MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, & REMARRIAGE SCRIPTURES

These scriptures were compiled and commented on by Pastor Ken Hursey(pictured to the left). Please click on the scripture passages to read them in the New King James Version of the Bible.

Genesis 2:18, 21-24 ~ The First Marriage: Forget all other sources/writings; God originated marriage with a covenant between Himself, Adam & Eve. Whenever one man and one woman speak vows to each other for the first time before God, He makes them one flesh (essentially one person). Remember, men and women marry, but only God makes two people one flesh for life!

Matthew 19:4-6 ~ Marriage was one man and one woman from the beginning. They leave their parents and cleave to each other. The Greek word that is translated cleave means to be cemented or glued to - inseparable except by God when He ends the natural life. If God intended for Adam to have more than one wife or for Eve to have more than one husband, He would have provided them in the Garden.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 ~ Vows spoken before a Holy God are very serious indeed. If you speak them with your lips, they must be kept and performed. If you were to ask today's multitude of vow breakers if they expect God to keep His promises, they would all say "yes".

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 ~ God says keep your vows. it is better not to vow at all than to vow and not pay. God says you are a fool if you do so.

Judges 11:30-40 ~ Jephthah took his vow seriously. It cost him the life of his young virgin daughter. Both Jephthah and his daughter understood the gravity of vows made before God.

Note: The marriage law invoked when one man and one woman speak vows before God for the first time is universal and therefore, applies to all men. In Matthew 14:1-4; Matthew 27:19, God recognizes the marriage of Phillip (Herod's brother) and Herodias as well as the marriage of Pontius Pilate and his wife. In Genesis 39:7-10, Joseph obviously knows that Potiphar and his wife were married. None of these people were believers.

Malachi 2:10-16 ~ God hates divorce. If a man and a woman speak vows to each other, God is there and glues them together. God is betrayed if one of the parties send the other party away. Even if a separation occurs, they remain married due to the covenant!

Concerning divorce, many like to claim that their spouse committed adultery against them so they may now get a scriptural divorce. Adultery is never grounds for divorce in either the Old or New Testament. In the Old testament, Deuteronomy 22:22-24 reveals that a woman caught in adultery was stoned to death. In the New Testament, John 8:11 indicates that Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to repent or to stop sinning. The Judge of all men did not condemn her, but apparently forgave her. If a spouse commits adultery, their partner in the marriage is to forgive them and not seek a divorce.

What does one do if they have been divorced by the state from their original marriage partner (the one they first spoke vows to)? Since they remain married in the eyes of God by covenant, they must seek to return to their spouse. Even if they have been remarried by the State, they should return to their spouse.

Many people, including pastors and church leaders, like to use Deuteronomy 24:1-4 to prove that if you have divorced and remarried you cannot return to the original spouse because it is an abomination in the eyes of God. This is the accommodation given by Moses (not by God or Jesus) due to the hard hearts of the people. God refuted this through Jeremiah the prophet in Jeremiah 3:1,8,12-14. Notice, the passage begins with "They say" and not "I say." God tells Israel she has played the harlot and yet tells her to "return to me." In verse 8 God puts away (divorces) Israel for her adulteries. In verses 12-14 God tells Israel to repent of her iniquities and return to Him. Why? God said "for I am married to you." Note: God did not say, "I was married to you." Israel remained His wife because God never ended the marriage.
Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:8-9 ~ Jesus, Himself, refutes the Deuteronomy message. Jesus said Moses permitted it, but "I say."

This may be the clearest of all scripture verses concerning this subject: Luke 16:18 ~ Jesus said that if one divorces his or her spouse and marries another, he or she commits adultery. This can only be true if a couple remains married in God's eyes despite having a divorce recognized by some government or institution. This is as clear as the Crystal River of Life mentioned in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 22! Go ahead and try to refute it whoever you are. Jesus Christ will be your judge too.

Mark 10:2-12 ~ These verses clearly state that it was Moses who made a provision for a man to write a divorce certificate and send his wife away. Jesus said it was because of the hardness of the people's hearts. He said that from the beginning of creation God made it so that a man would leave his father and mother to be joined as one flesh with his wife. Who joined them together? God did, and only He can separate them. A certificate of marriage does not make two one flesh and a divorce certificate can not dissolve a marriage! If a man or a woman divorces their spouse and marries another, he or she commits adultery.

