€phrase€ð ðand€shall€marry€anotherðð€does€is€put€the€whole€passage€in€theÐ Lü Ðcontext€of€divorce€and€remarriage.€What€this€passage€also€teaches€is€that€a€married€person€can€beÐ 8 è Ðguilty€of€fornication€unlike€some€who€teach€the€false€doctrine€that€a€married€person€cannot€be€guiltyÐ $!Ô Ðof€fornication€in€the€present€tense.€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€himself€said€that€a€wife€can€commitÐ "À Ðfornication€in€Matthew€19:9.€Adultery€is€an€act€of€fornication€that€becomes€the€crime€of€adulteryÐ ü"¬ Ðwhen€the€act€of€fornication€is€committed€by€a€married€person€with€a€person€that€they€are€not€marriedÐ è#˜ Ðto.€If€a€wife€can€be€guilty€of€fornication€when€she€commits€adultery,€then€a€husband€can€be€guilty€ofÐ Ô$„  Ðfornication€when€he€commits€adultery.€The€complimentary€passages€to€Matthew€19:3„12€are€locatedÐ À%p! Ðin€Mark€10:2„12€and€in€Luke€16:18.Ð ¬&\" Ðò òó óÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·Ô~#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMark€10:2„12€Ð„(4!$Ð Ð  Ðà8  à2€And€the€Pharisees€came€to€him,€and€asked€him,€Is€it€lawful€for€a€man€to€put€awayòòÐ p) "% Ðhisóó€wife?€tempting€him.€3€And€he€answered€and€said€unto€them,€What€did€MosesÐ \* #& Ðcommand€you?€4€And€they€said,€Moses€suffered€to€write€a€bill€of€divorcement,€andÐ H+ø#' Ðto€putòò€heróó€away.€5€And€Jesus€answered€and€said€unto€them,€For€the€hardness€of€yourÐ 4,ä$( Ðheart€he€wrote€you€this€precept.€6€But€from€the€beginning€of€the€creation€God€madeÐ P Ðthem€male€and€female.€7€For€this€cause€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€mother,€andÐ <ì Ðcleave€to€his€wife;€8€And€they€twain€shall€be€one€flesh:€so€then€they€are€no€moreÐ ( Ø Ðtwain,€but€one€flesh.€9€What€therefore€God€hath€joined€together,€let€not€man€putÐ  Ä Ðasunder.€10€And€in€the€house€his€disciples€asked€him€again€of€the€sameòò€matteróó.€11Ð  ° ÐAnd€he€saith€unto€them,€Whosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,€and€marry€another,Ð ì œ Ðcommitteth€adultery€against€her.€12€And€if€a€woman€shall€put€away€her€husband,€andÐ Ø ˆ Ðbe€married€to€another,€she€committeth€adultery.ÐÄ tÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ç…#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔLuke€16:18€ÐœL Ð Ð  Ðà8  à18€Whosoever€putteth€away€his€wife,€and€marrieth€another,€committeth€adultery:€andÐ ˆ8  Ðwhosoever€marrieth€her€that€is€put€away€fromòò€heróó€husband€committeth€adultery.Ðt$ Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·+‹#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€7€ÐLü Ð Ð  Ðà8  à8€I€say€therefore€to€the€unmarried€and€widows,€It€is€good€for€them€if€they€abide€evenÐ 8è  Ðas€I.€9€But€if€they€cannot€contain,€let€them€marry:€for€it€is€better€to€marry€than€to€burn.Ð $Ô  Ð10€And€unto€the€married€I€command,òò€yetóó€not€I,€but€the€Lord,€Let€not€the€wife€departÐ À Ðfromòò€heróó€husband:€11€But€and€if€she€depart,€let€her€remain€unmarried,€or€beÐ ü¬ Ðreconciled€toòò€heróó€husband:€and€let€not€the€husband€put€awayòò€hisóó€wife.€12€But€to€theÐ è˜ Ðrest€speak€I,€not€the€Lord:€If€any€brother€hath€a€wife€that€believeth€not,€and€she€beÐ Ô„ Ðpleased€to€dwell€with€him,€let€him€not€put€her€away.€13€And€the€woman€which€hathÐ Àp Ðan€husband€that€believeth€not,€and€if€he€be€pleased€to€dwell€with€her,€let€her€not€leaveÐ ¬\ Ðhim.€14€For€the€unbelieving€husband€is€sanctified€by€the€wife,€and€the€unbelievingÐ ˜H Ðwife€is€sanctified€by€the€husband:€else€were€your€children€unclean;€but€now€are€theyÐ „4 Ðholy.€15€But€if€the€unbelieving€depart,€let€him€depart.€A€brother€or€a€sister€is€notÐ p  Ðunder€bondage€in€suchòò€casesóó:€but€God€hath€called€us€to€peace.€27€Art€thou€boundÐ \  Ðunto€a€wife?€seek€not€to€be€loosed.€Art€thou€loosed€from€a€wife?€seek€not€a€wife.€28Ð Hø ÐBut€and€if€thou€marry,€thou€hast€not€sinned;€and€if€a€virgin€marry,€she€hath€notÐ 4 ä Ðsinned.€Nevertheless€such€shall€have€trouble€in€the€flesh:€but€I€spare€you.€39€The€wifeÐ  !Ð Ðis€bound€by€the€law€as€long€as€her€husband€liveth;€but€if€her€husband€be€dead,€she€isÐ  "¼ Ðat€liberty€to€be€married€to€whom€she€will;€only€in€the€Lord.Ô#†X·XX#X·‰Œ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐø"¨Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·ç“#Ôûÿÿdûà  àüÿÿdüAccording€to€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ,€divorce€does€end€a€marriage.€Why€did€the€Lord€JesusÐ Ð$€  ÐChrist€say€to€the€woman€at€the€well€in€John€4:€ð ðthou€HAST€HAD€five€husbands€and€what€was€herÐ ¼%l! Ðsin?š€She€was€obviously€having€sex€with€a€man€who€was€not€her€husband€because€he€was€married€toÐ ¨&X" Ðanother€woman!€She€was€committing€adultery€and€fornication€and€he€was€committing€adultery€andÐ ”'D # Ðfornication.€Also,€the€clear€implication€of€this€passage€is€that€she€has€been€divorced€five€times.€WhyÐ €(0!$ Ðwould€the€Lord€hold€it€against€her€that€she€had€been€married€five€times,€if€those€men€had€simplyÐ l)"% Ðdied?€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€showed€us€that€she€was€a€sexually€promiscuous€woman,€living€with€aÐ X*#& Ðman€who€was€not€her€husband.€Notice€that€he€does€not€say€that€she€is€married€to€all€five€of€thoseÐ D+ô#' Ðmen.€He€says€that€she€ð ðhast€hadðð€(past-tense)€five€husbands.€She€is€no€longer€married€to€those€men.šÐ 0,à$( ÐòòóóTherefore,€it€is€inaccurate€to€speak€of€a€divorced€person€as€having€multiple€living€spouses€becauseÐ P Ðof€the€divorces.€If€her€previous€divorces€had€not€dissolved€those€previous€marriages,€the€Lord€JesusÐ <ì ÐChrist€would€have€said€that€ð ðthou€hast€(present€tense)€five€husbandsðð.€So€much€for€those€preachers,Ð ( Ø Ðpastors,€and€teachers€that€state€that€a€divorced€man€has€more€than€one€wife€if€he€remarries.€ThatÐ  Ä Ðwhole€theory€is€blown€out€of€the€water€with€this€one€passage€of€Scripture!€Do€you€actually€think€theÐ  ° ÐLord€Jesus€Christ€would€change€his€wording€if€it€was€a€man€at€the€well€who€ð ðhast€hadðð€five€wives?Ð ì œ ÐBased€upon€what€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€said€here,€you€cannot€say€that€a€lawfully€divorced€man€orÐ Ø ˆ Ðwoman€who€is€married€now€has€more€than€one€husband€or€wife.€When€a€person€is€divorced€from€aÐ Ä t Ðspouse,€that€person€is€no€longer€their€spouse€in€any€sense€of€the€word.€Otherwise,€the€Lord€JesusÐ °` ÐChrist€would€have€used€the€present€tense€to€indicate€that€the€five€men€were€still€her€husbands.