Original Broadcast: June 2010
Monthly Theme: Sixth Commandment
[Jesus said:] "Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."
(Matthew 19:9)
Immediately following Jesus' injunction that God frowns on divorce, He gives the one true grounds for divorce: sexual immorality. The breaking of the marital bond by one or both spouses is the only reason Jesus gives for the dissolution of marriage.
Jesus points us back through the entire Old Testament. God continually calls Himself Israel's Bridegroom. The Bridegroom of an adulterous wife. The covenant of God's marriage to Israel was broken many times throughout history. And Israel didn't care. So God divorced her and sent her into exile in Babylon. He took her back, but she prostituted herself again with the peoples around her.
He took her back again through the birth of their son Jesus. But she would not accept Him. The divorce became final once again. Israel wanted to play the harlot. God let her go and married to Himself a faithful Bride: all those who believe in Jesus Christ. Amen.
