The Bible NEVER contradicts itself. For that reason I would like to receive this truth in faith, doubting nothing... to attempt a little exercise to demonstrate this using the criteria that you have offered in message 21:

“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”�?(Matthew 19:3-6)

WELCOME TO FULL BIBLE TRUTH

I find it interesting that Jesus' personal choice of example of a true, ordained, marriage, points back to the very beginning in the book of Genesis. I find it even more interesting that there is no marriage certificate involved here, neither any paper document of any sort, nor ring, or any physical objects that might lend themselves to the corruption of marriage by means of idolatry. Jesus has chosen the best example here, as He always does.

Amen?

(Matthew 19:3-6) (Mark 10:1-9) & GENESIS 2:14-25   

None of this scripture is in conflict. Unity appears to be the example.

What sort of unity?

What are the essentials?

1. God must be present in the marriage equation for it to be an authentic marriage. No God, no marriage. God created it.

2. A man must be present. Two or more women, other species, objects, idols, items, are not essential for it to be a marriage.

3. With respect to "one flesh" as evidenced in Matthew, Mark, and Genesis, a woman must be present. Two or more men do not comprise a marriage in this respect. A woman is essential to this sort of unity.

4. The flesh must "cleave" and "join".

5. Leaving also appears to be an essential factor.

6. God does the joining - not man.

7. Without a witness there is no marriage.

I see no contradictions here. It certainly appears to be a truly ordained marriage. It was Christ's example to the Pharisees. If it is good enough for Jesus it is good enough for me. This just might be enough to define BIBLICAL MARRIAGE by itself.

God made Adam and Eve �?two became one flesh.     

From this we can see that God did not intend divorce. 

 Amen

“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.�?nbsp; (Malachi 2:14-16)

This is a most excellent scripture. Notice how that the Lord is a witness between the man and the wife of his youth and not the other way around. There is a reason for this but I do not mean to digress. What is of the most essential importance in all of this scripture is the fact that the LORD is a WITNESS and that He hates putting away. Why? Could it possibly be that because PUTTING AWAY is treachery? (As opposed to "letting go"???) I especially love this OLD TESTAMENT scripture. I will use this as my queue to match this wonderful truth with even more of the OLD TESTAMENT scripture that is equal to it:

Deuteronomy 24

1 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.

3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;

4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

So what did Jesus have to say on the subject of Divorce and Remarriage?

Well, Jesus said that the cause had to be for uncleanness and that a bill of divorcement had to be written by the husband and placed in the hand of the wife. At that point the husband could send her out of the house and that she was free to be another man's wife once she had departed. Jesus said that the husband was never to receive her back as his wife again and that it was an abomination for him to do so. Jesus also said that a man could take a "new wife". That is my take on the words of Jesus in Deuteronomy 24 in a nutshell.

"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." (Romans 7:2) 

This would explain why the husband had to decree her freedom with a bill of divorcement. He is still alive. He is required to grant her license because she is subject to his law. He is not permitted to deal treacherously with her either. No, he must truly find her "UNCLEAN" before he is permitted to decree her freedom. To lie would surely be treachery. To "put away" his wife and send her out of the house with no decree from her lawgiver would be equal treachery. If she turned to another man at that point, she could easily be stoned to death for committing adultery, seeing as how a wife who is "put away" is still the wife of the husband who puts her away without granting his law of freedom to her. There is also a difference between "putting away" a spouse and letting a spouse go.

Incidentally, this is where the paperwork comes into play. Notice that there is no such paperwork required in Christ's example of marriage. (See above) Nope. No contradiction here. The husband is the law and the authority of his wife without question. By loosing her with his law she ceases to be his wife and she is free to marry another. God is good.

What did Apostle Paul have to say about divorce and remarriage? 

"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." (Romans 7:1-3) 

Deuteronomy 24:1

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.

Although there is an apparent contradiction here we know that the scripture NEVER contradicts itself. Firstly, Paul is not speaking specifically of marriage in the entire, Full Bible Truth context of this scripture. I invite you to read the whole of Romans 7 that you might more perfectly understand what Paul was speaking of. He was using the law of the husband as an example of how man was subject to the LAW OF GOD.

[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?" This is Paul's opening statement before he introduces his analogy. No exceptions - read the entire chapter in context. The wife is bound by the law of her husband for as long as he is her husband and for as long as he lives. FULL BIBLE TRUTH. She is not bound to the law of a man who is no longer her husband - she is bound to the law of her existing husband for as long as he lives. No exceptions - No contradictions.

 Deuteronomy 24

1 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.