š€ûÿÿdûÐ œL  Ðà  àüÿÿdüWe€have€already€proven€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€divorce€and€remarriage€are€allowedÐ ˆ8  Ðin€the€case€where€a€spouse€€is€guilty€of€the€act€of€fornication€called€adultery.€We€have€also€provedÐ t$  Ðthat€divorce€permanently€dissolves€the€marriage€and€that€people€who€are€scripturally€divorced€areÐ `  Ðallowed€to€remarry.€Brother€Karl€Baker€had€this€to€say€concerning€the€issue€of€remarriage:Ð Lü  ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðDivorce€is€a€divine€sanctioned€grace€in€the€New€Testament€established€byÐ $Ô  Ðour€Lord€himself€(Matthew€19€and€1€Corinthians€7)....€Divorce€therefore€has€to€be€aÐ À Ðloosing€of€the€marital€bonds€(1€Corinthians€7:15).€For€those€who€know€the€lawÐ ü¬ Ð(Romans€7:1),€divorce€also€annuls€the€relationship€and€allows€a€divorced€person,€byÐ è˜ Ðthe€permissive€will€of€God€to€marry€another€person€without€being€an€adultererÐ Ô„ Ð(Deuteronomy€24:1„4)€just€as€death€separates€the€bond€in€unquestionable€termsÐ Àp Ð(Romans€7:4„6).€Therefore,€divorce€does€the€same€to€those€who€have€chosen€deathÐ ¬\ Ðover€life€in€the€spiritual€sense€(1€Timothy€5,€1€Corinthians€7:14„15,€Romans€8:5„8,Ð ˜H ÐEphesians€2:1„5,€and€2€Corinthians€5:11„12)€as€much€as€death€in€the€physical€sense.Ð „4 ÐThe€minister€of€the€gospel€has€no€right€to€take€upon€himself€a€self„imposed€law€ofÐ p  Ðrighteousness€for€the€sake€of€preserving€the€church€against€the€so„called€ð ðevil€fruitsððÐ \  Ðof€unrighteousness€because€he€feels€if€he€doesnððt€the€life€of€the€church€will€die€or€theÐ Hø Ðchurch€will€be€affected€by€the€evil€to€such€a€degree€she€will€never€recover.šðð€[TheÐ 4 ä ÐMarriage€&€Divorce€Controversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€71]Ð !ÐÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðDr.€Ballew€says:€Even€though€the€Lord€permits€a€man€to€put€away€his€wifeÐ ø"¨ Ðon€the€basis€of€fornication,€he€does€not€clearly€give€him€freedom€to€remarry....€KarlÐ ä#” ÐBaker€says:€Now€if€a€man€is€divorced€in€the€eyes€of€God€(Jesus€is€God€manifest€inÐ Ð$€  Ðthe€flesh,€is€he€not?);€And€if€the€woman€may€go€and€be€another€manððs€wife€lawfullyÐ ¼%l! Ð(Deuteronomy€24:2„3);€and€if€in€fact€she€can€do€it€twice€(Deuteronomy€24:3);€thenÐ ¨&X" Ðdo€you€mean€to€tell€me€the€divorce€did€not€totally€and€unconditionally€separate€theÐ ”'D # Ðtwo€so€the€man€could€marry€again?ò òšó óðð€[The€Marriage€&€Divorce€Controversy,€KarlÐ €(0!$ ÐBaker,€page€88]Ðl)"%Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðBoth€they€that€have€been€loosed€who€choose€to€remarry€and€virgins€areÐ D+ô#' Ðexplicitly€told€that€the€choice€of€marriage€is€ultimately€a€personal€decision€of€self„Ð 0,à$( Ðdetermined€necessity€and€although€marriage€may€cause€ð ðtrouble€in€the€fleshðð€(verseÐ P Ð28),€the€trouble€is€not€because€of€sin€(verse€28),€it€is€just€more€of€the€present€distressÐ <ì Ðof€life€(verse€26)....€These€so„called€ð ðwell€meanersðð€go€to€no€ends€to€try€to€prove€thatÐ ( Ø Ðunder€no€condition€does€divorced€mean€you€are€ð ðfreeðð€to€marry€again€ð!ð€no€matter€ifÐ  Ä ÐChrist€or€Paul€the€apostle€accepted€it.€Divorce€does€not€mean,€ð ðloosedðð€to€these€ð ðgnatÐ  ° Ðstrainersðð€whose€only€method€of€interpretations€is€based€upon€ð ðprivateÐ ì œ Ðinterpretationðð.ò òšó óÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôðð€Ô#†X·XX#X·i«#Ô[The€Marriage€&€Divorce€Controversy,€Karl€Baker,€page€97]Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔÐØ ˆÐ Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·é«#Ôà  àRemember€that€remarriage€is€included€in€the€Old€Testament€permission€to€divorce€inÐ °` ÐDeuteronomy€24:1-4,€which€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€replaces€in€Matthew€19:9.€In€Matthew€19:9,€theÐ œL  ÐLord€Jesus€Christ€said€that€He€prohibited€divorce€and€remarriage,€except€in€the€case€of€fornication.Ð ˆ8  ÐIn€the€phrase€ð ðWhosoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,€except€it€be€for€fornication,€and€shall€marryÐ t$  Ðanother,€committeth€adulteryðð€he€joins€the€putting€away€(divorce)€with€the€remarriage€by€the€wordÐ `  Ðð ðandðð.ššÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Ô#†X·XX#X·¨®#ÔTying€the€two€together€is€consistent€with€Deuteronomy€24:2„3€where€remarriage€was€allowedÐ Lü  Ðafter€a€scriptural€divorce.€Notice€that€divorce€ends€the€marriage.€In€verse€2,€she€goes€and€becomesÐ 8è  Ðanother€manððs€wife.€Verse€4€refers€to€her€first€husband€as€her€ð ðformerðð€husband.€He€is€no€longer€herÐ $Ô  Ðhusband.€They€have€no€relationship,€and€indeed€are€forbidden€to€re-establish€a€relationship.€TheirÐ À Ðmarriage€is€over.€In€no€sense€does€God€or€the€law€consider€her€and€her€first€husband€still€to€beÐ ü¬ Ðmarried.€Nor€does€she€commit€adultery€against€her€first€husband€when€engaging€in€the€marriageÐ è˜ Ðrelationship€with€her€current€husband.€Otherwise,€she€would€be€stoned€for€adultery€and€would€notÐ Ô„ Ðbe€continuing€in€a€second€marriage€(much€less€a€second€divorce€as€the€text€indicates).€No,€herÐ Àp Ðmarriage€is€over.ššÐ ¬\ Ðà  àBrother€Karl€Baker€in€quoting€Brother€Stinnett€Ballew€had€the€following€to€say:Ð ˜H ÐÌà8  àà ` àð ðDr.€Ballew€stresses€the€idea€that€although€the€woman€is€òòfreeóó€to€marry,€theÐ p  Ðman€is€evidently€òònot€freeóó€because€in€the€next€paragraph€he€says:€ð ðEven€though€theÐ \  ÐLord€permits€a€man€to€put€away€his€wife€on€the€basis€of€fornication,€he€does€notÐ Hø Ðclearly€give€him€freedom€to€remarryðð.€[The€Marriage€&€Divorce€Controversy,€KarlÐ 4 ä ÐBaker,€page€79]ÔÿÔÐ !ÐÐ Ð  ÐÌÔÿý´Ôà  àIn€his€book,€Brother€Baker€goes€on€to€rightly€condemn€this€statement€of€Brother€Ballew.€WeÐ ø"¨ Ðsee€no€need€to€clearly€give€the€divorced€man€the€freedom€to€remarry€because€the€law€specificallyÐ ä#” Ðgrants€him€the€permission€to€remarry€with€the€proviso€that€he€could€not€remarry€the€woman€he€hadÐ Ð$€  Ðput€away€for€uncleanness.€Also,€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€specifically€grants€permission€to€divorce€ANDÐ ¼%l! Ðremarry€in€cases€of€fornication.€Furthermore,€why€would€the€woman€be€explicitly€given€the€right€toÐ ¨&X" Ðremarry€and€the€same€right€be€denied€to€the€man.€€The€Phariseesðð€question€in€Matthew€19€wasÐ ”'D # Ðfocused€upon€the€interpretation€of€Deuteronomy€24:1„4€which€allowed€divorce€for€uncleanness.€TheÐ €(0!