p2 What Jesus said about Divorce-Remarriage & Adultery

Mark 10:11-12

A1) Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery (moichatai) against her.
        And
B1)  if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery (moichatai).

Luke 16:18

A1) Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery (moichatai);
        and
B2)  whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery (moichatai).

Matthew 19:9

A2) Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality (porneias), and marries another, commits adultery (moichatai);
        and
B2)  whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery (moichatai).

Matthew 5:32

A3) Whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality (porneias) causes her to commit adultery (moichatai); 
        and
B2)  whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery (moichatai). 

 

Observation I.  It is interesting that each of these passages are couplets.  And it is interesting that 3 out of 4 of the second couplets, B2), virtually say the exact same thing. And these three agree with B1), which expresses the message from the other angle.  All four of the second couplets are agreed; case closed.  (The variation of wording between B1) and B2) show that BOTH of those involved in an adulterous relationship are committing adultery, even if only one of them has been lawfully married).

"Whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery along with her." 

Observation II.  The first couplet, A1), of Luke 16:18 & Mark 10:11-12 say the same thing. This agreement between them strengthens their clear message all the more. (A twofold chord is not easily broken).

"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery."

Observation III.  B1) mirrors A1): Each of the preceding are just gender-specific ways of saying the same thing:

"Whoever marries a divorced person commits adultery along with him or her."

Observation IV.  The endings of Matthew 19:9a & Matthew 5:32a report subtle differences with eachother:

     A2) "Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality (porneias), and marries another, commits adultery (moichatai)"

     A3) "Whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality (porneias) causes her to commit adultery (moichatai)"

          i) So A2) ends by saying that the divorced man commits adultery when he marries another, (Observation II above).

          ii) And A3) ends by saying that the divorced woman commits adultery when, (naturally), she marries another, (Obs. I).

Observation V.  All these statements by Jesus on Divorce-Remarriage & Adultery have been in strong agreement, reinforcing oneanother in saying the same thing in gender-specific ways,

"Whoever marries a divorced person commits adultery along with him or her."

Jesus knows that people can be hard-headed about this subject and often looking for a way out, even a gender-specific one if need be.  So He has spelled out the same message in various contexts.  The significant difference among these four statements by Jesus is the clause found in the first half of two of them, "except for sexual immorality (porneias)."  It has been shown previously  that sexual immorality (porneias) is different from commit adultery (moichátai).

porneias = unlawful sexual relationship: sexual relationship with someone who is not lawfully married to you = fornication.
moichátai = sexual relationship with someone who is lawfully married to someone else = commmit adultery.

Next I will explore how "except for sexual immorality (porneias)" has been taken two different ways.
And I will show that "except for sexual immorality (porneias)" can only mean one thing in order to be agreed with of what Jesus has said here.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
KJV
 

Scriptures cited from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.