Matt 5:32 -- In this passage, as also at Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18, Christ affirms the New Covenant teaching that a marriage between Christians is binding for life and cannot be dissolved. An exception is made for illicit, taboo perversions of marriage known as "porneias," which were prohibited in the Law of Moses (see Leviticus 18 and commentary below). No exception is offered for adultery ("moicheia"), which though a serious transgression, does not end a marriage.

I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication (Greek: "porneia"), maketh her to commit adultery (Greek:"moicheia"): and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery ("moicheia"). (Matt 5:32).

In Christian teaching, marriage is the lifelong covenantal union of a man and woman that ends solely via the death of one spouse (Romans 7:2-3; 1 Cor 7:39). As a result, all attempts to remarry while a spouse is yet living constitutue adultery, not a new valid marriage (Matt 5:32, Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18, Romans 7:2-3). Adultery is no small sin, as conscious willful adulterers are expressly prohibited from God's Kingdom (1 Cor 6:9; Gal 5:19,21).

While it has been vainly imagined that Christ offers a loophole for married spouses who commit adultery, no such exception is offered. The exception listed at Matt 5:32 is for "porneia," not adultery ("moicheia"). Porneia is not to be confused with adultery (moicheia), but is something distinct from adultery, as is shown in the lists of sins at Gal 5:19, Matt 15:19, 1 Cor 6:9, and Mark 7:21, where "porneia" and "moicheia" are listed as distinctly different things.

Whereas adultery ("moicheia") occurs when a validly married person commits a sexual infidelity with someone other than his or her spouse, "porneias" are illicit, perverted non-marriage relations held to be taboo under Jewish law (Leviticus 18). For example, at 1 Cor 5:1, "porneia" is the label given to marriage to one's mother (incestuous marriage). At 1 Cor 7:1-2, "porneia" is a label given to cohabitation. At Jude 7, "porneia" is the label given to the homosexual relationships common to Sodom. At Acts 15:20, "porneia" references the Jewish prohibitions on marrying close kin as listed at Leviticus 18:6-18:18. In both Revelation 2:20 and 1 Cor 10:8, "porneia" is marriage to women of foreign gods (the Rev 2:20 verse references the sin of Ahab marrying the foreigner Jezebel; the 1 Cor 10:8 verse references the taking of foreign wives at Num 25:1-9). God does not honor "porneias" as valid marriages, and thus the law of marriage ("till death does part you") does not apply--they are illicit relations and are to be put away. In such porneia cases, according to Jesus, one could separate from one's illicit sexual partner and then marry a valid, eligible spouse.

As for the porneia of marrying people of foreign gods (Deut 7:3-4), it is worth noting that Ezra required a mass divorce of wives of foreign gods that the Hebrews had taken during the exile (Ezra 9:1-10:17; see also Neh 13:23-30). Likewise, God famously plagued takers of foreign wives at Numbers 25:1-9. Christians are likewise not permitted to choose unbelievers as spouses, though a special case occurs when one spouse of an unbelieving married couple converts to Christianity. Under the New Covenant, St. Paul says that a convert married to a non-Christian spouse should not seek to leave the non-Christian spouse, in hopes of bringing about conversion (1 Cor 7:12-16); however, should the non-Christian spouse choose to depart, then the marriage is instantly dissolved and the Christian is free to marry a Christian (1 Cor 7:12-16). This "convert case" is a special case, however, for no person who is a Christian at the outset is free to choose a non-Christian as a spouse--and marriage between two Christians is binding for life. Again, "porneias" are not covered within the law of marriage, but are perversions of marriage--they are non-marriages and are prohibited to the People of God.

For Christians today who are tempted to find grounds for divorce and remarriage, St. Paul offers a clear account of Christ's teaching to the contrary. At 1 Cor 7:10-11, while reiterating Christ's teaching on the matter (as found at Matt 5:32, Mark 10:11-12, and Luke 16:18), the apostle says that validly married christians who separate must either remain single or else be reconciled to each other (7:11)--these are the only valid options in light of Christ's teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. The apostle restates at 1 Cor 7:39, as also at Romans 7:2-3, that death alone dissolves the bond of marriage and frees a spouse to marry another.

For those who argue that the sinful act of one spouse leaving and having sexual relations with another ends the marriage contract, the bible shows otherwise at 1 Cor 7:10-11, Romans 7:1-3, Luke 16:18, and Mark 10:9-12. Each of those passages show a Christian spouse leaving a marriage and having relations with a new person, and each case shows that the first marriage contract remains binding despite the sinful behavior. The sinful behavior did not nullify the first vow/marriage in God's accounting. Death alone ends a marriage between two professing Christians.

A final note on adultery. if Matthew (at Matt 5:32) were espousing adultery as grounds for divorce, he would soon run up against grave practical difficulties. In this hypothesis, Matthew would allow divorce and remarriage for a husband and wife who had committed adultery; but a husband and wife who remained faithful to each other would not be allowed to divorce--indeed their attempt at divorce would be considered adultery. Obviously, the only thing to do for a faithful Christian couple who wanted a divorce would be to commit adultery, after which a dissolution of the marriage would be allowed. What we wind up with is divorce on demand, with a technical proviso of committing adultery. This all constitutes a strange church discipline, one in which adultery seems encouraged and fidelity discouraged. Christian counselors can attest that many who find themselves in difficult marital situations do commit such sins specifically for purposes of "being permitted to divorce and remarry." They may say to themselves, "Jesus will forgive me afterwards" or "I have already been forgiven for all my sins—future ones included." Through this loophole many Christians have absorbed the secular world’s divorce and remarriage ethic, just as many have absorbed the secular world’s contraceptive mentality.

Matt 10:23

But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

Here Jesus tells the apostles that his return would occur before the end of their ministry years throughout the cities of Israel. The "you" in the verse is the same "you" as found in verses 10:16-22--namely, the 12 apostles. For added clarity, see that the persecution of the 12 apostles leading up to the return (as foretold in Matt 10:16-22) is the same one found in Matthew 23:33-38 and Matt 24:9-10,13-14. The first century persecution and martyrdom of the apostles is in view.

Matt 23:34-36

For commentary on this passage, click here.

Matt 24:1-34 - The Olivet Discourse

To read the full commentary on the Olivet Discourse, click here.