Romans 7:2-3 ~ Any child old enough to read can see that marriage is for life. Only death ends a marriage. A spouse can only get married again if and when their first marriage partner dies.

I Corinthians 7:10-11 ~ Paul said the Lord has commanded that a wife should not separate from her husband, but if she does, she may not marry another man. She can only reconcile with her husband. One can envision a scenario where a husband beats his wife severely and repeatedly. Frankly, the wife should call the police so that her husband can be arrested, for he has broken the law. This would surely be a horrible situation, but it does not end the marriage. She should forgive her husband and seek reconciliation as soon as possible. The truth is simple: only the death of a spouse ends a marriage. There should be no debate! It is clear from this scripture that divorce is not an option. The Lord also commanded husbands not to divorce their wives. Did you get that? It is not a suggestion, but rather, it is a command.

I Corinthians 7:39 ~ God's law concerning marriage binds a man and woman for life. What is that law? ...the two shall become one flesh.

Hebrews 13:4 ~ Marriage is honorable among all and the marriage bed cannot be defiled. However, God will judge fornicators and adulterers. All of them must repent or they will perish without God. You cannot remain "shacked up" and repent at the same time.

Please note that there are many who teach that there are exceptions from the otherwise clear passages listed above. These same people would proudly state that when you correctly interpret scripture, you utilize the clear passages to shed light on the unclear ones. Remember: when unclear passages are interpreted properly, they are in complete agreement with all of the clear scripture verses. Those who teach that a divorce can be scriptural and that remarriage is permissible, point to a few passages with so-called exception clauses in them. They like to trumpet the following as having an exception clause: Matthew 5:27-32; Matthew 19:5-12, and I Corinthians 7:12-16.

It is accepted by most of the "learned ones" that Matthew was written to the Jews to prove that only Jesus could have been the Messiah. It is only in Matthew that you find the ancestry of both Joseph and Mary indicating that Jesus alone was the Promised Messiah. It also seems apparent that Luke was written to the Greeks and Mark to the Romans.

In both Matthew texts, the Greek work "pornea" is translated fornication and it means illicit sexual relations between unmarried people or premarital sex. Some of the more modern translations use "pornea' here to mean sexual immorality, ie., adultery, homosexuality, etc. and in its broad usage, it can include these things. However, here it is written in narrow usage and simply means premarital sex. Many contend that Jesus was providing an exception here that allows for a "scriptural" divorce. In light of the fact that Jesus has clearly spoken of marriage being a permanent bond, how could these scriptures mean that divorce is okay? Is He speaking of adultery? Adultery is to be forgiven by the offended marriage partner and repented of by the offender. It is never grounds for divorce.

What does Jesus mean in these passages? Remember, Matthew is writing to Jews and they understood what Jesus meant very well. The Jewish tradition of betrothal was certainly practiced in Jesus' day. Betrothal equated in some ways to our modern engagement tradition, but it was more serious and binding. A betrothed couple's relationship was expected to result in marriage. There was almost no way out at all. If they decided to separate, although they were not married, they had to go through a legal divorce. Jesus said that if it can be proven that one has committed fornication, the wronged party may send away the offender before they exchange vows and become on flesh for life. Jesus is simply clarifying the Jewish tradition. He is not providing an exception to God’s marriage covenant.

In Matthew 1:18-20 Joseph is referred to as Mary's husband when he prepares to send her away (divorce her) for what appears to be obvious fornication. After all, Mary is pregnant and he knows they have not had sexual relations. Joseph is called her husband and yet, they have not spoken the vows of marriage. If the divorce had taken place, it would have been between the espoused (betrothed) couple, Mary and Joseph. They were bound for marriage, but were not yet one flesh because no vows had been spoken. Before Jesus came, if it was proven that a betrothed woman was not a virgin, she would be stoned to death and the man was free to marry again.

