Matthew 19 Summary:

Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 cannot be used to justify divorce and remarriage for the following reasons:

1. Such an argument needlessly produces contradictions with the last part of both texts where marrying a divorcee is forbidden as adultery. No divorcee can remarry.

2. Such an argument needlessly produces contradictions with Chapter 10 of Mark. Matthew 19:1-9 is the same story as Mark 10:1-12. Mark 10:11,12, which corresponds to Matthew 19:9, does not contain the exception clause demonstrating the utter unimportance of the exception clause. If the exception clause is so important, why is it missing in Mark’s version of the same story.Their placing such great importance on the exception clause implies that Mark is an unreliable witness in that he left out the most important part of the story.

3. The logical meaning of the word ‘and’ means several things that have something in common. . If  we use the dictionary definition of ‘and’ : ‘as well as’, Matthew 19:9 condemns divorce as well as remarriage as well as remarrying a divorcee and all contradictions disappear [Matt 19:9 paraphrased: ‘an illegal divorce as well as remarriage as well as remarrying a divorcee is adultery’. i.e. each is adultery all by themselves].

4. All divorce is a sin. The woman is pronounced guilty of adultery in Matthew 5:32 even though it is the husband who instigates the divorce proceedings. This is evidence that all divorce is a sin. Divorce, in itself, is a sin.

5. The disciples witnessed that Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:9 meant that it was not good for a divorcee to remarry. (Matthew 19:10) Jesus adds to this understanding by teaching that the divorcee must also remain single and celibate. (Matthew 19:11,12)

6. The argument that these texts teach that a certain kind of divorce is not a sin is based on merely an implied meaning of Matthew 19:9. Implied meanings are weaker than explicit texts which explicitly condemn divorce and remarriage such as Luke 16:18 plus a host of others. By using the weak implied meaning of Matthew 19:9 as a weapon to beat into submission explicit texts, those who argue for divorce and remarriage are trying to use something weak to destroy something strong.

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