Scripture NEVER contradicts itself!

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord." (1 Cor. 7:39)

Deuteronomy 24: 4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.   

Now this is important: Notice how by lining up scripture with scripture we see that there is a difference between the term "husband" and the term "former husband".

(1 Cor. 7:39) does NOT say the wife is bound to the law of her former husband for as long as her former husband liveth..." yet it is evident that the scripture RECOGNIZES that such a thing as a "former husband" DOES exist. FULL BIBLE TRUTH demands that her legal authority is actually her husband in spirit and in truth. In fact, FULL BIBLE TRUTH does not compromise with one, or the other, but actually requires the fullness of the truth: Firstly, he must indeed be her husband for her to be bound to his law. No, she cannot be bound to a man who was her former husband. Secondly, the husband must still be living. Thirdly, if she is to REMARRY (marry again) it must only be in the Lord. 

Scripture does not contradict scripture.  

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7:4)

Again. Paul is talking about the law here and how the saved are actually dead to GOD'S LAW OF SIN AND DEATH in an analogy of marriage. There is no contradiction here with respect to marriage either. The bretheren are dead to the death and they are alive unto the life. The Husbandman has decreed their liberty in life under the LAW OF LOVE. 

1 Cor. 7:27-28 Actually reads as follows: Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

I think that this is very sound guidance. If a man is bound to a wife why should he seek to find some uncleanness in her that he might thereby divorce her? Paul is addressing the SAVED here. A loving husband should already realize that if his wife is not saved he should be doing all that he can to see that she gets on track. If the loving husband has been loosed from his wife he should be faithful that God will provide. Period. He may never need the affections of a "new wife" but he still may. (See Deuteronomy 24:5)

To each their proper gift, amen?  In either case, God will provide. Hence Paul's words, "But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned". Also, if a virgin happens to marry him she has not sinned either. In fact if a virgin marries at all, she has not sinned.

Deuteronomy 24:

5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

Nope. No contradictions and no exceptions. It all lines up with the word of truth.

"For I would that all men were even as I myself [unmarried]. But every man hath his proper gift of God, [there's that proper gift clause] one after this manner, and another after that. [8] I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."             (1 Cor. 7:7-8)

I don't see how Deuteronomy 24 contradicts any of this. I can surely see how a merciful husband would not hold an unclean and fornicating wife to his law if she demanded he give her a bill of divorcement but that is not the same thing as the husband seeking to be loosed. After all, it is better to marry than to burn. She'll burn anyway if she doesn't get right with Jesus and so will he. Scripture does not contradict scripture. Jesus gave Moses Deuteronomy.

Why would Apostle Paul advocate remaining unmarried?

"But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: [33] But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. [34] There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction." (1 Cor. 7:32-35)

I would say that Deuteronomy chapter 24, verses 1 through 5 is in complete agreement with this scripture. I would also say that Genesis 2:14 through 25 are also in agreement. I find it fascinating to witness that the paper license part of it all does not actually originate in marriage but in divorce. This makes a whole lot of sense to me and bears witness to my heart. I am very pleased with this revelation in God's word. It answers a multitude of former questions.

Returning to the work:

So what happens if an innocent martial partner is left, abandoned, or put away (divorced) due to no fault of their own? 

"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." (1 Cor. 7:15) 

Deuteronomy 24

1 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. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand , and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 4 Her former husband , which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 5 When a man hath taken a new wife , he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

In the rare event that an "innocent" marital partner has been abandoned or put away I trust that the Lord shall deal with that individual who has dealt treacherously with their marital partner, whether it be wife or husband. The spiritually UNCLEAN unbeliever does not care for the things of God and a fornicator rarely desires to follow God's law or even to lift up the standard of holiness in marriage. The heart of the unclean is hard. One of the more classic hallmarks of a fornicating and "unclean" spouse is their desperation to rid themselves of responsibility to their marital partner.

Malachi 2:14-16 specifically addresses this matter with all severity. Treachery is a product of deceit and deceit is of the devil. Deuteronomy 24 was written for the hardness of hearts. In many cases it was needful to deal with a spouse that was full of deceit as a result of spiritual uncleanness and hardness of heart. The God of the Old and the New Testament is merciful.    

Deuteronomy 24:1-5 is a PRECEPT of PERMISSION that was granted by God to those who cared enough to serve Him. To say that only the men had hardness of hearts in Moses' time is erroneous. Nonetheless wives were subject to the law of the husband. The husband was not subject to the authority of the wife. Observe:

1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because [that there, is the CAUSE. It could not be just any or every cause. It had to be a specific CAUSE] he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him { not "thou shalt", not "he shall", not "he must", neither is it commanded that he] write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 

But why would God ever permit such a thing?

