Biblical Grounds for Divorce in Matthew 19

The episode opened with Matthew 19, where Pharisees challenge Jesus on divorce’s legality for any cause. Jesus points to Genesis: “He who created them from the beginning made them male and female… What God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6, ESV). Marriage, in God’s eyes, is a sacred covenant, forged for life. Yet, when pressed about Moses’ allowance for divorce, Jesus clarifies that biblical grounds for divorce exist only for “sexual immorality” (porneia), permitted due to the “hardness of your hearts.”

In first-century Judaism, porneia meant physical sexual sins—adultery, fornication, or incest—not emotional betrayals or modern notions like pornography. This precision matters. As I noted, stretching porneia to include non-physical acts muddies the biblical grounds for divorce, risking decisions that stray from Scripture’s intent. For more on Christian living, explore our Spiritual Growth section.

Hardness of Heart: A Barrier to Biblical Grounds

Jesus’ mention of “hardness of heart” struck a chord in our discussion. Even when biblical grounds for divorce are met—say, through adultery—He frames divorce as a concession, not a command. The ideal is reconciliation, mirroring God’s relentless grace. I argued that a hardened heart, unwilling to forgive, often drives divorce, even when justified. Separation may be wise in cases like abuse, but legal divorce isn’t the default godly path. John Piper’s insights on marriage echo this call to perseverance.

Mosaic Law vs. Jesus’ Teaching

Delving into Scripture, we contrasted Mosaic Law with Jesus’ words. Deuteronomy 24 allowed divorce for “indecency” (ervat dabar), a vague term that men could exploit, leaving women powerless to initiate divorce. Jesus, in Mark 10, levels the field, addressing both genders but tightening the standard to porneia. This shift underscores that biblical grounds for divorce are narrow, tied to physical infidelity, and always tempered by the call to soften one’s heart through the Spirit’s work.

Pornography: Not a Biblical Ground for Divorce

A listener asked if pornography justifies divorce. I was blunt: porneia refers to physical sexual acts, not visual sins. While lust is grave—Jesus calls it adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28)—it doesn’t meet the biblical grounds for divorce. Modern culture often equates emotional or visual betrayal with physical infidelity, but Scripture draws a line. This clarity challenges us to address sin without dismantling God’s covenant design for marriage.

Forgiveness: God’s Ideal Over Divorce

The episode’s heartbeat was God’s call to forgiveness, even amid betrayal. My guests, Chris and Steph, shared bold convictions. Chris argued that a Christian with a “heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26) should pursue reconciliation, not divorce, even in adultery’s wake. Steph proposed separation without remarriage, honoring the marriage covenant. These views align with Scripture’s high view of marriage, urging believers to reflect Christ’s love. Biblical grounds for divorce exist, but forgiveness is the higher road.