Is Matthew 5 only for the Jews?

Question: Hello, A friend of mine who is against divorce and remarriage says that Matthew 5 has a “Jewish element,” that is, the word “council” in Matthew 5:22, so it is a chapter only for Jews and not for Christians.  What do you think about that? Thank you. Answer: This is a variation of an…

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My wife wants a divorce

Question: Hello Brother, I hope this message finds you in good health and spirits. My wife has decided that she wants to separate and sell our home. She has also discussed divorce, saying that she’s unhappy. First off, I acknowledge that while by worldly standards I was a good husband, by Christian standards, I failed…

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What if the innocent party isn’t so innocent?

Question: Good morning brother, In Matthew 19:9, the Scripture teaches that a person can divorce another if the other person has committed adultery. My question is: Could the person trying to divorce the other not be able to go through with a divorce if they aren’t innocent? For example, me and my wife are going…

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Not Enslaved

by Matthew W. Bassford From time to time, I receive article requests from brethren who want me to address a particular topic. Sadly, my usual response to these requests is to forget that they have been made and never write about them. However, recently someone asked me about my views of “not enslaved” in 1…

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Did my marriage end for the right reason?

Question: Good afternoon! I recently became aware of your ministry and have been reading your articles. I immediately loved the tone and the thoroughness of the answers to questions that people asked! I have one for you that has concerned me! I am in my fifties. I accepted Christ as my Savior decades ago. I…

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Challenges for the Year

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Challenges-for-the-Year.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 1:28-32   I.         Toward the end of each year, people tend to review the year and record the trends that are evident             A.        I’ve been collecting several articles in the last few months dealing with moral trends             B.        We are not of the world, but we must live in it -…

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What if my husband dates while we are legally separated?

Question: My husband and I separated three years ago but are legally married. If he decides to date other people is that adultery in God’s eyes? Answer: In biblical days, the idea of a legal separation did not exist. Legal separations are essentially trial divorces. The hope was that by providing some space between the…

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Is Matthew 19:9 only for Jews?

Question: About the marriage and divorce issue in Matthew 19:9, Jesus was replying to the Jewish people. Does this mean that it does not apply to Christians but only Jews? Answer: You are missing an important implication. When laws were given to people there is an immediate audience and implied general audience. For instance, when…

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Am I able to remarry?

Question: Hi, I came across your church page while looking for an answer to a difficult question. I have found many different answers but as a member of the Church of Christ, I wanted to try to get a response that aligned with my religious beliefs. I read through quite a bit of the Q&A…

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Shouldn’t the divorce decree mention sexual unfaithfulness?

Question: I wrote to you years ago concerning my ex-wife, who divorced me for desertion while I was stationed in another country while in the military. She has since passed away. I’ve been a widower for years now and I’ve met a lady in the church. She has had two previous marriages, both, according to…

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My wife lied about her virginity. Can I divorce her?

Question: Hello, I have gone through many of your articles and answers, but still, I am doubtful on the exception clause of Matthew 5:31-32. I have a few questions to ask you. It would be better to quote Bible verses so I can go by the word of God. The question is regarding my marriage…

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Hard Sayings

Hard Sayings – Part 1Hard Sayings – Part 2 Text: Hebrews 5:5-14   I.         There are hard sayings in the Bible             A.        When Jesus was followed by a crowd looking for free food, he began explaining that they needed to seek spiritual food that only he could offer – John 6:35                         1.         Eventually Jesus said something hard to…

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Would I be able to remarry?

Question: Your website is wonderful and I am learning a lot! I have seen similar questions but not quite the same. I’m not sure if I was a believer at the time of my marriage or afterward. I grew up in the church and knew who God was but I did not have the Holy…

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Playing on the Edge

by Zeke Flores Some 2400 years ago, God’s people were confronted with their sins. Again. When Ezra the priest heard about how Israel had broken God’s law by marrying foreign women, he tore his robes, prayed, and fasted. When faced with the gravity of disobedience to God, the people committed themselves to faithfulness. And it…

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Am I wrong for moving on while waiting for the divorce to happen?

Question: Good evening, Several years ago, my wife left me for another man. She now has a child with this man and has been living with him since then. I waited over a year, trying to reconcile with her, but my attempts failed. I have moved on and have every intention of marrying the woman…

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How do I deal with a member who is in an adulterous marriage?

Question: I have a question that requires me to go outside of the current congregation where I am a member. If there is a member who is in an unscriptural marriage, which I do have personal knowledge of, and who is being allowed to preach and teach in worship service, should I remain a member…

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Do I let go of my failing marriage?