Matthew 19

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? [ Now this is a lie out of the mouths of the Pharisees. Moses gave no such commandment. They were trying to tempt Christ to trap Him in His words but Jesus saw knew their hearts.] 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."

In Mark 10:4 Jesus asks the Pharisees what Moses "commanded" them but nowhere does Jesus say that God "commanded" a husband to give an unclean wife a bill of divorcement. In fact, in Mark 10:5 Jesus tells them that it was a "precept" that Moses wrote to them for the hardness of their hearts. The Pharisees were in fact, ensnared in their own trap that they were hoping to spring on Christ but; precepts are insights, concepts, and observations. A precept is not commandment. Now look at the next verse:

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.

I can easily picture several scenarios here that involve an unbelieving spouse demanding a writ of divorcement because the UNBELIEVING spouse is unclean and does not care for the things of God; but a loving and godly husband would be reluctant to "put away" a wife even if she were unclean... BUT GOD HAS CALLED US TO PEACE. Now this Old Testament precept lines up with this New Testament precept perfectly:

"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." (1 Corinthians 7:15)

"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".  (Deuteronomy 24:2)

PRAISE GOD! How wonderful it is to see the word come to life in concord and perfect harmony! Did everyone catch that part? Paul said, "let him" and Moses also said, "let him". Either can depart but in either case either is answerable if they should ever deal treacherously with one another to bear false witness. Amen. God has called us to peace.

If she wants a divorce, give her a divorce... LET HER GO... draw up that BILL, put it in her hand, send her away, and let her go in peace. DO NOT... I repeat ... do NOT... put her away without that BILL. To put her away without the BILL would be treachery.

Remember: She is the wife of your youth and she does not want to be your wife anymore! You are the lawgiver. The matter is in your hands. Why hold her in bondage to the law of adultery? Rather, let her fornicate as her heart has already betrayed her. God will deal with her. Besides which, God has called us to peace. Evidently, her heart is already hard so she is already unclean. Why, would she want a divorce otherwise? Every "informed" woman in North America knows she can leave her husband without a bill of divorcement. She could be content to live separate or, she could even reconcile. Oh yes, I think we all know why she really wants a divorce: She wants a divorce for the same reason a hard-hearted husband would demand a divorce... It is called FORNICATION (and this is the cause).

Now it is said that, " This doesn't advocate remarriage. " But it is written: "And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. And it is written: "... if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand , and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband , which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD" and this is written even in another place. Again, it is written: " When a man hath taken a new wife , he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken." Amen. Scripture does not contradict scripture. No, not one jot, not one tittle.

One may be divorced but what does Jesus say?

" 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." (Matthew 5:32)

That's right, whosoever marries that woman who was not LAWFULLY DIVORCED according to GOD'S LAW (not man's law) but was put away without CAUSE, commits adultery because they are messin' with another man's wife! The man who puts away his wife without CAUSE causes her to commit adultery and that, my friends, is treachery! The sin of adultery is on the head of the husband because he bears false witness!

What does Jesus say in Deuteronomy 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. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. 

So far, we have seen that Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:3-9, Mark 10:1-9, Malachi 2:14-16, 1 Corinthians 7:15, Romans 7:1-4, 1Corinthians 7: 7-8, 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 do not contradict DEUTERONOMY 24:1-5.

In my next presentation I will examine the following scriptures, with respect to how they line up with Deuteronomy 24: 1-5, including any possible exceptions contained therein:

"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." (Matthew 5:31)

"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. 7:10-11)

Mark 10
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
17   And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18   Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Romans 7
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.

1 Corinthians 7
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 Corinthians 7
39   The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

No Contradictions and No Exceptions to the Exceptions 

When Jesus asked the Pharisees what Moses (not God, but Moses) commanded them, they offered Jesus Moses' precept. That is what Jesus called it: a precept. One of the most awesome things about Jesus is the fact that Jesus ALWAYS says what He means and always MEANS what He says. So you can be rest assured that this response is exactly what Christ expected the Pharisees to answer him with. Precepts are used of commandments and scripture will not, I am reminded, contradict itself.  

