Divorce

First marriages in the United States end in divorce between forty and fifty percent of the time. For second marriages, the rate is even higher—sixty to sixty-seven percent—and for third marriages the divorce rate is above seventy percent.[1]

This must break God’s heart, for he said, “I hate divorce” in Malachi 2:16.

Jesus made clear that God intended marriage to be for life, and that divorce and remarriage, or even marrying a person who has been divorced, was tantamount to committing adultery.[2] The only exception to this rule was when the divorced spouse had committed “sexual immorality,”[3] which most scholars agree means adultery. (In other words, if your husband or wife committed adultery during your marriage, you were permitted to divorce them.)

While Jesus spoke in terms of a husband divorcing a wife, Paul was more egalitarian. He forbid divorce among Christians, whether by a husband or a wife.[4]

There were of course practical reasons why Jesus and Paul should take such a position. In those times, when women were either forbidden or discouraged from working, wives were often dependent upon their husbands for support. So a woman who was divorced by her husband would often be destitute unless she could remarry.

But it’s more than that. As C.S. Lewis points out in Mere Christianity, promises of eternal or life-long devotion are routine among new lovers. This is something that comes naturally. It is the subject of countless love songs. The marriage vow, “until death do us part,” simply formalizes what lovers are inclined to promise anyway.

But the marriage vow is a promise, not a feeling. It is a promise made to each other, and before God, and God expects us to keep our promises, even if our feelings change.

Divorce breaks that promise. That is why God hates divorce.

[1]. Divorce statistics are from the webpage, “Top 10 Divorce Statistics You Need To Know,” 4-7-2025, found at: https://www.modernfamilylaw.com/resources/top-10-divorce-statistics-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Current%20U.S.%20Divorce%20Rate,significantly%20down%20from%20earlier%20years%20.

[2]. See Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:3-11, Mark 10:2-12, Luke 16:18.

[3]. Matthew 5:32 and 19:9

[4]. 1 Corinthians 7:10-16