$ Ðfact€that€they€framed€their€questions€in€terms€of€ð ðfor€every€causeðð€shows€that€adultery€was€not€inÐ l)"% Ðview,€but€they€got€more€than€they€bargained€for.€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€used€the€whole€confrontationÐ X*#& Ðto€set€aside€the€whole€of€the€Phariseesðð€doctrine€of€divorce€and€to€reestablish€Godððs€original€intentÐ D+ô#' Ðfor€marriage€from€Genesis€2:24.€The€Phariseesðð€question€in€Matthew€19š€was€NOT€on€the€issue€ofÐ 0,à$( Ðadultery€because€the€Pharisees€knew€€that€adultery€was€handled€according€to€Leviticus€20:10€andÐ P ÐDeuteronomy€22:22€which€required€the€death€penalty€for€both€parties.€That€was€the€whole€point€ofÐ <ì Ðthe€confrontation€between€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€and€the€Pharisees€in€John€8:1„12.€The€womanððsÐ ( Ø Ðadultery€required€the€death€penalty,€but€where€was€the€man?€This€whole€series€of€confrontationsÐ  Ä Ðshould€put€to€rest€the€false€doctrine€that€the€uncleanness€of€Deuteronomy€24:1€was€fornication€orÐ  ° Ðadultery€because€that€whole€issue€was€covered€in€Leviticus€20:10€and€Deuteronomy€22:13„30.€TheÐ ì œ Ðpenalty€for€the€uncleanness€of€Deuteronomy€24:1€was€divorce.€The€penalty€for€theÐ Ø ˆ Ðfornication/adultery€of€Deuteronomy€22:13„31€was€death.€It€is€significant€to€note€that€the€declarationÐ Ä t Ðof€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€Matthew€19:9€abrogated,€or€done€away€with,€the€death€penalty€forÐ °` Ðfornication€and€adultery€in€marriage.€The€penalty€would€now€be€divorce€with€the€innocent€partyÐ œL  Ðbeing€allowed€to€remarry.š€ò òšó óThe€guilty€party€is€not€allowed€to€remarry€without€committing€adultery.Ð ˆ8  Ðûÿÿdûà  àüÿÿdüAll€òòò òunscripturaló óóó€divorce€and€remarriage€constitutes€a€sin€of€adultery€under€the€followingÐ t$  Ðconditions:€1.€A€man€who€divorces€his€wife€and€takes€a€second€wife€commits€adultery€against€hisÐ d  Ðfirst€wife€if€he€did€not€divorce€her€for€her€fornication€and/or€adultery,€or€desertion.€The€secondÐ P  Ðwoman€he€marries€also€commits€adultery€if€the€husband€did€not€scripturally€divorce€his€first€wife.Ð <ì  ÐThe€same€is€true€for€the€woman€also€2.€A€man€who€marries€a€divorced€woman€commits€adultery€ifÐ (Ø  Ðthat€womanððs€former€husband€was€not€put€away€for€€fornication€and/or€adultery,€or€desertion.3.€AÐ Ä Ðwoman€who€divorces€her€husband€and€marries€another€commits€adultery€if€the€woman€did€not€putÐ ° Ðaway€her€former€husband€for€fornication€and/or€adultery,€or€desertion.4.€A€man€who€divorces€hisÐ ìœ Ðwife€is€guilty€of€causing€her€to€commit€adultery€if€his€wife€was€not€put€away€for€fornication€and/orР؈ Ðadultery,€or€desertion.š€We€will€close€out€this€section€with€a€comment€from€Brother€Harold€SightlerÐ Ät Ðwhere€he€stated:Ð °` ÐÌà8  àò òÔ‡X·XXX·Ôó óð ðIt€is€a€dangerous€thing€to€lower€Godððs€standards€to€accommodate€manððs€weakness.ððÐ ˆ8 Ð(Page€8,€Divorce€and€Remarriage,€Harold€B.€SightlerÔ#†X·XXX·NÄ#ÔÔ‡X·XXX·Ô)ÔÿÔ€ò òÐt$Ð Ð  ÐÌÔÿXÅÔó óà  àTo€which€we€reply,€that€it€is€a€dangerous€thing€to€raise€€manððs€standard€above€the€word€ofÐ Lü ÐGod€because€you€then€get€into€the€doctrines€and€commandments€of€pharisaical€men€whose€naturalÐ 8 è Ðtendency€is€to€exceed€the€righteousness€of€the€Scriptures€resulting€in€the€subverting€of€the€grace€ofÐ $!Ô ÐGod€.€ð ðÔ#†X·XXX·8Å#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔFor€they€bind€heavy€burdens€and€grievous€to€be€borne,€and€lay€Ô#†X·XX#X·:Ç#ÔòòÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔthemóóÔ#†X·XX#X·½Ç#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€on€menððs€shoulders;€butÐ "À Ðthey€Ô#†X·XX#X·È#ÔòòÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔthemselvesóóÔ#†X·XX#X·€È#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€will€not€move€them€with€one€of€their€fingers.ðð€(Matthew€23:4)ò òšó óÔ#†X·XX#X·ÏÈ#Ô.Ð ü"¬ ÐÌò òÓ  Óà@@l l ìàARE€THOSE€THAT€ARE€REMARRIEDÐ Ô$„  ÐLIVING€IN€PERPETUAL€ADULTERY?ó óÐ À%p! ÐÓsÉÓÌà  àConsider€now€the€interpretive€snare€created€by€the€unscriptural€position€that€divorce€does€notÐ ˜'H # Ðend€marriage.€Some€churches€will€not€let€divorced€people€join€their€churches€because€they€say€theyÐ „(4!$ Ðare€in€perpetual€adultery€as€long€as€the€continue€to€stay€married€after€their€divorces.€Some€churchesÐ p) "% Ðdescribe€it€as€ð ðliving€in€sinðð.€This€false€doctrine€that€states€that€a€divorce€does€not€permanently€endÐ \* #& Ða€marriage€is€the€creator€of€yet€another€unforgivable€sinner€and€that€being€the€ð ðperpetualÐ H+ø#' Ðadulterer/adulteressððthat€can€be€added€to€the€blasphemer€of€the€Holy€Ghost€and€the€divorced€man.Ð 4,ä$( Ð[We€are€being€satirical€here.€We€do€not€believe€that€divorce€and€adultery€are€unforgivable€sins]€CanÐ P Ðthe€ð ðperpetual€adulteress/adultererðð€ever€join€a€Bible€believing€New€Testament€church?€The€churchÐ <ì Ðis€clearly€commanded€to€separate€from€those€who€continue€in€sin€(Matthew€18:15„17,€2€CorinthiansÐ ( Ø Ð6:14„18,1€Corinthians€5:9).€A€Scripture€that€is€pertinent€to€the€discussion€before€us€is€Galatians€5:19„Ð  Ä Ð21€which€says:Ð  ° ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔGalatians€5:19„21ÐØ ˆÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô19ÔUS.,UK.,YÏÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Now€the€works€of€the€flesh€are€manifest,€which€are€ÔUS.,UK.,ŠÏÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔtheseÔUS.,UK.,íÏÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô;€Adultery,€fornication,Ð Ä t Ðuncleanness,€lasciviousness,€ÔUS.,UK.,!ÐÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô20ÔUS.,UK.,šÐÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Idolatry,€witchcraft,€hatred,€variance,€emulations,Ð °` Ðwrath,€strife,€seditions,€heresies,€ÔUS.,UK.,ËÐÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô21ÔUS.,UK.,gÑÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Envyings,€murders,€drunkenness,€revellings,€andÐ œL  Ðsuch€like:€of€the€which€I€tell€you€before,€as€I€have€also€told€ÔUS.,UK.,˜ÑÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔyouÔUS.,UK.,KÒÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€in€time€past,€that€theyÐ ˆ8  Ðwhich€do€such€things€shall€not€inherit€the€kingdom€of€God.€ÔUS.,UK.,}ÒÔÔ#†X·XX#X·ûÎ#ÔÐt$ Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àNote€that€adultery€is€at€the€top€of€the€list€in€Galatians€5.