The Holy Spirit teaches us all things. I will not contend with those who would embrace those precepts of Moses as direct commandments from God. The Ten Commandments are not called the "Ten Precepts" for reason. God did not command men to divorce their wives in Deuteronomy 24:1- 5. God suffered it, so Moses suffered it also. A careful view of 1 Corinthians 7 will reveal just what Paul spoke by permission and just what he spoke by commandment. To the diligent reader there is also a blessing in this knowledge but I leave it for the reader to learn what the full context of 1 Corinthians 7 is saying with respect to permissions. May the Lord Jesus open both your eyes and your hearts in the event that they are closing.

 To continue... 

Any literal "EXCEPTIONS" will be highlighted. Any scriptures not having any exceptions of any kind will be examined in depth and in context. Scripture that has already examined here and proven not to contradict Deuteronomy 24:1-5 will be referenced.

 "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." (Matthew 5:31)

Literal exception: * "saving for the cause of fornication" is proven not to conflict with Deuteronomy 24:1-5, but actually supports and verifies this scripture. "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 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 Corinthians 7:10-11)

Literal exception: * "But and if she depart" is proven not to conflict with Deuteronomy 24:1-5. This scripture does not refer to an unclean, unbelieving wife departing from a believing and sanctified husband. If it did, there would be little that anyone would be able to do about it except to pray.

The sanctified husband is not under bondage in such cases. A departing wife leaving a sanctified husband should not marry another but and if she would insist on divorcement it will be upon her own head. Both 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 and Deuteronomy 24:1-5 make it abundantly clear that it is better for the UNMARRIED to marry than for them to burn.

Yes, even those UNMARRIED who have received a bill of divorcement as illustrated in the scripture may marry EXCEPT they have that "proper gift" of celibacy which Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 7 (in which case they should not have married in the first place). I would recommend getting one's priorities in order before marrying again but in either case, the lawfully divorced spouse is permitted to marry as it is written.  

If the believing spouse chooses to depart from her husband I would find it difficult to understand how she could marry yet again while she is still that husband's wife through some failure to comply with the precept in Deuteronomy 24: 1 -4. What. Has she also put herself away??? According to scripture a spouse who has been "put away" [separated] without a bill of divorcement is still married to the spouse that put them away.

UNMARRIED literally means,�?NOT MARRIED". 1 Corinthians 7 plainly states to "let her remain unmarried or to be reconciled to her husband." Perhaps she got a divorcement while she was saved. Perhaps there was no uncleanness in her and she still got forcibly divorced:  This is TREACHERY. Deuteronomy 24 does not say she is free to marry, but 1 Corinthians 7:9 says that she is. Oh yes, Deuteronomy 24:1-5 was indeed written for the hardness of hearts. It deals with the case of an unclean (fornicating) wife. Woe to the one who deals treacherously with the wife of his youth and divorces without cause! But and IF she puts HERSELF away and departs she is STILL MARRIED and the scripture says so. If she joins to another man, while she is still married to her husband (due to the hardness of her heart) she is a fornicator and an adulterer: in other words, UNCLEAN.

No, she cannot be reconciled to a husband that she does not have! If she were unmarried she would not have a husband to be reconciled to. So at what point does she cease to be his wife if she is no longer married to him? As Deuteronomy 24: 1-5 clearly illustrates, there is a profound difference between a "former husband" and a "husband". Now these terms are scriptural. What is the solution to this literal conundrum?

The answer is in Deuteronomy 24:1-2 which provides the solution to the entire puzzle:

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. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. 

Do we say that God made a mistake and changed His mind about this scripture? Do we say that because this scripture was written to the Jews only that it does not apply to the Gentiles grafted into the Branch of David? Do we say that we shouldn't believe everything we read so this is one of those scriptures that just isn't the inspired word of God? Do we exclude it because we don't like it? Do we say Moses put words in God's mouth? GOD FORBID. CASE IN POINT: She's going to burn. It is better to marry than to burn. In either case she is unclean and she needs to get saved. Perhaps the Lord will give her a second chance to get it right. Perhaps not. Even so, what God has put together let not man put asunder. Jesus answered those Pharisees perfectly. They were making a merchandise of marriages in much the same way family court lawyers do today: Divorce for every cause.

One common misconception existing today, throughout all of North America, is that the husband usually initiates lawsuits for divorcement. No, they are not. A "healthy" majority of these are in fact, initiated by wives and this percentage is increasing. A wife demanding a divorce must be complied with. It is only a matter of time and money.

In my country, if both parties fail to agree on a "no fault" divorce settlement the matter consequently becomes a civil suit. As long as a spouse can demonstrate that they have lived "separate and apart" for a period of one year or more, divorcement is practically always granted. Yet Jesus said, " What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Mark 10:9

Now there are some who would tell me that Caesar has the right to come between a man and his wife because God put him there. Any spouse who refuses to comply with divorce proceedings in a court of Caesar will still be divorced under civil law against their wishes, despite any objections. None of this is done in accordance with Deuteronomy 24: 1-4.

