Divorce is not part of God’s original design for marriage. From the beginning, God intended marriage to be a lifelong, covenantal union between one man and one woman. Jesus affirmed this when He quoted Genesis:
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh… Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:5–6)
God hates divorce because it violates the covenant He established:
“For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence.” (Malachi 2:16)
However, the Bible does recognize that because of sin, divorce can occur. Jesus allowed for divorce in the case of sexual immorality:
“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9)
Paul added another allowance in 1 Corinthians 7:15, where an unbelieving spouse departs from the marriage:
“But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases.”
Outside of these two exceptions, sexual immorality and abandonment by an unbeliever, divorce is not permitted. Even in these cases, reconciliation is always preferable if possible.
Marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:22–33). Breaking that picture through divorce is never to be taken lightly. Jesus emphasized the hardness of heart behind divorce:
“Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:8)
While divorce may not always be sinful depending on the circumstances, it is always tragic and reflects brokenness. Those who have divorced for unbiblical reasons are called to repentance, not condemnation. God offers forgiveness and restoration.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Divorce should never be treated as an easy option or a personal right. It is permitted in limited cases, but it is never ideal. Christians are called to honor the marriage covenant and pursue reconciliation wherever possible.