€In€verse€21,€the€phrase€ð ðthey€whichÐ Lü  Ðdo€such€thingsðð€means€ð ðthey€which€continually€do€these€thingsðð.€If€we€believe€a€remarried€personÐ 8è  Ðcommits€an€act€of€€adultery€every€time€they€engage€in€the€marriage€act€with€their€new€spouse,€theseÐ $Ô  Ðverses€deny€them€salvation.€That€would€mean€that€they€are€going€to€Hell.€What€if€that€remarriedÐ À Ðperson€was€already€saved€?€Do€you€actually€believe€they€would€lose€their€salvation?€The€view€thatÐ ü¬ Ða€remarried€couple€is€ð ðliving€in€perpetual€adulteryðð€comes€from€a€misinterpretation€of€Scripture€andÐ è˜ Ðis€rooted€in€Roman€Catholic€theology€which€states:Ð Ô„ ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà ` àð ð2384€Divorce€is€a€grave€offense€against€the€natural€law.€It€claims€to€breakÐ ¬\ Ðthe€contract,€to€which€the€spouses€freely€consented,€to€live€with€each€other€till€death.Ð ˜H ÐDivorce€does€injury€to€the€covenant€of€salvation,€of€which€sacramental€marriage€isÐ „4 Ðthe€sign.€Contracting€a€new€union,€even€if€it€is€recognized€by€civil€law,€adds€to€theÐ p  Ðgravity€of€the€rupture:€the€remarried€spouse€is€then€in€a€situation€of€public€andÐ \  Ðpermanent€adultery:ÐHøÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIf€a€husband,€separated€from€his€wife,€approaches€another€woman,€heÐ  !Ð Ðis€an€adulterer€because€he€makes€that€woman€commit€adultery,€andÐ  "¼ Ðthe€woman€who€lives€with€him€is€an€adulteress,€because€she€hasÐ ø"¨ Ðdrawn€another's€husband€to€herself.Ô#†X·XX#X·‹Ö#Ôðð€[Quoted€from€the€1993„1994Ð ä#” ÐRoman€Catholic€Catechism]ÐÐ$€ ` x` x ÐÌà  à€The€ð ðliving€in€perpetual€adulteryðð€argument€denies€that€a€scriptural€divorce€ends€a€marriage.Ð ¨&X" ÐUsually€it€misuses€Romans€7:3€or€1€Corinthians€7:39€to€argue€that€only€death€ends€a€marriage.€It€alsoÐ ”'D # Ðmisuses€Mark€10:11„12€and€Luke€16:18€to€the€exclusion€of€Matthew€5:31„32€and€Matthew€19:9.Ð €(0!$ ÐMatthew€5:32€and€Matthew€19:9€include€the€exclusion€clauses€ð ðsaving€for€the€cause€of€fornicationððÐ l)"% Ðand€ð ðexcept€it€be€for€fornicationðð.€What€those€two€clauses€establish€is€a€scriptural€ground€for€divorceÐ X*#& Ðand€that€ground€is€fornication/adultery.€However,€Deuteronomy€24:1„3€clearly€indicates€that€divorceÐ D+ô#' Ðends€marriage.€In€John€4,€Christ€told€the€woman€at€the€well€ð ðthou€hast€had€five€husbands,ðð€pointedlyÐ 0,à$( Ðusing€the€past-tense€to€indicate€that€those€previous€marriages€were€divorced.šÐ P Ðà  àHow€does€this€individual€quit€committing€this€adultery?€Do€they€divorce€their€new€spouse?Ð <ì ÐThat€would€create€yet€another€problem.€Furthermore,€it€is€never€right€to€commit€wrong€to€correctÐ ( Ø Ðwrong.€Remarrying€an€individual€you€have€divorced€after€you€have€married€a€different€spouse€is€notÐ  Ä Ðlawful.€Deuteronomy€24:3„4€has€this€to€say:ûÿÿdûÐ  ° ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔüÿÿdüDeuteronomy€24:3„4ÐØ ˆÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô3ÔUS.,UK.,¨àÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€And€ÔUS.,UK.,ØàÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔifÔUS.,UK., áÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€the€latter€husband€hate€her,€and€write€her€a€bill€of€divorcement,€and€givethÐ Ä t ÐÔUS.,UK.,=áÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔitÔUS.,UK.,ÎáÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€in€her€hand,€and€sendeth€her€out€of€his€house;€or€if€the€latter€husband€die,€whichÐ °` Ðtook€her€ÔUS.,UK.,ÿáÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôto€beÔUS.,UK.,ŸâÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€his€wife;€ÔUS.,UK.,ÓâÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô4ÔUS.,UK., ãÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Her€former€husband,€which€sent€her€away,€may€not€take€herÐ œL  Ðagain€to€be€his€wife,€after€that€she€is€defiled;€for€that€ÔUS.,UK.,=ãÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔisÔUS.,UK.,õãÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€abomination€before€theÐ ˆ8  ÐLORD:€and€thou€shalt€not€cause€the€land€to€sin,€which€the€LORD€thy€God€giveth€theeÐ t$  ÐÔUS.,UK.,&äÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔforÔUS.,UK.,èäÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€an€inheritance.€ûÿÿdûÔUS.,UK.,åÔÐ` Ð Ð  Ðà8  àüÿÿdüÔ#†X·XX#X·Cà#ÔÐ Ð Ð  ÐSo,€that€rules€out€a€divorce€and€remarriage€to€the€former€spouse.€Do€they€quit€sleeping€with€their€newÐ 8è  Ðspouse?€To€do€so€means€they€become€guilty€of€yet€another€sin€by€breaking€Godððs€instructions€in€1Ð $Ô  ÐCorinthians€7:4-5,€where€married€folks€are€told€not€to€cease€from€the€marriage€bed€except€for€a€timeÐ À Ðof€fasting€and€prayer,€making€sure€to€come€together€again.€Is€God€now€commanding€them€to€sin?Ð ü¬ ÐThe€answer€to€that€question€is€obviously€no.€What€we€need€to€do€in€these€situations€is€to€apply€theÐ è˜ Ðteachings€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€Matthew€19:9€where€he€clearly€states€that€the€innocent€partyÐ Ô„ Ðcan€remarry€in€cases€that€involve€fornication€and€in€1€Corinthians€7:15,€27„28€where€the€Holy€GhostÐ Àp Ðplainly€states€that€a€person€that€has€been€loosed€from€a€marriage€does€not€sin€if€they€remarry.€TheseÐ ¬\ Ðverses€state:Ð ˜H ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMatthew€19:9Ðp Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô9ÔUS.,UK.,êÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,?êÔÔUKUS.,ÔAndÔUS.,UK.,lêÔÔUKUS.,Ô€I€sayÔUS.,UK.,›êÔÔUKUS.,Ô€unto€you,ÔUS.,UK.,ÍêÔÔUKUS.,Ô€WhosoeverÔUS.,UK.,ëÔÔUKUS.,Ô€shall€put€awayÔUS.,UK.,9ëÔÔUKUS.,Ô€hisÔUS.,UK.,tëÔÔUKUS.,Ô€wife,ÔUS.,UK.,¤ëÔÔUKUS.,Ô€exceptÔUS.,UK.,ÖëÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK., ìÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôit€beÔUS.,UK.,9ìÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€forÔUS.,UK.,mìÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fornication,ÔUS.,UK.,ìÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ \  ÐandÔUS.,UK.,ÖìÔÔUKUS.,Ô€shall€marryÔUS.,UK.,íÔÔUKUS.,Ô€another,ÔUS.,UK.,RíÔÔUKUS.,Ô€committeth€adultery:ÔUS.,UK.,‡íÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,ÈíÔÔUKUS.,Ô€whoso€marriethÔUS.,UK.,øíÔÔUKUS.,Ô€her€whichÔUS.,UK.,3îÔÔUKUS.,Ô€is€putÐ Hø ÐawayÔUS.,UK.,iîÔÔUKUS.,Ô€doth€commit€adulteryÔUS.,UK.,µîÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,öîÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,#ïÔÐ4 äÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·¶é#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌà8  àòòÔUKUS.,ÔóóÔ#†X·XX#X·’ï#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€7:15Ð "¼Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUS.,UK.,ÁïÔÔUKUS.,Ô15ÔUS.,UK.,rðÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€But€if€the€unbelieving€depart,€let€him€depart.