Frankly, I don't believe Caesar truly has the "right" to put marriages asunder. The party demanding a divorcement is in fact, "hard of heart" and likely in transgression. Why?

Well, what does Bible scripture say about believers taking believers before magistrates?

1 Corinthians 6

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

It would appear then that "marriage", for the true believer, is a matter of church business rather than that of the civil law courts. Please correct me if I am mistaken.

Continuing with the Presentation in Faith:

"And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 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 Corinthians 7:10-11)

Firstly, Paul declares that this is really a commandment from the Lord: that she should not depart. I admit that this does sound rather harsh to me. What if her husband is an abuser? Well, there seems to be some allowance made for an exception to this commandment too: Paul states,  "But and if...".

Now please notice that Paul does not exactly say that the wife sins if she abandons her husband. If she departs, she is either supposed to remain unmarried.  [I assume that this means she is to not marry another man but that would be saying that she is not married; or, perhaps it means she has either left her beloved husband among the dearly departed�?No, that will not work either. Or, perhaps she is actually already unlawfully divorced by means of civil suit -- which thing God does not necessarily recognize.] Or be reconciled to her husband. [Not "former husband", but �?U>husband”].

I believe the reason that this scripture does not conflict or contradict Deuteronomy 24 is because the wife in this example is not a fornicating and unclean, unbeliever. She can leave her husband and remain separate for as long as she wishes but in God's eyes she is STILL married to her spouse. In this case she would be still able to reconcile.

But "unmarried" really means what it says. If it referred to the betrothed wife of a husband we are still dealing with a contradiction in terminology: "UNMARRIED WIFE" -  not “betrothed�?or "espoused" or "virgin", but "unmarried"... ummm... I don't think so... "Unmarried", in this context, can only mean DIVORCED. Why should she remain divorced?

It is possible that she departed with a lawful divorcement. There is no other way that a wife can suddenly become "unmarried" unless her husband is dead - which is clearly not the case here. If her husband was not a believer she might have been wiser to let him do the departing if she planned on becoming eligible - she would then be free of bondage if she did so... but she did not. The departing in this case was her own, so the only recourse for her is to remain unmarried or to reconcile with her husband. This can only mean that she remained clean and joined unto no other man. In this case she would also still be in a position to reconcile. Test this:   

"And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the [Christian] wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his [Christian] wife."  (1 Cor. 7:10-11)

Now try substituting the word "fornicating" in those square brackets and see what you come up with. It is evident that Paul was addressing the Church of Corinth. I might also add that 1 Corinthians 7:10 through 11 is a commandment from God. Try the inverse too... Apply it to the husband. I do believe this scripture was written for the believers.

Fornicators don't care about God's commandments. These covenant breakers continue to do what they will and they will continue to fornicate until they either repent or die in their sins. 1 Corinthians 7 is clearly written to the church and not to fornicators who have yet to repent, to wash, and to make clean. It is important to keep in mind just who is doing the departing. True believers are not under bondage to the unsaved if the unsaved depart BUT what of the Christian wife who departs? I would think she would need a little guidance and direction? I believe that this is exactly what the Apostle Paul is addressing in 1Corinthians 7:10-11. Deuteronomy 24: 1-4 is about the unsaved departing. Verse 5 is about a law-abiding husband taking a "new wife" as opposed to a former wife, following very explicit instructions NOT to marry his former wife if she has given herself to a latter husband:

Deuteronomy 24

1 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. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;  4 Her former husband , which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

We can ignore Deuteronomy 24 all we wish but we cannot exclude it from the word of God. This scripture stands as solid today as it did the day that it was written. So far it has not contradicted any of the scriptures presented and I maintain that it will not contradict any of the scripture following. Receive it in faith, and Jesus will open your eyes just as He did for me. Remember that not one jot or tittle of it shall be removed. God's law remains.

Deuteronomy 24

1 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.

QUESTION: What is the acceptable "CAUSE" for divorcement here?

ANSWER: Uncleanness.

QUESTION: What is uncleanness?

ANSWER: Fornication

QUESTION: Can this be verified in both the OLD TESTAMENT and NEW TESTAMENT?

ANSWER: Yes.

