TOJ #26: You should not divorce. [Matt. 5:31-32a//Mark 10:11//Luke 16:18a] Jesus said that the only permissible reason for legal divorce is marital unfaithfulness or when the sin of spiritual divorce signified by adultery has already occurred. {Matt. 19:6-9//Mark 10:6-9} See TOJ #104 on the meaning of marriage.
The divine viewpoint, which all humans need to acquire, is that sexual intimacy should mean marriage, that divorce is a spiritual disaster before it leads to a legal dissolution, and that neither divorce nor a miserable marriage are moral options. This leaves only celibacy or a happy marriage as permissible alternatives.
>>>TOJ #104: Marriage is a spiritual union until death. [MT 19:4-6] The phrase about leaving one’s father and mother means that a man—and a woman—should be ready for marriage by attaining a sufficient degree of independence from their parents, both financial and psychological. They should be prepared to become parents themselves, even if they hope not to have a child for awhile, which means they should be rather spiritually mature, having the same love for each other as Christ has for His bride, the church.
The marital commitment is (or should be, cf. TOJ #109) signified by sexual union or becoming “one flesh” (GN 2:24), although it may be proper to fulfill legal and traditional expectations such as licenses and ceremonies for the purpose of avoiding being “a stumbling block to the weak” (1CR 8:9), who do not understand the essence of marriage. Obviously, that which must not be separated is the spiritual unity, so the sin of divorce also is a spiritual event and reality before it becomes a legal one. This realization should motivate spouses to work on the quality of their communication before serious problems develop in their relationship. (See TOJ #26.)
>>>TOJ #109: Do not commit adultery. [MT 19:18] Certainly, this teaching could be viewed as part of TOJ #24, but our society stresses (idolizes?) sexuality so much that it is needful to reiterate that sexual intercourse is the act of marriage in the eyes of God (TOJ #104), so that anyone who has sex with a second partner commits both fornication (extra-marital sex) and adultery.
Much of secular society (music, movies, etc.) normalizes (and almost requires via peer pressure) sexual sins (“playboys”, “responsible sex”, “alternative lifestyles”, etc.). Such morally weak people should hope someone invents a pill (called “Cold Shower”?) that diminishes their libido and temptation to be promiscuous! {MK 10:19, LK 18:20}
>>>TOP #90: Marriage is the right relationship for sexual intimacy. [1Cor. 7:1-5, 25-28 & 36-39] Jesus taught this truth in Matt. 19:4-6.
>>>TOP #91: Marriage is optional for those having the gift of celibacy. [1Cor. 7:6-9] Jesus affirmed the option of celibacy in Matt. 19:11-12.
>>>TOP #92: Believers must not divorce, although unbelievers cannot be forced to stay. [1Cor. 7:10-15] Jesus forbade divorce except for marital unfaithfulness in Matt. 19:8-9.
>>>TOP #123: Do not be yoked with unbelievers. [2Cor. 6:14] This applies not only to marriage but also to friendships as mentioned in TOP #112.
>>>TOP #174: Marriage is a man and woman leaving their parents and becoming one flesh. [Eph. 5:31] Paul compares the marital relationship to that of Christ and the church. Jesus taught this concept of marriage in Matt. 19:4-6, citing Gen. 2:24.
>>>TOP #233: Overseers and deacons of churches along with their wives must be mature Christians. [1Tim. 3:1-13, Tit. 1:5-9] The parameters cited by Paul include: monogamy, temperate, self-controlled, able to teach, hospitable, sober, peaceable, not a lover of money, able to manage his own family, not a recent convert and having a good reputation with nonbelievers.
>>>TOP #235: False teachings include forbidding marriage and abstaining from good food. [1Tim. 4:2-5, cf. TOP #227] The issue regarding food sacrificed to idols is TOP #96, but perhaps this teaching includes dietary restrictions Moses gave the Israelites, which Paul called “godless myths and old wives’ tales” (v.7).
