Today's Passage - Luke 16:18

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 16:18   'Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.'   This scripture passage teaches about divorce, and divorce is the most sensitive topic in the church today.  There are many among us who have experienced the pain and damage from previous marriages.  We need to understand a couple things before interpreting this passage: First, God is capable of healing, and He's willing to mend broken hearts back to completeness.  Believers must realize the severity of divorce before God, because marriage is an institution created by God and the Bible teaches that men ought to leave their parents and be united with their wives; two shall become one and they are inseparable.   Back in the time when Moses decreed the law, it allowed the Israelites to divorce because of their disobedience.  Many husbands divorced their wives for no reason, so the wives lost their protection and ended up suffering unnecessarily, to the point that many wives' lives were endangered.  Since the penalty for adultery at that time was stoning to death, Moses declared that it must be proven that the divorce was not the result of adultery so that the divorced wife could remarry without getting sacrificed.  The marriage vow is holy and cannot be forsaken easily; divorce was permitted in the Old Testament time because of disobedience of men, but it was still abhorred by God.   In Matthew 5:2, the Lord said: "But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery."  In the eyes of God, the only permissible divorce is one that was caused by adultery; that, however, doesn't mean that when a partner is unfaithful, we must divorce him or her.  Many married couples had encountered extra-marital affairs, but the marriages were rescued because of love of God.  Why is it that "anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery"?  That is because if it wasn't for adultery, a marriage would still be effective in the eyes of God.  Therefore, if either the husband or wife remarries, the original marriage vow was broken, and thus adultery is committed.  To the non-believers, such behavior is permissible; however, for believers in the Lord, we need to seriously face such sin.   Concerning divorce and remarrying, there are a few principles: To those who are married, divorce should not be suggested lightly, because in the love of Christ, all hatred can be forgiven, and all grudges can be healed.  To those who are divorced, seek to reconcile with the former partner; if it's not possible, you must remember that in Christ we are new creations, and all things have become new.  Let the love of Christ comfort you and heal you, and to replace the hatred and worries in your heart.     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you are filled with compassion.  Back when you were here, you said to the one who committed adultery, "...has no one condemned you? ...Then neither do I condemn you."  Lord, I trust that your grace will come upon everyone, that no matter how badly we were hurt before, we will become complete in the love of the Lord.  May your love fill the hearts of everyone.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!