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." (Matthew 5:32)

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. (Matthew 19:9)

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. (Deuteronomy 24:1)

There is no disputing the fact that both the OLD TESTAMENT and the NEW TESTAMENT both do make a provision for BIBLICAL DIVORCEMENT. I would caution the reader to understand that biblical divorcement is not equivalent to processes that might involve attaining it. Processes involving any separation without writ of divorcement as stated in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 24, i.e./ "loosing" without writ of divorcement, "putting away", abandonment, separation, etc. DO NOT CONSTITUTE BIBLICAL DIVORCEMENT in and of themselves. The "Bill of Divorcement" is definitely NOT optional with respect to divorce and the only CAUSE for BIBLICAL DIVORCE is fornication. Let God judge.

Continuing with the lesson:

1 Corinthians 7

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Literal exception: *"but if" is proven not to conflict with Deuteronomy 24:1-4. I find it interesting that Paul stresses this precept with the words "only in the Lord", as if he were addressing the Church exclusively. Wait a minute; he IS ADDRESSING the Church exclusively! Well then, as long as the said husband is in the church, and truly in the Church, he certainly LIVETH. Those who would try to exclude this legal analogy to say that Paul's example of the spiritually dead does not apply here are likely bigger hypocrites than they realize. Paul uses the same analogy himself, in the same context, describing the same thing with respect to the LAW OF THE HUSBAND (which really is GOD'S LAW) and marriage. If anyone says that I cannot resort to this same analogy the same way that Paul did, then they need to do some serious praying. Look out below:

Romans 7

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.

Literal exception: *"but if" is proven not to conflict with Deuteronomy 24:1-5. This matter has been addressed. Please read ALL of Romans 7 to better understand what Paul was speaking of here. He was using the example of marriage as an analogy to illustrate the spiritual dynamic between LAW and GRACE and the profound distinction between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant Law. The analogy was made in the interests of the gospel and not specifically targeted at marriage. Even so, we can still apply this analogy to marriage and of course, it will not break down. The problem with applying this analogy to carnal marriage (as implied in post 21) is that people often take great offense to it, but sure... we can run with it.

Some husbands are married to "dead" wives and some wives are married to "dead" husbands. They are in very compromising circumstances. If anything were needed more in their marriage than ever, it would be the love of God. Please pray for them that their sanctification will not be in vain because of fornication. It is especially hard for a wife who is married to an unbelieving husband because the only sanctification her lord and master has in the LORD may only be due to her personal choice to remain with her spiritually dead husband. She is trying to honor the authority of a corpse (according to ROMANS 7) and that can get rather scary at times. I do not say this to advocate divorce in the LORD. Truth be told, there IS NO DIVORCE in the LORD.

Sadly, there is a great lot of divorcement going on outside of God and we do know that even our great LORD and KING resorted to the application of divorcement Himself and hence, fulfilled His law. Divorcement is an extremely serious matter that involves a grievous parting. With respect to sanctification it is not an option to know what side of the fence you are on in the LORD. There is surely no divorcement in Jesus. Someone... who divorces... has fornicated. Sometimes the saved are victims. Jesus does not hold them to the corpse. No, He died that we might live. What a sacrifice!!! Amen? Soon all of this "letting" will stop and Jesus will return in the glory of the Father. One day we will see the New Jerusalem descending and we will no longer ask, "What is Marriage?�?If you are truly His, He will not hold you to the corpse. Jesus loves you.

Mark 10

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.

NO EXCEPTION HERE. Husbands: If you put away your wife without CAUSE just to go run out and marry another wife, you surely do commit adultery against your currently existing spouse. Now this is treachery. She is the wife of your youth. If she has not committed fornication, then allow her the seniority that she deserves. She earned it. After all, you are only a man. Since the very early days of my youth I knew this, even while in the flesh. May God have mercy because this is my "Achilles heal". Yes, I take it personally. When I survey the damage done in this world due to UNLAWFUL divorcement, it raises my ire. Caesar can... and Caesar will... burn for it. All this putting away, abandoning, loosing, and separating without CAUSE is not from God. There is only one cause and by now I should hope that we all know what that cause is. The cause alone does more than enough damage to innocent hearts and loving people without further need of generating the condition of fornication to have a "valid" reason for divorcement. In every case it is evidenced by a hardened heart.

The same applies for the woman and Mark 10:12 also agrees with: "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 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. 7:10-11)

Now if you would prefer to believe that Paul is only addressing fornicators and unbelievers here, as opposed to the Church and the saved, that is your prerogative but I know for a fact that he is not. Jesus said, "Let the dead bury the dead" because he knew that there is no point in flogging a dead horse. This is a dead issue. God is commanding godly women in 1 Corinthians 7:10. Jesus says, in Mark 10:12, that the woman who PUTS AWAY her husband is not to remarry. This makes allot of sense considering the fact that she doesn't even have the spiritual authority to divorce him, but puts him away! This would certainly explain why so many women today are the ones who are demanding a divorcement. (Likely yet another reason why so many are also resorting to "new�?and "improved" New Age Bibles too.) Where did Caesar go wrong? Caesar refused to honor God's law as it is written:

Deuteronomy 24

1 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.