Those who argue for exceptions often include I Corinthians 7:15 where Paul says ...a brother or sister is not under bondage in a case where their unbelieving spouse separates or departs from them. They contend this means the believer is okay to end the marriage when marriage problems arise since their spouse is an unbeliever anyway. The truth is that a believer may be forced out of the home and not be able to prevent a separation, but he or she must seek reconciliation and not divorce or remarriage.

There are no exceptions and no contradictions! The God of the Universe makes it very clear, by the scriptures and by the Spirit, that He supernaturally makes a man and a woman "one flesh" for life. Only God can end the "one flesh" relationship. Those who do not want ot obey God search for ways to get out of doing what is good. They prefer to do what is evil. They twist God's word, both verbal and written, to their own destruction.

The Church is no longer salt and light in the community. Compromise has occurred and since the Church has stood for nothing for a very long time, it now falls for everything. The Church has not always been so weak and eager to compromise on this issue.

The Church's position until the late 16th century was that marriage is for life. Divorcing one's spouse and marrying another was forbidden. It constituted adultery. Remarriage was not permitted under any circumstances. Disiderius Erasmus (1467-1536), also known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, came on the scene and distorted the scriptures. He taught that the innocent party was allowed to divorce and remarry if their spouse committed adultery. If one was deserted by their marriage partner or some other moral shortcoming was discovered in them, divorce and remarriage was acceptable. The Erasmian View later became known as the Traditional Protestant View and is still practiced today by much of the organized church. Martin Luther, who led the Protestant Reformation, initially took some confidence in a few of Erasmus' positions. Luther later learned more about him and had the following quote upon Erasmus' death: "He did so (died) without light and without the cross." "I curse Erasmus, and all who think contrary to the Word." "Erasmus is worthy of great hatred." "I warn you to regard him as God's enemy." "He inflames the baser passions of young boys, and regards Christ as I regard Klaus Nerr (the court fool)."

Ephesians 5:27 ~ Jesus is coming for a church without spot or blemish. The church should be holy in its conduct when Christ returns. Many of today's churches are filled with those of their membership who are committing adultery and they are often the leaders of the church. In Acts 17:30-31, the scripture says God has commanded all men everywhere to repent. The Church must repent of her adulteries and return to the Lord! In Proverbs 28:13, it is stated that the man who covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy. We are not to participate in the deeds of darkness, but rather, we are to expose them. Why is the problem of divorce and serial remarriage so rampant in the church today? One conclusion we can draw is that the church is filled with unbelievers. Let me be clear…true believers will repent when confronted with the truth. If Jesus Christ, Paul the Apostle and others say that it is true, then so it is. Since the organized church is made up primarily of unbelievers, there is very little genuine repentance today.

God is certainly not winking at the open sin and rebellion occurring in the so-called church. There are many who attend church today and are not hearing this clear teaching. Teaching the unvarnished truth is often costly, but our God will uphold His truth and those who teach it. The vast majority of Pastors today who hear this will not teach it from their pulpits, but will try to find a way out of it. In some cases, it is because they are also living with a woman they are not married to. She is often some other man's wife. They often look at their congregation and see how many couples would leave the church if the truth were told. They cannot afford to watch at least fifty percent of their church leave and never return. In any case, they simply decide the cost is too high and refuse to do what God has commanded.

It is anticipated that one will read the above referenced scripture passages and ask for the light only God's Spirit can provide. In Luke 6:46, Jesus asked the disciples, "Why do you call Me Lord, Lord and not do the things which I say?" I am aware that this is very, very serious. If you have been divorced and are remarried, repentance is for you. You cannot repent in words alone. You must leave your “partner” and return to your wife or husband. You might ask “what if they are remarried?” You should let them know that you have repented and you know that they are your true marriage partner. Many people think this is a bizarre and impossible situation. It can be done and the God of heaven commands you to repent and turn from adultery. Remember, you are one-flesh with the one you first spoke vows before God with. Anyone you have married after the covenant was sealed by God, is someone you committed adultery with. If you say “I have never heard this before and I do not have to do it”, let me remind you that if you are reading this now, you have heard and you are accountable. The proper response then is be to obey and not to compromise. What will you do?

