Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 5:31-32

"It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." — Matthew 5:31-32 (ASV)

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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.

This time our King quotes and condemns a permissive enactment of the Jewish state. Men used to tell their wives "begone," and a hasty word was thought sufficient as an act of divorce. Moses insisted upon "a writing of divorcement," so that angry passions might have time to cool and that the separation, if it had to come, might be performed with deliberation and legal formality.

The requirement of a writing was to a certain degree a check upon an evil habit, which was so ingrained in the people that to refuse it altogether would have been useless and would only have created another crime. The law of Moses went as far as it could practically be enforced; it was because of the hardness of their hearts that divorce was tolerated; it was never approved. But our Lord is more heroic in his legislation. He forbids divorce except for the one crime of infidelity to the marriage vow. She who commits adultery does by that act and deed in effect sunder the marriage bond, and it should then be formally recognized by the State as being sundered; but for nothing else should a man be divorced from his wife.

Marriage is for life and cannot be dissolved, except by the one great crime which severs its bond, whichever of the two is guilty of it. Our Lord would never have tolerated the wicked laws of certain American states, which allow married men and women to separate on the slightest pretext. A woman divorced for any cause but adultery, and marrying again, is committing adultery before God, whatever the laws of man may call it.

This is very plain and positive, and thus a sanctity is given to marriage which human legislation ought not to violate. Let us not be among those who take up novel ideas of marriage and seek to deform the marriage laws under the pretense of reforming them. Our Lord knows better than our modern social reformers. We had better let the laws of God alone, for we shall never discover any better.

This time our King quotes and condemns a permissive enactment of the Jewish State. Men were used to tell their wives "Begone," and a hasty word was considered sufficient for divorce. Moses insisted upon a writing of divorcement, so that angry passions might have time to cool, and that the separation, if it had to happen, could be performed with deliberation and legal formality.

The requirement of a writing was, to a certain degree, a check upon an evil habit, which was so ingrained in the people that refusing it altogether would have been useless and would only have created another crime. The law of Moses went as far as it could practically be enforced. It was because of the hardness of their hearts that divorce was tolerated. It was never approved.

But our Lord is more heroic in His legislation. He forbids divorce except for the one crime of infidelity to the marriage vow. She who commits adultery by that very act in effect severs the marriage bond, and it should then be formally recognized by the State as being severed. But for nothing else should a man be divorced from his wife. Marriage is for life and cannot be loosed, except by the one great crime which severs its bond, regardless of which of the two is guilty of it.

Our Lord would never have tolerated the wicked laws of certain American states, which allow married men and women to separate on the slightest pretext. A woman divorced for any cause but adultery, and marrying again, is committing adultery before God, whatever the laws of man may call it. This is very clear and definite, and thus a sanctity is given to marriage that human legislation should not violate. Let us not be among those who adopt novel ideas of marriage and seek to deform the marriage laws under the pretense of reforming them. Our Lord knows better than our modern social reformers. We would do better to leave the laws of God alone, for we will never discover any better.

It has been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: but I say to you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, –

Which is a sufficient and justifiable reason for divorce, –