Mark 10

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.

Caesar permitted divorcement for every, and any cause -- just as he does today. God only suffers divorcement for the hardness of hearts in those ungodly “marriages�?resulting in  fornication. Yes, fornication can, and does rob people completely of their sanctification.

SCRIPTURE DOES NOT CONTRADICT SCRIPTURE

The only possible way to reconcile Mark 10:11-12 and Deuteronomy 24:1-2 is to agree that both are correct and valid. The only possible way to agree that BOTH are correct is to acknowledge that there is a difference between putting away (separation) and lawful writ of divorcement. Paul stated that there is a difference between a wife and a virgin, yet both are women. There is a difference between putting away and divorcement also.

Both putting away and divorcement involve the departing of the spouses but only one is recognized by God as an acceptable termination of marriage. Jesus states what the CAUSE for terminating a marriage is and why it cannot be conducted "for every cause" but one: namely, FORNICATION. No, we cannot embrace Mark 10:11-12 to exclusion of all other scripture. We must embrace the FULL BIBLE TRUTH - not partial truth. "Putting away" is not lawful divorce.

Now it is true that the woman is subject to the law of the husband for as long as the husband lives. Please read it the way that it is written: "...for as long as the husband (not former husband) liveth." The godly wife of a fornicating and ungodly husband is not subject to her husband's law of fornication and death... and sin... for as long as the husband "lives", but she is still subject to God's law unto life. Fornication is death and corruption. It is fleshly. It is not of God. If the fornicating unbeliever departs, let him depart. Scripture says that a sister or brother in the Lord is not under bondage in such cases but God has called us to peace. The unmarried (including the lawfully divorced as presented in the book of Deuteronomy) may indeed marry in the Lord. They have not sinned. Now those who do not marry in the Lord but "marry" otherwise, are still guilty of fornication. They marry only in the flesh and care not for the things of God. So-called “Civil Marriage�?and “Common-law Marriage�?are not necessarily godly.

We find all the scriptures listed in complete agreement with Deuteronomy 24:1- 5.

Luke 16:17-18 was reserved for the conclusion of this general presentation. Someone stated earlier that scripture will not contradict itself and they are correct. Luke 16:17-18 is definitely no exception. Once it is understood that the terms "putting away" and lawful "divorcement" are not the same, all doubts with respect to contradiction or conflict vanish instantly.

Deuteronomy 24:1 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. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. Luke 16:17-18

If the "putting away" of a spouse were the same thing as divorcement then scripture would contradict scripture; but even Luke affirms that Deuteronomy 24 still stands firm by the word of our Lord and Paul affirms that the unmarried in the Lord may marry in the Lord.

DEUTERONOMY 24:1-5 is the LAW. There is no "putting away" to marry another. Neither will God recognize any bill divorcement without lawful CAUSE. Therefore there is a great difference between "putting away" and lawful DIVORCEMENT. Although the Pharisees desired to put away and to divorce for EVERY CAUSE, Christ stated otherwise.

When all of the scripture is embraced in full context the matter is clear: Jesus will not contradict His own law as it is written in DEUTERONOMY 24:1-5. Full Bible Truth is the only recourse we have to reconcile all of the scripture. We must receive all scripture in faith before we can even begin to truly understand it.

Now I will also address the following statements:

" What must be understood about sin is that while the act of the sin within itself can be forgiven by God, the natural consequences of that sin will still remain."

The natural consequences of sin are conditional and sin is a spiritual condition. Sometimes the Lord is gracious enough to heal us while we yet live in these mortal bodies of flesh and blood; sometimes even the consequences are alleviated. One thing is certain: The consequences of sin for the true believer are only temporary. The fornicator and unbeliever have nothing to look forward to while they remain in their sinful condition.

There is GOOD NEWS: In the world to come there will be no more consequences left for the godly to suffer and the sting of death will no longer be remembered. Jesus Christ will never give you a burden that is too heavy for you, who are saved, to lift or to carry and by this saying we do know where the rest of the weight comes from. Rejoice and give God the praise. This life is short. Jesus has prepared a better place for you without the natural consequences of sin. The natural consequences of sin do not remain forever for the true believer.

