(Illustrative account taken from Mark 6:17-28 KJV.)

Raucous laughter filled the grand hall as Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, feasted with his governors, military chiefs and nobles. The banquet was in honor of Herod’s birthday. Alcohol flowed freely as he was toasted and cheered as a great leader. Salome, the daughter of his wife Herodias, began to dance before the men, pleasing them with her beauty and enticement.

In the exaltation and pride of the moment, Herod called her to him. “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give you up to half of my kingdom.”Read more

For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away…

—Malachi 2:16

It grieved God when, after He nurtured and cared for His people Israel, they still turned their back on Him and committed spiritual adultery by following after other gods. God created mankind for there to be oneness and unity, but in his sinfulness, man has brought brokenness and pain. God hates “putting away” and divorce, for He understands the consequences of such action.Read more

Scripture Reading:  Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.  —Luke 16:18

Summary:  Marriage, from the beginning, was a lifetime union between one man and one woman.  This union was polluted with polygamy and divorce and remarriage. Jesus restored the sanctity of marriage. Remarriage while the first spouse is living is adultery.

I. In the Beginning

A. Gen 2:18 God created an help meet for Adam.
B. Genesis 2:23-25 Union of one man and one woman.Read more

In the beginning of time, God created man. He saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so He created a woman to be his help meet (Genesis 2:18). Thus began the institution of marriage. It was created and or-dained of God. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).

The marriage union is the closest of all human relationships and is second only to the relationship with God Himself. Marriage was instituted by the Creator; His plan was for marriage to be a lifelong, committed union between a man and a woman. Read more

Unfaithfulness and divorce is a catastrophic force in the world. Words are inadequate to express the depth of pain that spouses and children experience in life when a father, mother, husband, or wife forsake them. These spouses and children are often left with lifetime struggles because of a sense of betrayal and wrestle with issues of self-worth, rejection, trust, and love. They often take upon themselves the guilt and shame that belong to the offending spouse.

Consider the agony and inner turmoil that a spouse experiences when having to finally make a decision to leave an unfaithful/abusive spouse. Many pillows are wet with tears at night from lonely husbands, wives, and children who long for the stability of a loving family. The future looks dark and hopeless to many spouses and children who are left on their own. The world is full of single dads and moms struggling to hold it all together for the sake of their children—barely surviving financially.Read more