€A€brother€or€a€sister€is€not€underÐ ø"¨ Ðbondage€in€such€ÔUS.,UK.,£ðÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔcasesÔUS.,UK.,IñÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô:€but€God€hath€called€us€to€peace.€ÔUS.,UK.,}ñÔÐä#”Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  à1€Corinthians€7:27„28м%l!Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô27ÔUS.,UK.,;òÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Art€thou€bound€unto€a€wife?€seek€not€to€be€loosed.€Art€thou€loosed€from€a€wife?Ð ¨&X" Ðseek€not€a€wife.€ÔUS.,UK.,lòÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô28ÔUS.,UK.,óÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€But€and€if€thou€marry,€thou€hast€not€sinned;€and€if€a€virgin€marry,Ð ”'D # Ðshe€hath€not€sinned.€Nevertheless€such€shall€have€trouble€in€the€flesh:€but€I€spare€you.ÔUS.,UK.,BóÔЀ(0!$Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·ùï#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔòòóóÌÔ#†X·XX#X·aô#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔTo€be€loosed€is€to€be€freed€from€the€marriage€bond.€The€marriage€bond€becomes€bondage€when€theÐ X*#& Ðinnocent€victim€of€a€fornicating€and€adulterous€spouse€is€required€to€remain€either€celibate€inÐ D+ô#' Ðmarriage€or€unmarried€for€life€while€the€guilty€spouse€is€allowed€to€force€the€innocent€spouse€toÐ 0,à$( Ðcontinue€to€suffer.€To€require€the€innocent€victim€to€continue€to€suffer€would€be€a€violation€of€theÐ P Ðspirit€of€Matthew€19:10„12€and€1€Timothy€4:1„3€which€state:Ð <ì ÐÌà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·ªô#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMatthew€19:10„12Ð ÄÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô10ÔUS.,UK.,|÷ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€His€disciples€say€unto€him,€If€the€case€of€the€man€be€so€with€ÔUS.,UK.,­÷ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔhisÔUS.,UK.,øÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€wife,€it€is€not€goodÐ  ° Ðto€marry.€ÔUS.,UK.,MøÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô11ÔUS.,UK.,°øÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€But€he€said€unto€them,€ÔUS.,UK.,áøÔÔUKUS.,ÔAllÔUS.,UK.,%ùÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,TùÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔmenÔUS.,UK.,„ùÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€cannotÔUS.,UK.,¶ùÔÔUKUS.,Ô€receiveÔUS.,UK.,éùÔÔUKUS.,Ô€thisÔUS.,UK.,úÔÔUKUS.,Ô€saying,ÔUS.,UK.,NúÔÔUKUS.,Ô€saveÔUS.,UK.,‚úÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,³úÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔtheyÔUS.,UK.,ãúÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€toÐ ì œ ÐwhomÔUS.,UK.,ûÔÔUKUS.,Ô€it€is€givenÔUS.,UK.,^ûÔÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,–ûÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,ÃûÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô12ÔUS.,UK.,óûÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,$üÔÔUKUS.,ÔForÔUS.,UK.,QüÔÔUKUS.,Ô€there€areÔUS.,UK.,€üÔÔUKUS.,Ô€some€eunuchs,ÔUS.,UK.,¶üÔÔUKUS.,Ô€whichÔUS.,UK.,ðüÔÔUKUS.,Ô€were€soÔUS.,UK.,"ýÔÔUKUS.,Ô€bornÔUS.,UK.,VýÔÔUKUS.,Ô€fromÔUS.,UK.,‡ýÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,¸ýÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔtheirÔUS.,UK.,èýÔóóÔUKUS.,ÔÐ Ø ˆ ÐmotherððsÔUS.,UK.,þÔÔUKUS.,Ô€womb:ÔUS.,UK.,hþÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK.,šþÔÔUKUS.,Ô€there€areÔUS.,UK.,ÊþÔÔUKUS.,Ô€some€eunuchs,ÔUS.,UK.,ÿÔÔUKUS.,Ô€whichÔUS.,UK.,:ÿÔÔUKUS.,Ô€were€made€eunuchsÔUS.,UK.,lÿÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ofÔUS.,UK.,ªÿÔÔUKUS.,Ô€men:ÔUS.,UK.,ÙÿÔÔUKUS.,Ô€andÔUS.,UK., ÔÔUKUS.,ÔÐ Ä t Ðthere€beÔUS.,UK.,:ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€eunuchs,ÔUS.,UK.,ƒÔÔUKUS.,Ô€whichÔUS.,UK.,¸ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€have€madeÔUS.,UK.,êÔÔUKUS.,Ô€themselvesÔUS.,UK., ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€eunuchsÔUS.,UK.,WÔÔUKUS.,Ô€forÔUS.,UK.,‹ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€the€kingdomÔUS.,UK.,»ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€of€heavenððsÐ °` Ðsake.ÔUS.,UK.,óÔÔUKUS.,Ô€He€that€is€ableÔUS.,UK.,HÔÔUKUS.,Ô€to€receiveÔUS.,UK.,„ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,»ÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔitÔUS.,UK.,ëÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô,€let€him€receiveÔUS.,UK.,ÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,YÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔitÔUS.,UK.,‰ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô.ÔUS.,UK.,ºÔÔUKUS.,Ô€ÔUS.,UK.,çÔÐœL Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·÷#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Timothy€4:1„3Ðt$ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô1ÔUS.,UK.,áÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Now€the€Spirit€speaketh€expressly,€that€in€the€latter€times€some€shall€depart€fromÐ `  Ðthe€faith,€giving€heed€to€seducing€spirits,€and€doctrines€of€devils;€ÔUS.,UK.,ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô2ÔUS.,UK.,íÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Speaking€lies€inÐ Lü  Ðhypocrisy;€having€their€conscience€seared€with€a€hot€iron;€ÔUS.,UK.,ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ô3ÔUS.,UK.,­ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Forbidding€to€marry,€ÔUS.,UK.,ÝÔòòÔUKUS.,ÔandÐ 8è  ÐcommandingÔUS.,UK.,"ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€to€abstain€from€meats,€which€God€hath€created€to€be€received€withÐ $Ô  Ðthanksgiving€of€them€which€believe€and€know€the€truth.€ÔUS.,UK.,sÔÐÀÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·…#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌIn€Matthew€19:12€and€1€Corinthians€7:7,€celibacy€is€described€as€a€proper€gift€of€God€that€would€notÐ è˜ Ðbe€able€to€be€received€by€some.