" For example, if a partner in a marriage commits adultery and an illegitimate child results, the guilty person can seek God's forgiveness.  However, the natural consequences of that sin, the illegitimate child, still remain."

I am very saddened by the suggestion that a child would be regarded as a "natural consequence of sin". That comment equates to calling a child an "accident", in my estimation. No, motherhood may well be a consequence, but a person... a human soul, this is no consequence. God formed you in your mother's womb and knew you before you were made. You are NOT an accident. Neither are you a consequence. You are a person. Moreover your soul is precious to Jesus. Jesus did not come to save your body. Jesus did not come to save your spirit. Jesus came to save your soul. There is not a single person on this entire planet who will ever love you more than Jesus. Remember: If your mother loves you, Jesus loves you more.

If your father loves you, Jesus loves you more. If NOBODY loves you... JESUS LOVES you even that much more! Prior to salvation all adults are illegitimate but my God is a just God and He loves all His little children and they are His. Make no mistake about it.

" If someone kills another person, seeks and finds God's forgiveness, the innocent victim is still no less dead.  AND if it was a heinous premeditated murder God has ordained government to hold the perpetrator of such a crime against humanity �?GUILTY, even though they have received forgiveness....They may be imprisoned for life.....  Therefore, the natural consequences of their sin remain."

Excellent analogy. It begs many questions: Is the thief who is repented and forgiven still a thief? Is the harlot who is repented and forgiven still an harlot? Is it possible that the fornicator who is repented and forgiven still a fornicator? What of the adulterer and the adulteress? Finally, is marriage a condition? or is it a consequence.

I do agree that it is important to not confuse the condition with the consequence. The senseless slaughter of unborn children is also the murder of the innocent; but to those who must answer to the law ordained of God, these are never innocent; but are either guilty or they are not guilty.

All the government is upon the shoulders of our Lord and Saviour. These are the last days and we can no longer look to the governments of any nation including our own nations, to champion us. (Could we ever?) No, we must surely look to Jesus alone. The natural consequences of sin remain to our worldly leaders and to all the nations. This is a cursed planet. There is an escape from all these consequences to God's people. The children of God will not suffer forever.

"Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden, even though we have been born again and redeemed by the 'Blood of the Lamb' we still have to die (short of the rapture) �?the natural consequences of the stain of sin continue....until Heaven."

Good News! If the son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.

"Marriage is until death."

Deuteronomy 24:1 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.

I agree. Once the marriage is dead... It's DEAD. Not that those true believers aren't capable of raising the dead, either. It has been known to happen on occasion. Even so�?dead is dead.

"If the spouse leaves then the other may be free of the marriage but they cannot remarry until the death of the spouse." 

2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.

I had no difficulty in lining up this scripture (in blue) with the rest of biblical scripture on marriage and divorce, but I confess that I am having trouble lining it up with the interpretations in red. Perhaps if it were written in a fashion that actually distinguished the clean from the unclean, or the spouse from the former spouse, I might find it in agreement with Full Bible Truth.

"If one commits fornication the other may divorce them, but they cannot remarry until death....unless it be to their spouse."

3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand , and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

I think a spouse can reconcile with a "former" spouse if all the conditions are met but personally, I would not advise it because it is very, very, risky. Former spouses are capable of deceit and eternity is too long to be wrong.

CONCLUSION

DEUTERONOMY 24:1-5 still stands in agreement with all other scripture.

The Holy Bible will ever contradict the flesh; for the spirit and the flesh are always at enmity with one another; but scripture,  will never contradict itself. Partial truth is not Full Bible Truth. We all have much to learn in this short lifetime. God is merciful and just to forgive us our trespasses if our hearts are sincerely toward Him. I know that God is good and faithful and true.

Iron sharpeneth iron. I would also like to thank someone for inspiring me to conduct a thorough examination of those scriptures provided and I feel that I benefited from this bit of work. I trust that other readers may also benefit from it and not just the married and the unmarried but the virgins and the widowed also.

It would seem to me that many today fail to grasp that marriage is often the next most important decision one can ever hope to make touching one's personal life once one finds salvation in the blessed name of our Lord Jesus. This is my reason the subject engages my passion so easily. When there is so much to gain there is always so much to lose. Marriage is precious.

For some here, marriage might well be until death and many marriages suffer untimely deaths indeed. I do not jest. In these last days I hope and pray that this exercise in faith has been as much a benefit to the reader as it has also been to the author; and that all the married and the unmarried will be blessed in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour with an everlasting love.

God has called us to Peace.