Daily Manna 3 August
KEY VERSE: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.” – (Numbers 11:16)
TEXT: Matthew 5:27-32
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
At creation, God’s original intention was and still remains that man should marry one wife. Thereafter, a seal was put to this commandment. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:6).
God did not anticipate any divorce in His marriage plan for man. But hardness of heart drove the children of Israel to pressurise Moses their leader to amend God’s plan in granting them the issuance of bill of divorcement to put away their wives for every cause. But Jesus put a note of finality when He declared “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19:8).
The word of God is against divorce and remarriage. Jesus stated categorically, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Matthew 19:9).
In all matters, Christians should stay on the Bible and not add or subtract from it. Divorce and remarriage cannot be part of God’s plan for His people. However, that is not to say there will be no misunderstandings between husbands and their wives. All issues must be discussed and settled between them both because they have become “one flesh” by God’s arrangement. Third parties like friends, in-laws, children, etc. must understand their responsibilities to one another and keep them. They must honour and encourage one another and never do anything to undermine themselves or the marriage institution.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Marriage is honourable; don’t violate its vow.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 4-6
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Divorce and Remarriage Forbidden – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 3 August 2021
