What does the bible say about remarriage? I know that some say there are exceptions to divorce but are there exceptions to remarriage.
This question can be best answered by the Bible and the Bible alone. No commentaries are necessary, as the Bible is clear on that.
a. The unmarried and the widows can remarry:
1 Cor 7:8-9 “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” NIV
Rom 7:2 “For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.” NIV
In fact, the apostle Paul encourages younger widows to marry!
1 Tim 5:11-15 “As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.” NIV
b. Anyone whose unbelieving spouse leaves/divorces can remarry.
1 Cor 7:12-16 “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.’ NIV
c. Anyone who is divorced because of his/her spouse committing fornication can remarry.
Matt 19:9 “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." NIV
Anyone else cannot remarry according to the Bible!
1 Cor 7:10-11 “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” NIV
In fact, anyone other than the above mentioned exceptions who remarries is called an adulterer/adulteress!
Rom 7:2-3 “For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.” NIV
Anyone divorcing his/her spouse for any reason cannot remarry him/her after he/she remarries.
Deut 24:1-4 “If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.” NIV
The Bible is clear on this and cannot be mocked! Do you find yourself in a situation where the Bible calls you an adulterer/adulteress? Or maybe you are contemplating marriage with someone that you are not even supposed to be dating, as he/she is married? Repent my friend before it is too late! Jesus loves you and wants you to have an abundant blessed life. He is the One who will make happiness possible. Trust Him. It’s worth it. Jesus wants to save you my friend, but you need to accept His offer. He died for your sins, so that if you believe in Him, you will have eternal life (John 3:16). Why don’t you accept Him now by answering His call at http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html.
Rob Chaffart
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PREAMBLE:
First and foremost it should be known by all that marriage
is a God ordained institution. God designed it in the
beginning. The intention of God concerning marriage is to
involve men in His work here on earth.
Marriage was the last assignment that God performed after
creating the world and everything therein. He wanted man and
his mate to continue to administer on his behalf so that his
creation can go as He expected. God brought the first couple
to co-partner with him. He designed marriage as an
institution that is sacred.
However, the devil tempted Eve and Adam was also lured and
so the institution collapsed. This marked the beginning of
problems for mankind. You may read up Genesis chapters 3 and
4 to see the consequence of sin. Not until Jesus came to
redeem mankind, the whole creation was in shamble. Without
hope. But we thank God for Jesus who came to redeem mankind
from sin - John 3:16.
Up till today, God is still interest in homes. When you look
through scriptures you will see the wonderful role that God
expected homes to discharge. Both in the old and new
testaments, God has always been finding homes useful in
bringing His purposes on the face of the earth to come to
pass.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION FOR REMARRIAGE
(A) 1 Corinthians 7:8 - "But I say to the unmarried and to
the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;
but if hey cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For
it is better to marry than to burn with passion. Now to the
married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to
depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let
her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a
husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest, I, not
the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not
believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not
divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not
believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not
divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by
the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the
husband, otherwise your children would be unclean, but now
they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him
depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such
cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know,
O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you
know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Friend, the sum-total of this is that you should not
divorce! God is interested in your following peace and
pursuing it. Let us not quote scriptures and read out of
context in order to satisfy our selfish motive. Read the
entire scripture, see the mind of God in the scripture and
humble yourself to obey it not matter how hard it may
appear.
What God has joined together let no man, circumstances,
situations, trials, troubles, perils separate it!.
(B) 1 Corinthians 7:39-40 "A wife is bound by law as long as
her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at
liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my
judgment and I think I also have the Spirit of God".
I am, by this exhortation, saying that if you are married
you will live long and the enemy would not cut your life
short. The scriptures declare that we will live our full
years on the face of the earth.
"With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My
salvation". - Psalm 91:16
However if by reason of sudden death, God allows a
remarriage just as we have seen it above.
The remarriage you would do if your partners goes to be with
the Lord should be only in the Lord. You must marry someone
who is born again and believes the Scriptures.
JESUS' DISPOSITION ABOUT MARRIAGE
Mark 10:1-9
"The He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by
the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him
again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.
The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to
divorce his wife?" testing Him.
And He answered and said to them "What did Moses command
you?"
