QT 3/12/2025 1 Cor 7:8-16, Rules regarding separation and divorce

1 Corinthians 7:8–16 (ESV) —

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

 

NOTE: It is clear that Paul is uncomfortable in some of his instructions, yet is giving his best wisdom. The two cases are married couples separating, and spouses who are married to an unbelieving spouse. In the first case, it is not his opinion but the Lord. Married believers are bound to each other but it appears separation is okay for a time. In the second case, Paul gives his opinion, not the Lord's command, that marriage to an unbeliever should stand if at all possible, for the sake of the children, and for the sake of the unbelieving spouse.

 

In today's day and age, these instructions seem archaic. But if we desire to live according to the truth, these passages are the word of God. If a person has divorced or committed adultery, there is forgiveness at the cross, and there are consequences of the sin. This is true of all sin. Theft, lying, and drunkenness are all sins that are forgiven at the cross, but also have consequences. All sin, to include divorce, has temporal consequences, and all sin is covered by the eternal blood of Jesus. The shame is taken away by the blood.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I confessed a sin, but feel like it is not forgiven? All sin is covered by the blood of Jesus.
2. Am I contemplating an action against God's word? All sin has consequences, but there are cases where certain actions are appropriate. In my opinion, when a spouse is physically threatened, that is the same as adultery, and one can separate (probably divorce as well, but that is only my opinion).

 

PRAYER: Father, our would of sin makes life so difficult. When Jesus was questioned about divorce, he answered that the reason (he had) Moses wrote a writ of divorce was because of SIN. That is, there will always be situations where man's sin makes reconciliation impossible. It was not your plan from the beginning. Father, help us to overcome our pain and our shame. Help us to fully seek you and enjoy the cleansing power of the cross.