€€Forbidding€to€marry€or€remarry€when€the€Scriptures€allow€it€isÐ Ô„ Ðdescribed€as€a€doctrine€of€devils€in€1€Timothy€4.€Ô#†X·XX#X·o#ÔForbidding€to€marry€or€remarry€reeks€of€the€heresyÐ Àp Ðof€Roman€Catholic€celibacy.€It€comes€from€the€same€Roman€Catholic€theological€crypt€as€forbiddingÐ ¬\ Ðdivorce€under€any€circumstances.€Furthermore,€for€you€to€set€up€a€rule€that€requires€an€innocentÐ ˜H Ðspouse€to€remain€celibate,€or€unmarried€for€life,€while€their€adulterous€mate€continues€to€fornicateÐ „4 Ðis€to€violate€the€command€not€to€defraud€the€marriage€bed€that€is€explicitly€stated€as€follows€in€1Ð p  ÐCorinthians€7:Ð \  ÐÌà8  àÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô1€Corinthians€7:5Ð4 äÐ Ð  Ðà8  àòòÔUKUS.,Ô5ÔUS.,UK.,‚ ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€Defraud€ye€not€one€the€other,€except€ÔUS.,UK.,² ÔòòÔUKUS.,Ôit€beÔUS.,UK., ÔóóÔUKUS.,Ô€with€consent€for€a€time,€that€ye€may€giveÐ  !Ð Ðyourselves€to€fasting€and€prayer;€and€come€together€again,€that€Satan€tempt€you€notÐ  "¼ Ðfor€your€incontinency.€ÔUS.,UK.,; ÔÐø"¨Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†X·XX#X·$ #ÔÌWe€cannot€overemphasize€that€Matthew€19:1„12€is€given€in€the€context€of€LAWFUL€DIVORCE€andÐ Ð$€  ÐREMARRIAGE.€That€is€what€the€phrase€ò òð ðòòand€shall€marry€anotheróóððó ó€means.€For€you€to€state€thatÐ ¼%l! ÐMatthew€19:9€does€not€allow€for€remarriage,€is€to€take€away€from€the€Scriptures.Ð ¬&\" ÐÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôà  àThe€topic€under€discussion€in€Matthew€19€is€divorce€and€remarriage.€There€was€no€questionÐ ˜'H # Ðin€the€words€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€that€fornication€was€a€scriptural€(lawful)€ground€for€divorce.Ð „(4!$ ÐThe€Lord€Jesus€Christ€made€it€so€himself€when€he€said€a€married€woman€could€fornicate€and€thatÐ p) "% Ðit€was€grounds€for€divorce.€The€answer€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€made€it€lawful€for€the€innocent€partyÐ \* #& Ðto€remarry€when€their€spouse€was€guilty€of€fornication.€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€made€it€plain€that€ifÐ H+ø#' Ðanyone€married€a€person€that€had€been€put€away€for€fornication€then€they€themselves€were€guilty€ofÐ 4,ä$( Ðadultery.Ô#†X·XX#X·½#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Ô#†X·XX#X·×#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔIn€reading€these€scriptures,€remember€that€Deuteronomy€22€and€24€give€two€differentÐ P Ðexceptions€to€the€prohibition€concerning€divorce.€In€Deuteronomy€22,€the€exception€was€fornicationÐ <ì Ðand€the€penalty€was€death.€In€Deuteronomy€24,€the€exception€was€uncleanness€and€the€penalty€wasÐ ( Ø Ðdivorce.€We€also€need€to€remember€that€God€(the€Lord€Jesus€Christ)€gave€an€exception€to€theÐ  Ä Ðprohibition€against€divorce€in€Matthew€chapters€5€and€19.€The€exception€was€fornication€and€theÐ  ° Ðpenalty€was€divorce€and€NOT€death.€We€also€need€to€remember€that€the€Biblical€definition€ofÐ ì œ Ðfornication€is€ANY€sex€outside€the€God€ordained€boundaries€of€a€marriage€between€a€man€and€aÐ Ø ˆ Ðwoman.€That€makes€adultery,€premarital€sex,€sodomy,€child€molestation,€pornography,€etc€to€beÐ Ä t Ðfornication.€We€realize€that€in€the€New€Testament€that€two€different€Greek€words€are€used€forÐ °` Ðfornication€and€adultery.€We€realize€that€in€the€Old€Testament€that€two€different€Hebrew€words€areÐ œL  Ðused€for€fornication€and€adultery.€Both€words€in€both€Testaments€refer€to€illicit€sexual€intercourse:Ð ˆ8  Ðthe€only€difference€being€whether€the€offenders€had€husbands€or€wives.€€In€1€Corinthians€chapter€7Ð t$  Ðit€is€very€crucial€that€you€look€at€every€detail€so€that€you€will€know€exactly€what€group€of€individualsÐ `  Ðare€being€dealt€with.Ô#†X·XX#X·#ÔÐ Lü  ÐÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÌÔ#†X·XX#X·g#Ôò òÓ  ÓSOME€QUESTIONS€ANSWEREDÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô:€SUMMARYó óÐ $Ô  ÐÓ­ÓÌà  àAt€the€outset€of€this€study€we€posed€17€different€questions€which€we€have€answered€duringÐ ü¬ Ðthe€course€of€this€chapter.€The€answers€to€these€questions€form€somewhat€of€a€summary€of€thisÐ è˜ Ðchapter€and€are€given€in€brief€here:Ð Ô„ ÐÌà8  à(1)€What€is€adultery?€Adultery€is€an€act€of€fornication€that€involves€two€people€of€theÐ ¬\ Ðopposite€sex€not€married€to€each€other,€one€of€whom€is€married.€Both€parties€whetherÐ ˜H Ðsingle€or€not€are€said€to€be€guilty€of€adultery.Є4Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(2)€What€is€fornication?€€Fornication€is€any€sexual€act€outside€the€God€ordainedÐ p  Ðboundaries€of€marriage€between€a€man€and€a€woman.€Fornication€includes€adultery,Ð \  Ðharlotry,€prostitution,€sodomy,€pornography,€rape,€beastiality,€and€child€molestation.ÐHøÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(3)€What€is€the€difference€between€fornication€and€adultery?Ô#†X·XX#X·Ð#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Fornication€is€anyÐ 4 ä Ðsexual€act€outside€the€God€ordained€boundaries€of€marriage€between€a€man€and€aÐ  !Ð ÐwomanÔ#†X·XX#X·-#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€whereas€adultery€is€an€act€of€fornication€committed€by€a€married€person€withÐ  "¼ Ðsomeone€they€are€not€married€to.€Ðø"¨Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(4)€Can€a€married€person€be€guilty€of€fornication?Ô#†X·XX#X·ÿ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Yes€a€married€person€is€guilty€ofÐ ä#” Ðfornication€when€they€have€sexual€intercourse€with€someone€they€are€not€married€to.ÐÐ$€ Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(5)€Is€adultery€a€sexual€act€or€a€ceremonial€act?Ô#†X·XX#X·! #ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Adultery€is€never€described€as€aÐ ¼%l! Ðceremonial€act€in€the€Scriptures.€It€is€always€a€sexual€act.Ш&X"Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(6)€What,€if€any,€are€the€scriptural€grounds€for€divorce?€There€are€three€scripturalÐ ”'D # Ðgrounds€to€dissolve€a€marriage.€These€are€death,€fornication/adultery,€and€desertion.Ѐ(0!$Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(7)€Does€unmarried€mean€separated,€but€not€divorced?€Unmarried€means€divorced.Ð l)"% ÐUnmarried€is€never€referred€to€as€a€separation€in€the€Scriptures.