Question: I’m sorry this is a bit long. My husband has cheated on me several times in our marriage. Each time, he would convince me he would change, and he would for a few years, but then it would happen again and again. I would take him back and just pray and hope he wouldn’t…

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Why can a broken vow to God be forgiven but remarriage remains adultery?

Question: If God can forgive someone who breaks a vow to Him, although we know that vows should never be made, then why is remarriage possibly considered adultery when they’re breaking a vow of marriage? What is the difference between a vow to God and a vow made for marriage? Answer: All sins that are…

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Can I remarry if my husband divorces me?

Question: Hello, I have a question about divorce. My husband and I are both in our mid-twenties. We’ve been married less than two years. We are both in the body and have been for some time now. Because of my upbringing, I have anger management issues. So throughout our marriage, my husband has been saying…

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Did my fiance have a right to divorce his first wife?

Question: Hello! I really appreciate your question and answer site. I use it regularly when studying a specific subject. I have a question, and I believe I already know the answer, but I wondered what your response to my question would be. So here it goes … I divorced a few years back due to…

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I want someone to love. Why can’t I remarry?

Question: I was married for ten years. In the last four years of marriage, my husband was a deacon at the church we attended. Throughout our entire marriage he had a lying and stealing issue, and unbeknownst to me an opioids addiction as well. Long story short the opioids took over his life. He started…

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Would it be right to marry a man who had committed adultery but was forgiven?

Question: Good afternoon! I am reaching out because I have been combing through the collection of divorce articles on your website and believe you have an extensive biblical understanding of the subject. I hope that you can offer some clarity on a certain situation that I am receiving conflicting counsel about. I am seeing a…

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Why does the ESV remove that God hates divorce in Malachi 2:16?

Question: Do you know why in Malachi 2:16 the ESV removes the saying that God hates divorce? Answer: “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless” (Malachi…

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How do I leave my wrongful marriage?

Question: I have been married for fifteen years and I realize that God says if I remarry, we would both be committing adultery. Since my first husband is still alive, I am willing and want to turn from an adulterous life. I was wondering, how does someone leave a marriage when everything is in both…

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I want to marry this woman, but I don’t know if it is right

Question: I met a beautiful amazing woman, and I want to marry her and start a family with her. She is a Christian, and we make a great team. However, there are some hesitations on my part. She had sex when she was younger to an unbeliever, but she didn’t marry him. She left him.…

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When is a marriage covenant broken?

Question: When is the marriage covenant broken? When a married person actually commits the sexual act outside of marriage or when his spouse divorces him? Answer: Covenants are vows that last for the lifetime of the parties entering into the covenant. “For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is…

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Why do I feel guilty about dating after my divorce?

Question: My ex-husband and I cheated on each other during the time we were married. Looking back I can see that we were lukewarm Christian. I cheated on him at the last because he came home and told me he loved this other girl and everything and he cheated on me a lot and I…

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Is sex before marriage a sin for a couple who divorced their prior spouses?

Question: My partner and I are both divorced. Both of our previous partners committed adultery. We are engaged and find it difficult to find any reference in the Bible to our situation regarding sex before marriage. Could you help, please? Answer: You are currently not married. You only have a firm intention of getting married,…

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When did God take Israel and Judah back?

Question: When exactly did God take both Israel and Judah back? Answer: When Judah returned from the Babylonian captivity, they did not come alone. “So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was carried away into exile to Babylon for their…

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Did God divorce all of Israel or only the northern tribes?

Question: In Jeremiah 3:8, who did God divorce? Was it the House of Israel (ten northern tribes) only or all twelve tribes? Thank you. Answer: “Then the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, “Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every…

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Should I date someone who might have been married before?

Question: Hi, I’m a Christian and in my late twenties. There is this young woman at my workplace whom I am really interested in. I don’t know her too well, but I do know that she is very sweet and that she claims to be a Christian. The problem is that I think that she…

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Why did God allow my husband to destroy my life?

Question: Hello. I came across information about separation due to drug use on your site. I am in a situation to which I am seeking Godly counsel. Currently, I am a born again believer for almost three years now. God took my husband out of my life back in 2016, just long enough for me…

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I feel I will commit adultery if I divorce my husband

Question: I grew up in the church and was baptized. I got married and my husband was baptized as well after we were married a couple of years later. My husband left me, well abandoned me, and does not go to the church anymore. I have been studying Scriptures. I want to file for divorce,…

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