Sunday, March 24, 2013

Matthew 5:32

"but I say unto you, that every one who doth from-loose his woman, except for the cause of fornication, attempteth to make her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is from-loosed is perceived to commit adultery."

Most translations of the Bible that profess to be literal, also add italic words.  These additional words are not literally present in the text, but clarify the sense of the verse.  The Etymological New Testament also uses this same method.  In the verse above two key words are added to make clear Jesus' teaching on divorce and remarriage. 

The husband (or wife) who divorces a partner for frivolous reasons is actually attempting to make their spouse an adulterer.  And, in that particular Jewish culture, the person who married the divorcee is often perceived to be committing adultery.  Jesus teaching on marriage, here and elsewhere, shows that two things are important concerning marriage: a very strong commitment AND a non-judgmental attitude toward the one who is unfairly divorced. 

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