1 Corinthians 7:10-24

Several passages in Scripture deal with divorce and remarriage: Ex. 21:7-11; Deut. 21:10-14; 24:1-4; Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 5:31-32; 19:3-13; Mk. 10:2-12; Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-16,39.  Jesus prohibited divorce (Matt. 19:3-6;  Mark 10:9) but also made allowance in the case of adultery, acknowledging that the Moses also allowed for divorce because of the hardness of people’s hearts.  Here are some principles from the Scriptures:

·        Divorce is never commanded nor commended; God hates divorce.

·        Divorce is permitted for adultery (which destroys the essence, the oneness, of marriage) and to bring peace when an unbelieving spouse insists on it.

·        Remarriage is assumed when divorce is permitted.

·        Remarriage is forbidden to the “guilty” party when divorce is permitted.

·        Divorce in the OT was designed primarily to protect the woman from being left without provision.

In 7:10-11 Paul instructs both women (not to separate) and men (not to send his wife off) since divorce was available to both in Roman law.  Yet he also says, “even if she does depart;” he recognizes there will be occasions.  He has in mind situations when one spouse becomes a believer while the other remains unsaved (v12-13).  The believer should stay in the marriage given the potential spiritual value both to the unbeliever and the children (v14).  Many today reject the idea of staying together for the sake of the children.  But God says there are more important issues than the personal happiness of the couple!  But if the unbelieving spouse refuses to stay together, the principle of peace takes precedence, an agreeableness that might lead to the unbeliever’s salvation.

The principle that overrides the plans or feelings of either spouse is that of contentment (v17,24).  Believers must resist the temptation that they will be happier or more satisfied in a different situation.  The principle is applied to circumcision (v18-19) and to slavery (v20-23).  People often thought changes in areas like these would be a key to happiness.  But that denies the Biblical truth where soul satisfaction comes from God and never from external circumstances.  

The context makes this principle even more fitting for marriage.  Divorce is nearly always the result of one or both spouses deciding that a different relationship would be better.  This was the way of thinking in the world around the Corinthians (and for us today).  But Paul makes a great point: God is at work in our marriage no matter how good or bad we consider it to be.  It’s hard to remember how often we heard from professing believers, “I think I married the wrong person.”  They want permission to divorce so they can now do the right thing for God and have a better marriage.  But the will of God is this: let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.  The answer for the soul is not a different human relationship but a deeper relationship with God!