9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.
The Gospel is offensive. It gets right in people’s face, right where they live. Jesus did not pull punches. This verse, and the several other verses that confront divorce, are very hard to hear. This is especially true in our current society when divorce is so rampant. Before I go any further, notice what this verse does NOT say. It does not say that divorce prevents you from heaven, from a relationship with the Lord, or from God’s grace. Forgiveness is still available for the sin of marital unfaithfulness, adultery, and divorce. But the Lord knows the very negative consequences of these actions. Divorce carries negative ripple effects for generations. So does marital unfaithfulness. Jesus is speaking against a trend in His day to take marriage too lightly, to create throw away relationships. Marriage was meant to be permanent, ’til death do us part. He speaks the Truth in very straight forward terms in order to draw people into grace. Grace can hold a person who is contemplating marital unfaithfulness, an affair, and draw them back into right relationship with God and with their spouse. Grace enables faithfulness to the vow. Divorce is allowed when there has been an affair and the partner remains unrepentant. You don’t have to stay in a marriage when a third party is present in the marriage bed. But you don’t have to get divorced either. Remember, grace is able to move us to repentance and restoration. God’s ultimate goal is our sanctification. He wants us to be like Him, holy and set apart for His use.
The Arnold Journey 