Tradition Versus Truth
Adultery And Divorce

In Matthew 5:21-48, there are five sections that begin, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time” (5:21, 27, 33, 38, 43). In each case, after stating what had been heard, Jesus counters, “But I say unto you” (5:22, 28, 34, 39, 44). In so doing, Jesus cuts through centuries of tradition that blinded many of His contemporaries and replaces it with truth.

Tradition: Get Close To Illicit Sex As Long As No Intercourse Occurs

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Mt. 5:27). This statement seems right. After all, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” was a commandment of God (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:17). However, Jesus’ answer reveals that their tradition twisted God’s commandment to mean that one could get as close to illicit sex as desired just so long as the two did not actually engage in copulation. “Adultery” is simply fornication that involves a married person. It was generally assumed in the ancient world that a married man could have sexual relations with other women so long as the other women were not married.1 In our society the attitude is very similar.

Truth: Adultery Begins In The Heart

Jesus counters their tradition: “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mt. 5:28). Truth teaches that adultery begins with a lustful attitude (cf. Jas. 1:14-15). “Lust” is simply a strong desire for that to which we have no right (cf. Rom. 6:12; 7:8; 2 Pet. 2:18; 1 Jn. 2:16-17). It has always been wrong to covet another man’s wife (Ex. 20:17). If one never lusts for another sexually, it will be impossible for that person to commit adultery!

Since just a “look” or a “touch” can be so disastrous, it is important to use our bodies properly. Jesus states, “And if thy right eye offend thee [causes you to sin, NKJ], pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand offend thee [causes you to sin, NKJ], cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Mt. 5:29-30). Jesus is not advocating self-mutilation (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19-20), but is using hyperbole to teach that the avoidance of temptation may require drastic measures (cf. Gen. 39:12). Literally removing body parts will not conquer evil desires. A one-eyed man can still lust with his remaining eye, and a one handed man can still steal!

Tradition: Divorce And Remarriage For Any Cause

“It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement” (Mt. 5:31). Again, this statement sounds innocent enough—after all, Deuteronomy 24:1-4 spoke of this, right? Jesus’ answer again shows that their tradition did not correspond to what God through Moses intended all along! Deuteronomy 24 does not institute divorce! The KJV’s translation of “then” in “then let him write her a bill of divorcement” (Deut. 24:1) is totally unjustified! Deuteronomy 24:1-4 is actually a lengthy “if...then” statement. Verses 1-3 are the “if” part in that they simply describe—not prescribe—a condition. When that condition is present, “then” the imperative of verse 4 applies: “Her former husband ...may not take her again to be his wife.” The legislation in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 was given because of the “hardness of heart” (Mt. 19:8), and was never intended to be permanent (cf. Mt. 19:3-8).

Truth: Divorce And Remarriage Only If Fornication

Jesus again counters their tradition, “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” (Mt. 5:32). “Saving for the cause [except, NKJ]” introduces the only reason for God-approved divorce and remarriage. Truth teaches, therefore, that God allows only the innocent of fornication spouse in a Scriptural divorce to remarry (cf. Mt. 19:9)!

“Causeth her to commit adultery” is best understood as the husband indirectly making her commit adultery by forcing her into a vulnerable state in which she would feel compelled to remarry. “A woman when divorced ...naturally seeks a second marriage, if for no other reason than to vindicate herself from the imputation cast on her by the divorce. The second husband, in accepting her hand, pronounces against the act of the first husband. But her second marriage is adultery, and her first husband...indirectly causes her to commit this crime.”2 The idea of one causing another to commit sin without over-riding the other’s free moral agency is illustrated well by “Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin” (1 Kgs. 16:2, 19, 26; 2 Kgs. 3:3; 10:29-31; 13:2). Jeroboam invented the false system of worship that became a fixture in the Northern Kingdom (1 Kgs. 12:25-33). He left Israel vulnerable, but only when the people actually followed the sin of Jeroboam were they guilty of that sin. Thus, it can be said that Jeroboam made Israel to sin (cf. 2 Kgs. 10:29-31)!

Since the unscripturally put away woman is still bound to her husband (Rom. 7:1-3), the other man who marries her is guilty of adultery. “Committeth adultery” is in the present tense, which means that as long as the relationship continues, the adultery continues. The only way to stop the adultery is to stop the relationship!

Conclusion

There are many human traditions concerning adultery and divorce and remarriage. These traditions become more and more attractive as society becomes more accepting of these sins. However, we must hold to Biblical teaching, no matter how difficult and unpopular it may be (cf. Mt. 7:13-14)!

Endnotes

1Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992) 117.
2 J. W. McGarvey, The New Testament Commentary: Volume 1—Matthew and Mark (1875; Delight, AR: Gospel Light, n.d.) 56.