Today we cover a topic that intersects with many of our lives, often in deeply painful ways.
In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus expands his teaching on righteousness with a mini-teaching on marriage and divorce. It’s a teaching that cuts to the heart, but it does so in order to heal.
God hates divorce.
That hatred is a derivative hatred. It comes from God’s love.
- God hates divorce because he loves women. (Malachi 2:14-16)
- God hates divorce because he loves children and families. (Malachi 2:15)
- God hates divorce because he loves steadfast, covenant love. (Hosea 2:19-20)
- God hates divorce because he loves mercy, forgiveness and second chances. (Hosea 3:1)
- God hates divorce because he loves marriage. (Matthew 19:4-6)
- God hates divorce because he loves the gospel. (Ephesians 5:28-33)
For everyone who has been wounded (or wounded others) by the tearing of divorce, there is hope in the love of God in Christ.
Friends, let’s love what God loves.
Let’s recapture the honor of vow-keeping.
Married friends, let’s throw our energy, courage and initiative into our marriages.
Tom Brown is the planting pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Wichita. Tom and his wife, Mandy, have worked together in ministry for 18 years and have four children. More about Pastor Tom Brown