If you are not living in this sin, but call yourself a believer, you are instructed by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-20 to attempt to win your brother or sister if they are divorced and remarried. If they will not repent, take a witness or two and make another attempt to win them. If they refuse to hear witnesses and repent, Jesus said bring them before the church. If they will not hear the church, then let him or her be to you like a heathen or a tax collector. This means do not associate with them at all. Any so-called brother or sister who does not repent of sin, is to have fellowship removed by the church. Paul said in I Corinthians 5:1-13, that you should not even eat meals with the one who refuses to repent. If they will not repent at all, then they are not your brother or sister. If you say in your heart that this is heresy, let me say before God as my witness, that this is true. It did not originate with me. Let God be true and every man a liar. I make no apologies for any of this and my conscience is clear. How about yours?

Many who are “shacked-up” in churches get upset with the prospect of gay marriage in our society. They will sanctimoniously decry the sin of those who are homosexual and yet remain unashamed of their own sinful lives. The organized churches will sit quietly while gay marriage continues to infiltrate their congregations just as they have done while divorce and remarriage have become pervasive. The church has been looked to over the centuries for spiritual and moral guidance for society. The church’s failure, in recent history, to take God’s position on divorce and remarriage has resulted in the breakdown of the family unit. The spiritual, social and moral decay have been devastating. Children desperately in need of love and stability often turn to unreliable sources for a sense of belonging. The prevalence of juvenile delinquency, teenage runaways, child sexual abuse and rampant gang membership by today’s children, is directly attributable to the church’s abject failure to stand for good. It refuses to take a stand against sin of every kind and, therefore, is now accustomed to the dark.

I also have a clear conscience when I say that I have God-provided agape love in my heart for all who read this. It is my hope that God will get what is due Him and His holiness. May we all turn from our sin and turn to the one true God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

SCRIPTURES USED IN THIS BLOG:

• Genesis 2:18; 21-24 ~ And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
• Matthew 19:4-6 ~ And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
• Deuteronomy 23:21-23 ~ "When you make a vow to the Lord Your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth."
• Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 ~ When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed-Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
• Judges 11:30-40 ~ And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. And he defeated them from Aroer as far as Minnith-twenty cities-and to Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it." So she said to him, "My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon." Then she said to her father, "let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity, my friends and I." So he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man. And it became a custom in Israel that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.
• Matthew 14:1-4 ~ At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
• Matthew 27:19 ~ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."
• Genesis 39:7-10 ~ And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
• Malachi 2:10-16 ~ Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers? Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah had profaned the Lord's holy institution which He loves: He has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, being awake and aware, yet who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts! And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, "for what reason?" Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. "For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence," says the Lord of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously."
• Deuteronomy 22:22-24 ~ "If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die-the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel. If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor's wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you.
• John 8:11 ~ She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
• Deuteronomy 24:1-4 ~ "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man's wife, if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord you God is giving you as an inheritance."
• Jeremiah 3:1,8,12-14 ~ "They say, "If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man's, may he return to her again?' Would not that land be really polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to Me," says the Lord. (Verse 8)"Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. (Verses 12-14)Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: 'Return, backsliding Israel,' says the Lord; 'I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice,' says the Lord. "Return, O backsliding children," says the Lord; "for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
• Matthew 5:31-32 ~ "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."
• Matthew 19:8-9 ~ He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery"
• Luke 16:18 ~ Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
• Revelation 22:1 ~ And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
• Mark 10:2-12 ~ The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him. And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate." In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
• Romans 7:2-3 ~ For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called and adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
• I Corinthians 7:10-11 ~ Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
• I Corinthians 7:15 ~ But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.
• Ephesians 5:27 ~ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
• Acts 17:30-31 ~ "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
• Proverbs 28:13 ~ He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
• I Corinthians 7:39 ~ A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
• Hebrews 13:4 ~ Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
• Matthew 5:27-32 ~ "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."
• Matthew 19:5-12 ~ And said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
  They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
  And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."
• I Corinthians 7:12-16 ~ But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
• Matthew 1:18-20 ~ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
• Luke 6:46 ~ "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?


• Matthew 18:15-20 ~ "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."


• I Corinthians 5:1-13 ~ It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."