The Exception | Matthew 19:9

Scripture

• Matthew 19:9

About this sermon

ntroduction: Much attention in Matthew 19 has focused on the 9th verse. The reason for that is because of the presence of what has been referred to as the “exception clause.” As we noted in our last sermon, Christ’s emphasis in the passage, when it comes to the question of marriage, is not on how to get out of a marriage, but the mandate to maintain marriages. Christ’s emphasis in the passage, when it comes to the to the question of remarriage, is not on getting remarried, but the fact that adultery occurs when people get remarried after a divorce. What Jesus emphasized in the passage, is woefully underemphasized in the church. The church of our time does not emphasize the lifelong permanence of marriage. The church of our time barely mentions the reality of adultery when remarriage follows an unlawful divorce. All parties who take the Bible seriously should be able to agree, and must agree, that a remarriage that follows an unlawful divorce results in adultery. And yet, is that really emphasized, and are remarriages carefully examined considering that reality? Sadly, Christ’s emphasis is not His church’s emphasis. But, having noted where Jesus placed His emphasis, we do have these words, “except for immorality.” We find the same exception in Matthew 5. 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. In Matthew 5 and Matthew 19 there is the mention of this exception. But what does it mean? The majority view, when it comes to the matter of divorce, usually takes the exception to refer to adultery. Sexual unfaithfulness after two people are married results in the nullification of the marriage covenant and sets the innocent party free to remarry. Today, I will contend that that is NOT what the exception refers to. I will contend that once two people are truly married, the exception of verse 9 would no longer apply. And I would suggest to you that what I’m going to present is, at the VERY LEAST, a sound possibility for how one ought to read the text, and the reason why it is often dismissed has more to do with the pain of divorce, and the passions of people, than with what the text says. NOTE: I want to make clear, again, that what we look at today has more to do with our future than with our past. It has to do with the past also, in the sense that we see the past accurately and deal with it honestly before the cross of Christ. But in terms of preparation for the future, it is about getting this issue right so that we can guide the next generation on the question of marriage and divorce. Divorce and remarriage, even when it was sinful by the standard of every conservative interpretation of the texts that deal with the subject, is not the unforgiveable sin. As with every other sin that Christ has forgiven, we are not called to live under the guilt of what His blood paid for. But as is true with every other sin, nor are we meant to continue in error so that grace might abound. We need to know the truth, we want to know the truth, no matter how much would have to change in light of the truth. So, ARE THERE GOOD REASONS to read μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ as something different than a reference to adultery after marriage? And I think the easiest and most helpful way to present my case is to tell you what I believe it refers to and then give you reasons why I believe it. THE EXCEPTION CLAUSE REFERS TO UNFAITHFULNESS DURING THE BETROTHAL PERIOD This morning, I will explain why I believe that. Here’s the first reason. • THE OLD TESTAMENT DID NOT INSTITUTE DIVORCE — IT MANAGED DIVORCE The Deuteronomy 24 passage makes that clear. The command in those four verses is not about a divorce certificate. The command in those verses forbids remarriage after the divorced woman has married another man. NAS Deuteronomy 24:1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house, 2 and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man's wife, 3 and if the latter husband turns against her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her to be his wife, 4 then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, since she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance. There were two practical effects of this allowance. The first practical effect of what Moses allowed was the curbing of divorce.