Marriage is the oldest institution known to man and was instituted by God Himself on the sixth day of creation. God intended marriage to be a permanent arrangement between a man and a woman ended only by death. However, the Bible does give exceptions to the rule. In Matthew 19:8 we read, “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.’” This is a reference to Deuteronomy 24:1-4 where it indicates that a man was permitted to divorce his wife when he found an indecency in her. It is stated in a general non-descript way, and this “indecency” seems to admit numerous reasons for which a man may divorce his wife.
This same passage (Deu.24:1-4) is in view when Jesus said, “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce’” (Mat.5:31). Jesus then contrasts His teaching with the law of Moses when He says, “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” (Mat.5:32). The righteousness found in the law of Christ exceeds that found in the law of Moses (5:20). Under the Old Covenant, a man was permitted to divorce his wife for any “indecency” for which she fell out of his favor. Under the New Covenant, a man must not divorce his wife except when she has committed adultery.
Jesus taught a high view of marriage admitting only one exception to ending it. We must, therefore, determine to be faithful to our spouses till death do us part! Like Jesus, we must have a firm commitment to the sanctity of marriage.