ÐX*#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(8)€Is€desertion€a€scriptural€ground€for€divorce?€Ô#†X·XX#X·I!#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔAs€we€have€proved,€desertion€is€aÐ D+ô#' Ðscriptural€ground€for€divorce.Ð0,à$(Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(9)€Are€all€divorces€absolutely€prohibited?€As€we€have€seen€they€are€not€because€GodÐ P Ðdivorced€Israel€and€God€ordered€the€priests€and€the€people€of€Israel€to€divorce€theirÐ <ì Ðpagan€wives€in€Ezra€10.Ð( ØÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(10)€Is€divorce€always€wrong?€Not€only€is€divorce€not€always€wrong,€it€is€sometimesÐ  Ä Ðabsolutely€necessary€for€the€relief€and€the€protection€of€the€innocent.€It€is€evenÐ  ° Ðcommanded€by€God€in€certain€instances.Ðì œÐ Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·$#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô(11)€Is€divorce€always€a€sin€for€all€parties€to€the€divorce?€As€we€have€seen,€not€everyÐ Ø ˆ Ðparty€to€a€divorce€is€guilty€of€the€sin€that€led€to€the€divorce.€Many€times,€the€innocentÐ Ä t Ðare€made€to€suffer€the€€penalty€of€the€guilty.а`Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·'#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô(12)€Under€what€circumstances€is€a€divorce€scriptural?Ô#†X·XX#X·}(#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€There€are€three€scripturalÐ œL  Ðgrounds€to€dissolve€a€marriage.€These€are€death,€fornication/adultery,€and€desertion.Ô#†X·XX#X·õ(#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔЈ8 Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(13)€Is€divorce€an€unforgivable€sin?Ô#†X·XX#X·¼)#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Though€most€divorced€people€in€fundamentalistÐ t$  Ðand€Independent€Baptist€churches€are€treated€as€if€their€divorces€are€an€unforgivableÐ `  Ðsin,€there€is€but€one€unforgivable€sin€and€that€is€the€blaspheming€of€the€Holy€Ghost.ÐLü Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(14)€If€a€person€gets€divorced€can€they€remarry?Ô#†X·XX#X·M*#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€All€those€that€have€been€scripturallyÐ 8è  Ðdivorced€can€get€remarried€if€they€have€suffered€wrong€through€the€desertion€orÐ $Ô  Ðadultery/fornication€of€their€spouses.ÐÀÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(15)€If€a€divorced€person€gets€remarried€are€they€in€perpetual€adultery?Ô#†X·XX#X·ì+#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€No,€they€areÐ ü¬ Ðnot€in€perpetual€adultery€if€they€get€remarried.€Such€a€preposterous€concept€is€basedÐ è˜ Ðupon€the€false€doctrine€that€divorce€does€not€end€a€marriage.€This€is€especially€trueÐ Ô„ Ðwhere€an€innocent€party€to€a€divorce€has€been€granted€a€scriptural€divorce.Ð Àp ÐFurthermore,€even€the€guilty€party€or€parties€in€a€divorce€are€guilty€of€but€one€act€ofÐ ¬\ Ðadultery€when€they€get€remarried€and€that€being€the€initial€sexual€consummation€ofÐ ˜H Ðthe€new€marriage.€The€ceremony€itself€is€not€an€act€of€adultery.Є4Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(16)€Should€a€person€who€has€been€guilty€of€an€unscriptural€divorce€put€awayÐ p  Ð(divorce)€their€current€spouse€and€reunite€with€their€former€spouse?Ô#†X·XX#X·f-#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€No,€they€cannotÐ \  Ðdivorce€their€current€spouse€and€remarry€their€former€spouse€because€that€would€beÐ Hø Ðyet€another€sin€because€the€Scriptures€ban€that€practice.Ð4 äÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(17)€Can€you€be€married€to€someone€and€them€not€be€your€spouse?Ô#†X·XX#X·á0#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€Ô#†X·XX#X·R2#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔAccording€toÐ  !Ð ÐMark€6:17„18€a€man€can€be€married€to€a€woman€and€her€not€be€his€wife€.€TheseÐ  "¼ Ðverses€say:Ô#†X·XX#X·•2#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐø"¨Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔ#†X·XX#X·d3#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÔ#†X·XX#X·Ñ3#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔMark€6:17„18òò17€óóFor€Herod€himself€had€sent€forth€and€laid€hold€uponÐ Ð$€  ÐJohn,€and€bound€him€in€prison€for€Herodiasðð€sake,€his€brother€PhilipððsÐ ¼%l! Ðwife:€for€he€had€married€her.€òò18€óóFor€John€had€said€unto€Herod,€It€is€notÐ ¨&X" Ðlawful€for€thee€to€have€thy€brotherððs€wife.Д'D #` x` x ÐÌà8  àà ` àWhat€these€verses€indicate€is€that€though€Herod€was€married€to€HerodiasÐ l)"% Ðthrough€a€sexual€relationship,€he€could€not€scripturally€beÔ#†X·XX#X·J4#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô€her€husband€because€sheÐ X*#& Ðwas€scripturally€married€to€Herodððs€brother€Philip.€What€we€have€here€is€a€case€ofÐ D+ô#' Ðadultery€and€bigamy€on€the€part€of€Herod€and€Herodias.€Ô#†X·XX#X·ª6#Ôò òšÔ‡#X·XXX·Ôó óThe€same€situation€existedÐ 0,à$( Ðwith€the€woman€at€the€well€in€John€4:7„30.€Ô#†X·XX#X·¾7#ÔIn€John€4:17„18,€the€reason€the€man€theÐ P Ðwoman€at€the€well€was€sleeping€with€was€not€her€husband€is€because€he€was€anotherÐ <ì Ðwomanððs€husband.€Though€the€woman€at€the€well€had€ð ðmarriedðð€this€man,€he€couldÐ ( Ø Ðnot€be€her€husband€because€he€already€had€a€wife.€We€know€this€may€offend€someÐ  Ä Ðof€our€Christian€sisters,€but€under€the€Old€Testament€law€this€man€was€not€guilty€ofÐ  ° Ðadultery€because€he€was€not€having€sex€with€a€woman€who€was€married€to€anotherÐ ì œ Ðman.€Ô‡#X·XXX·ÔÐØ ˆÐ Ð  ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ#†X·XX#X·Ÿ:#Ôò òšó óšÌò òó óà@ìì*ìàÔ‡¼ÿÄ »XX·Ôò òˆÐ D+ô#' Ðà@GG%ìàAPPENDIX€Ió óÔ#†X·X »¼ÿÄ@;#Ôˆà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àÐ P ÐÌà@ ìàò òÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔòòTHE€COUNCIL€OF€TRENTóóó óÔ#†X·XX#X·"<#ԈРP  ÐÌÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔCANON€I€ð!ð€If€any€one€saith,€that€matrimony€is€not€truly€and€properly€one€of€the€seven€sacramentsÐ ( Ø Ðof€the€evangelic€law,€(a€sacrament)€instituted€by€Christ€the€Lord;€but€that€it€has€been€invented€by€menÐ  Ä Ðin€the€Church;€and€that€it€does€not€confer€grace;€let€him€be€anathema.€Ô#†X·XX#X·˜<#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ  ° ÐÌCANON€V€ð!ð€If€any€one€saith,€that€on€account€of€heresy,€or€irksome€cohabitation,€or€the€affectedР؈ Ðabsence€of€one€of€the€parties,€the€bond€of€matrimony€may€be€dissolved;€let€him€be€anathema.