Avoiding Divorce
While divorce is permitted in the Bible, it is never promoted in the Bible. Learn what Jesus had to say about those considering dissolving a marriage union.


By Travis Agnew
January 10, 2021
Sermon Notes
While divorce is permitted in the Bible, it is never promoted in the Bible. Learn what Jesus had to say about those considering dissolving a marriage union.
Preliminary Considerations
- Divorce is not the unforgivable sin.
- Just because a sin can be forgiven does not mean that it should be casually committed.
- Shaming a person for a divorce is not honoring to God or helping anyone else.
Biblical Expectations (5:31-32)
The Original Law (5:31)
- God’s original provision for divorce was not to encourage it to happen but to ensure the process remained civil if it did happen (Deut. 24:1-4).
- Sinful married men would often abandon, abuse, or append their wives.
- One purpose of the certificate of divorce was God’s unique desire to protect women.
The Needed Mindset (5:32)
- Since marriage is something that God ordained, it should not be cast aside as some temporary or conditional agreement.
- Divorcing for the trivial and remarrying for the convenience actually reveals that the involved parties have committed adultery.
- The effects of sexual immorality are so severe that God allows divorce in such a case.
- While divorce is permitted in the Bible, it is never promoted in the Bible.
Specific Applications
- If you are considering divorce, realize that it will never completely free you from an undesirable spouse.
- If you initiated an unnecessary divorce, consider how you could seek forgiveness.
- If you experienced an unwanted divorce, you will never remove the effects completely, but you can recover from it significantly.
- If you have witnessed the devastation of another’s divorce, evaluate what happened so you will be less likely to repeat it.
Additional Resources
- Equip Tonight – Divorce-Proofing Your Marriage
- Divorce Care Course – Registration Available Online
- Date Night – Register for Valentine’s Day Weekend
- Online – Search “marriage” on rockycreek.church
- Counseling – Email becky@rockycreekonline.org