The Question of Divorce Based on Matthew 19:1-12: Did Jesus legalize divorce on grounds for sexual immorality?
Keywords:
Divorce, Marriage, Sexual immoralityAbstract
The paper was guided by the question of divorce based on Matthew 19:1-12, on whether Jesus legalized divorce on grounds for sexual immorality. After evaluating the Jewish setting, historical and geographical background, and the immediate context of Matthew 19:1-12 suggests that by the exception clause ("except for porneia") Jesus permitted divorce only in the case of an unlawful marriage to a near relative and betrothal period. By means of the porneia exception, Jesus did not intend to impose the Levitical norms for legitimate marriage, but simply to declare that when such norms were violated, there was a valid reason for the dissolution of marriage. This view is consistent with the absolute value that Mark, Luke, and Paul placed on the saying of Jesus. I can conclude that by the exception phrase about porneia, Jesus did not intend to open the way for divorce and remarriage in the case of sexual misconduct. Rather, he wished to reaffirm the creation account of permanence of the marriage union but allowing divorce in a case of an unlawful marriage specifically during betrothal period and incestuous relationship. The teaching of Jesus in Matthew 19:1-12 can be summarized in two points. First, divorce is forbidden because it violates God’s intention of marriage as a permanent union of two persons. Second, remarriage after divorce is adultery because divorce does not dissolve the marriage union.
References
Adams, Jay Edward, and Jay Edward Adams. Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible. The Jay Adams Library. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books House; Ministry Resources Library, 1980.
Arthur, J. Bryson. A Theology of Sexuality and Marriage. Rev. ed. Nairobi: Uzima Press, 2001.
Block, Daniel Isaac. Deuteronomy. The NIV Application Commentary, n.d.
“Blue Letter Bible: Book of Beginnings - Genesis Chapter 1 - King James Version.” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed February 13, 2015. http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4202&t=KJV.
Bruner, Frederick Dale. Matthew: A Commentary. Rev. and expanded ed. Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 2004.
Canes, Andrew. Divorce and Remarriage: Biblical Principles and Pastoral Practice. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1993.
Coiner, Harry G. “Those Divorce and Remarriage Passages.” Concordia Theological Monthly 39, no. 6 (June 1, 1968): 367–84.
Fleming, Thomas V. “Christ and Divorce.” Theological Studies 24, no. 1 (March 1, 1963): 106–20.
France, R. T. The Gospel of Matthew. New International Commentary on the New. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub, 2007.
Garrett, Anthony. “A New Understanding of the Divorce and Remarriage Legislation in Deuteronomy 24:1-4.” Jewish Bible Quarterly 39, no. 4 (October 1, 2011): 245–50.
Guenther, Allen R. “The Exeption Phrases: Except Porneia, Including Porneia or Excluding Porneia? (Matthew 5:32; 19:9).” Tyndale Bulletin 53, no. 1 (January 1, 2002): 83–96.
Gundry Robert H. Matthew: A Commentary on His Literary and Theological Art. William B. Eardmans Publishing Company Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1982.
Gundry, Robert Horton. Matthew: A Commentary on His Handbook for a Mixed Church under Persecution. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans, 1994.
Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14 - 28. Word Biblical Commentary 33b. Word Books Publisher, Dallas, Texas, 1995.
Harrington, Daniel J. The Gospel of Matthew. Sacra Pagina Series 1. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press, 1991.
———. The Gospel of Matthew. Sacra Pagina Series 1. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press, 1991.
Heth, William A. “The Meaning of Divorce in Matthew 19:3-9.” Churchman 98, no. 2 (January 1, 1984): 136–52.
House, H. Wayne, J. Carl Laney, Larry Richards, and Wheaton College (Ill.), eds. Divorce and Remarriage: Four Christian Views. InterVarsity Press; Downers Grove, Illinois, 1990.
Janzen, David. “The Meaning of Porneia in Matthew 5.32 and 19.9: An Approach from the Study of Ancient Near Eastern Culture.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament, no. 80 (December 1, 2000): 66–80.
Jones, David W. “The Betrothal View of Divorce and Remarriage.” Bibliotheca Sacra 165, no. 657 (January 1, 2008): 68–85.
Kenyatta, Jomo. Facing Mount Kenya; the Tribal Life of Gikuyu. London: Secker and Warburg, 1938.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans ; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992.
Nolland, John. The Gospel of Matthew: A Commentary on. New International Greek Testament Commen. Grand Rapids, Mich: Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. ; Paternoster Press, 2005.
———. “The Gospel Prohibition of Divorce: Tradition History and Meaning.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament, no. 58 (June 1, 1995): 19–35.
Price, James L. Interpreting the New Testament. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1961.
Quesnell, Quentin. “Made Themselves Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 19:12).” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 30, no. 3 (July 1, 1968): 335–58.
Reilly, Wendell Stephen. “The Origin of St. Matthew’s Gospel.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 2, no. 4 (October 1, 1940): 320–29.
Theology Advisory Group (TAG), ed. A Biblical Approach to Marriage and Family in Africa. TAG Theological Reflections 5. Machakos, Kenya: Scott Theological College, 1994.
Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew: From Biblical Text-- to Contem. NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2004.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Mercy Maina , Joshua Nathan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