They said, Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of
divorce, and to dismiss her."
And Jesus answered and said to them, :Because of the
hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
"But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male
and female.'
'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and
be joined to his wife,
'and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no
longer two, but one flesh.
"Therefore what God has joined together, let not man
separate."
I want to encourage you to let your heart be regenerated by
the Lord. The Lord does not permit divorce or remarriage
when one of the partners is still leaving. Whatever the
differences are between the two of you should be resolved.
You should forgive one another. Look specifically verse ten
of the above scriptures:
"Therefore what God has joined together, let not man
separate" (put asunder). Can you see that? If your marriage
is of God, it should last, till death do you part... God
will give you understanding!
GOD HATES DIVORCE
Malachi 2:16 "For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates
divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence" says the
LORD of hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you
do not deal treacherously".
This is God's disposition concerning marriage. Please
endeavor to obey it.
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMP?
I want to tell you that there is no marriage or given to
marriage in heaven. However, whatever you commit as sins in
the union would be punished by God when you get to Him for
judgment. The following is an invitation for you to a
marriage that would last forever (till eternity)!
Revelation 19:7-9 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give him
glory, for the marriage of the Lamp has come, and His wife
has made herself ready". And to her it was granted to be
arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen
is the righteous acts of the saints. The he said to me,
"Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage
supper of the Lamp! And he said to me, These are the true
saying of God.
Are you prepared to be taken away by the bridegroom? Have
you forsaken your sins? Is your garment white as snow?. Are
you sure that if you die to today you would open your eyes
in heaven?. If you are not sure, you can be married to Jesus
today. He is inviting you to be his bride. Confess your
sins, repent of them and acknowledge JESUS as Lord and
Savior, then you shall be saved - John 3:5-7. Today is your
day of salvation; tomorrow may be too late!
If you have questions on this subject, please get back to
me.
God bless you real good!
Rev Debo Adeyemo
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Old Testament Scriptures
Exodus 21:10-11 10 If he take him another wife; her food,
her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not
diminish.11 And if he do not these three unto her, then
shall she go out free without money. (KJV) Deut. 24:1-2 When
a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to
pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath
found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill
of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of
his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she
may go and be another man's wife. (KJV)
New Testament Scriptures
Matt. 5:31-32 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away
his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But
I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife,
saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit
adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced
committeth adultery.
Matt. 19:3-11 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting
him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away
his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto
them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the
beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this
cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave
to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore
they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God
hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say
unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of
divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them,
Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to
put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife,
except it be for fornication, and shall marry another,
committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put
away doth commit adultery. 10 His disciples say unto him, If
the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to
marry. 11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this
saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mark 10:2-12 2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him,
Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3
And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command
you? 4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of
divorcement, and to put her away. 5 And Jesus answered and
said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you
this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God
made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man
leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And
they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more
twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined
together, let not man put asunder. 10 And in the house his
disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11 And he
saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and
marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a
woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another,
she committeth adultery.
Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth
another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her
that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
Mal. 2:14-16 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath
been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against
whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy
companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he
make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And
wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore
take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously
against the wife of his youth. 16 For the LORD, the God of
Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth
violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts:
therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not
treacherously.
1 Cor. 7:10-11 10 And unto the married I command, yet not I,
but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11
But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be
reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away
his wife.
1 Cor. 7:12-15 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If
any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be
pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And
the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if
he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and
the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were
your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the
unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is
not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to
peace.
Rom. 7:1-3 1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them
that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a
man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an
husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he
liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the
law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth,
she be married to another man, she shall be called an
adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from
that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be
married to another man.
The scriptures of the New Testament completely and clearly
spell out the laws of marriage and remarriage.
DeeDee
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God said it's better to marry than to burn I say remarry only if death is the cause of separation. The vows say until death do you part. God said let no man put asunder meaning stay together but remarriage is better than shaking and burning for that sin, but it's adultery in Gods eyes.
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I have no doubt God would want us to be married. My previous wife died from cancer. It was her preacher who told me to find someone when the time was right. God gave us the love of family and of marriage. I cannot think why He would not want us to use His blessing.
BJ Cassady