€Ô#†X·XX#X·>#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ Ät  ÐÌCANON€VII.ð!ð€If€any€one€saith,€that€the€Church€has€erred,€in€that€she€hath€taught,€and€doth€teach,€inÐ œL  Ðaccordance€with€the€evangelical€and€apostolical€doctrine,€that€the€bond€of€matrimony€cannot€beÐ ˆ8  Ðdissolved€on€account€of€the€adultery€of€one€of€the€married€parties;€and€that€both,€or€even€the€innocentÐ t$  Ðone€who€gave€not€occasion€to€the€adultery,€cannot€contract€another€marriage,€during€the€life-time€ofÐ `  Ðthe€other;€and,€that€he€is€guilty€of€adultery,€who,€having€put€away€the€adulteress,€shall€take€anotherÐ Lü  Ðwife,€as€also€she,€who,€having€put€away€the€adulterer,€shall€take€another€husband;€let€him€beÐ 8è Ðanathema.€Ô#†X·XX#X·@?#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô[This€statement€contradicts€and€denies€the€statement€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€MatthewÐ $Ô Ð19:7€allowing€the€innocent€party€to€remarry,€but€is€in€keeping€with€the€unscriptural€doctrine€ofÐ À Ðmarriage€pushed€by€many€so„called€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€preachers€and€pastors]Ð ü¬ ÐÌCANON€VIII€ð!ð€If€any€one€saith,€that€the€Church€errs,€in€that€she€declares€that,€for€many€causes,€aÐ Ô„ Ðseparation€may€take€place€between€husband€and€wife,€in€regard€of€bed,€or€in€regard€of€cohabitation,Ð Àp Ðfor€a€determinate€or€for€an€indeterminate€period;€let€him€be€anathema.€Ô#†X·XX#X·sB#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ ¬\ Ð[This€denies€1€Corinthians€7:3]Ð ˜H ÐÌ€CANON€IX€ð!ð€If€any€one€saith,€that€clerics€constituted€in€sacred€orders,€or€Regulars,€who€haveÐ p  Ðsolemnly€professed€chastity,€are€able€to€contract€marriage,€and€that€being€contracted€it€is€valid,Ð \  Ðnotwithstanding€the€ecclesiastical€law,€or€vow;€and€that€the€contrary€is€no€thing€else€than€to€condemnÐ H!ø Ðmarriage;€and,€that€all€who€do€not€feel€that€they€have€the€gift€of€chastity,€even€though€they€have€madeÐ 4"ä Ða€vow€thereof,€may€contract€marriage;€let€him€be€anathema:€seeing€that€God€refuses€not€that€gift€toÐ  #Ð Ðthose€who€ask€for€it€rightly,€neither€does€He€suffer€us€to€be€tempted€above€that€which€we€are€able.Ð  $¼ Ð[To€require€anyone€to€remain€celibate€and€unmarried€as€a€condition€of€service€in€the€church€is€aÐ ø$¨  Ðviolation€the€literal€intent€and€spirit€of€Matthew€19:12,€1€Corinthians€7:7,€1€Timothy€3:2,€1€TimothyÐ ä%”! Ð4:1„3,€and€Titus€1:6]Ð Ð&€" ÐÌCANON€X€ð!ð€If€any€one€saith,€that€the€marriage€state€is€to€be€placed€above€the€state€of€virginity,€orÐ ¨(X!$ Ðof€celibacy,€and€that€it€is€not€better€and€more€blessed€to€remain€in€virginity,€or€in€celibacy,€than€toÐ ”)D"% Ðbe€united€in€matrimony;€let€him€be€anathema.€Ô#†X·XX#X·9E#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô[This€is€adding€to€the€Scriptures€and€contradictsÐ €*0#& ÐHebrews€13:4.€Marriage,€and€not€celibacy,€€is€a€picture€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€and€the€His€Church.]Ð l+$' Ї[All€cited€from€the€twenty„fourth€session€of€the€Council€of€Trent,€November€11,€1563,€the€doctrineÐ P Ðon€the€sacrament€of€matrimonyÔ#†X·XX#X·ØJ#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô]€Note€from€the€author:€The€sacrament€of€matrimony€is€a€RomanÐ <ì ÐCatholic€heresy€that€makes€marriage€a€part€of€the€works€that€accumulate€to€salvation.Ð ( Ø ÐÌà@õ õ ìàò òòòTHE€1993„1994€ROMAN€CATHOLIC€CATECHISMó óóóÔ#†X·XX#X·oL#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔˆÐ  ° ÐÌ1650€Today€there€are€numerous€Catholics€in€many€countries€who€have€recourse€to€civil€divorce€andÐ Ø ˆ Ðcontract€new€civil€unions.€In€fidelity€to€the€words€of€Jesus€Christ€-€"Whoever€divorces€his€wife€andÐ Ä t Ðmarries€another,€commits€adultery€against€her;€and€if€she€divorces€her€husband€and€marries€another,Ð °` Ðshe€commits€adultery"€The€Church€maintains€that€a€new€union€cannot€be€recognized€as€valid,€if€theÐ œL  Ðfirst€marriage€was.€If€the€divorced€are€remarried€civilly,€they€find€themselves€in€a€situation€thatÐ ˆ8  Ðobjectively€contravenes€God's€law.Ô#†X·XX#X·²M#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ t$  ÐÌ2353€Fornication€is€carnal€union€between€an€unmarried€man€and€an€unmarried€woman.€It€is€gravelyÐ Lü  Ðcontrary€to€the€dignity€of€persons€and€of€human€sexuality€which€is€naturally€ordered€to€the€good€ofÐ 8è  Ðspouses€and€the€generation€and€education€of€children.€Moreover,€it€is€a€grave€scandal€when€there€isÐ $Ô  Ðcorruption€of€the€youngÔ#†X·XX#X·P#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔÐ À ÐÌ2382€The€Lord€Jesus€insisted€on€the€original€intention€of€the€Creator€who€willed€that€marriage€beÐ è˜ Ðindissoluble.€He€abrogates€the€accommodations€that€had€slipped€into€the€old€Law.Ð Ô„ ÐBetween€the€baptized,€"a€ratified€and€consummated€marriage€cannot€be€dissolved€by€any€humanÐ Àp Ðpower€or€for€any€reason€other€than€death."Ð ¬\ ÐÌ2383€The€separation€of€spouses€while€maintaining€the€marriage€bond€can€be€legitimate€in€certainÐ „4 Ðcases€provided€for€by€canon€law.€If€civil€divorce€remains€the€only€possible€way€of€ensuring€certainÐ p  Ðlegal€rights,€the€care€of€the€children,€or€the€protection€of€inheritance,€it€can€be€tolerated€and€does€notÐ \  Ðconstitute€a€moral€offense.Ð Hø ÐÌ2384€Divorce€is€a€grave€offense€against€the€natural€law.€It€claims€to€break€the€contract,€to€which€theÐ  !Ð Ðspouses€freely€consented,€to€live€with€each€other€till€death.€Divorce€does€injury€to€the€covenant€ofÐ  "¼ Ðsalvation,€of€which€sacramental€marriage€is€the€sign.€Contracting€a€new€union,€even€if€it€isÐ ø"¨ Ðrecognized€by€civil€law,€adds€to€the€gravity€of€the€rupture:€the€remarried€spouse€is€then€in€a€situationÐ ä#” Ðof€public€and€permanent€adultery:Ð Ð$€  ÐÌà8  àIf€a€husband,€separated€from€his€wife,€approaches€another€woman,€he€is€an€adultererÐ ¨&X" Ðbecause€he€makes€that€woman€commit€adultery,€and€the€woman€who€lives€with€himÐ ”'D # Ðis€an€adulteress,€because€she€has€drawn€another's€husband€to€herself.Ô#†X·XX#X·TR#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·ÔЀ(0!$Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X·XX#X·Y#ÔÔ‡#X·XXX·Ô[All€cited€from€the€1993„1994€Roman€Catholic€Catechism€(the€numbers€preceding€the€text€are€theÐ X*#& Ðso„called€canon€numbers)]Ô#†X·XX#X·iY#Ôò òó ó