RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY-FIVE SUNDAY 2ND MAY 2021
TOPIC: DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
MEMORY VERSE: “For the LORD, the God of Israel, said that he hated putting away: For one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacheously”. — Malachi 2:16
BIBLE PASSAGE: MATTHEW 19:3-12
Matthew:19.3
The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for [just] any reason?”
Matthew:19.4
And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made [them] at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’
Matthew:19.5
“and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
Matthew:19.6
“So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew:19.7
They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”
Matthew:19.8
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.
Matthew:19.9
“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
Matthew:19.10
His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with [his] wife, it is better not to marry.”
Matthew:19.11
But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only [those] to whom it has been given:
Matthew:19.12
“For there are eunuchs who were born thus from [their] mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept [it,] let him accept [it.”]
INTRODUCTION
According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment (Matthew 19:6) God realises though, that, since marriages involves two sinful human beings, divorces are going to occur. He laid down some laws in the Old Testament, in order to protect the rights of divorces especially women (Deuteronomy 24 1-4). However Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people’s hearts not, because such laws were God’s desire (Matthew 19:8) therefore it is important to remember (Malachi 2:16). The pain, confusion, and frustration most people experience after a divorces are surely part of the reason that God hates divorce. Even more difficult, biblically, than the question of divorce, is the question of remarriage.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE
2. GROUNDS FOR REMARRIAGE AFTER A DIVORCE
GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE
The Bible gives two clear grounds for divorce: sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32; 19:9) and abandonment by an unbelieving partner (1Corinthians 7:15). Even in these two instances, divorce is not required or even encouraged. The most that can be said is that sexual immorality and abandonment are grounds (an allowance) for divorce. Confession, forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration are always the first steps. Divorce should only be viewed as a last resort
The most frequent additional grounds for divorce that people require about her spousal abuse (emotional or physical), child abuse, addiction to pornography, drug/alcohol use, crime/imprisonment, and mismanagement of finances (such as through a gambling addiction). None of these can be claimed to be explicit biblical ground for a divorce. However, we cannot for example, imagine that it would be God’s desire for a wife to remain with a husband who physically abused her and/or their children. if there is any risk to the life of the spouse or children, separation is a good and appropriate step. Even in such a situation, a time of separation with the the goal of repentance and restoration should be ideal, not necessarily immediately beginning divorce process proceedings.
The pain, confusion, and frustration most people experience after a divorce are surely part of the reason that God hates divorce. Even more difficult, biblically, than the question of divorce in the question of remarriage.
GROUNDS FOR REMARRIAGE AFTER A DIVORCE
The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase “except for marital unfaithfulness” is the only thing in scripture that possibly gives God’s permission for divorce and remarriage sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: “the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5 Ephesians 5:31). Therefore any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage may be a permissible reason for divorce. However, God hates divorce and couple should learn to forgive and begin rebuilding their marriage.
Some understand 1Corinthians 7:15 as another “exception”, allowing remarriage if an unbelieving spouse divorces a believer. However the context does not mention remarriage but only says a believer is not bound to continue a marriage if an unbelieving spouse want to leave. Any believer in this situation should consult with the Church leadership for appropriate counsel. It should also be noted that God sometimes calls some people to be single so that their attention is not divided (1Corinthians 7:32-35)
CONCLUSION
Regardless of the ground for divorce, a couple can through God’s grace, learn to forgive and begin rebuilding their marriage.
QUESTIONS
1. What are the biblical grounds for divorce?
2. Are there grounds for a remarriage after a divorce?