Did Jesus say that adultery is grounds for divorce? - Nope.

[St. SteVen]

When I read your OP my spirit agreed with it as truth. I'm just surprised I didn't think of it myself!

I connected the dots at some point.
Unless a person is familiar with the law and culture of the time, and I'm no expert by any stretch,
you wouldn't make the connection.

The trigger point for me was seeing someone post the KJV of Matthew 19:9 that used the word "fornication".
(the NIV says "sexual immorality") And also the word "adultery" twice. What's up with that?

Then I remembered the bit in the law about the provision for men who didn't get the virgin they were promised.
I know, I know... But, it was a thing at that time. Still is, I suppose, on some level. A double standard in modern times.
Women are still expected to be virgins, but guys are supposed to have some "experience". ??? Say what?

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[1stCenturyLady]

No He didn't.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
14 Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness,

In Matthew 19 Jesus was explaining what the Law meant, and that would have been Deut. 22 and 24 that talks of a virgin bride and proof. If she claimed to be a virgin but wasn't, he could become a widower, and she would be stoned to death. Or divorce her and just send her out of his house with a writ of divorce paper. He could also divorce latter in the marriage if he finds some uncleanness in her and write her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and send her out of his house. In Jesus' day they were divorcing for any reason including burning the toast. That is not an "uncleanness" meaning sexual immorality as Jesus explained.

cc: @St. SteVen

 

[1stCenturyLady]

In Matthew 19 Jesus was explaining what the Law meant, and that would have been Deut. 22 and 24 that talks of a virgin bride and proof. If she claimed to be a virgin but wasn't, he could become a widower, and she would be stoned to death. Or divorce her and just send her out of his house with a writ of divorce paper. He could also divorce latter in the marriage if he finds some uncleanness in her and write her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and send her out of his house. In Jesus' day they were divorcing for any reason including burning the toast. That is not an "uncleanness" meaning sexual immorality as Jesus explained.

cc: @St. SteVen

@St. SteVen I edited the above.

 

[Ritajanice]

Not many people on the forums care whether they sin or not. And there are not very many adult virgins.

I’m a Born Again Virgin.its not biblical...LOL

The evening I was Born Again I have never dated or had sex.32 yrs ago,

 

[St. SteVen]

@St. SteVen I edited the above.

Noted. Thanks.
You should probably change "toast" to "pita bread". - LOL

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[St. SteVen]

I’m a Born Again Virgin.its not biblical...LOL

The evening I was Born Again I have never dated or had sex.32 yrs ago,

I knew a lot of women after I was born again. In the biblical sense. - LOL

I finally settled into a repentant monogamous relationship though.

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[Ritajanice]

I knew a lot of women after I was born again. In the biblical sense. - LOL

I finally settled into a repentant monogamous relationship though.

/

I would sooner die now, than have sex outside of marriage..a Born Again should never have sex outside of marriage...I have only slept with two men in my life.my two husbands .I had sex outside of marriage with both of them.

And boy did I suffer the consequences of that sin,,,.when I gave myself to my two husbands, it was for life...unfortunately one committed adultery and left me for a much younger model...I couldn’t even discuss what the other one did,,..when I became Born Again, I fell in Love with God that evening and I would NEVER be unfaithful to him...he’s my everything..

 

[1stCenturyLady]

Noted. Thanks.
You should probably change "toast" to "pita bread". - LOL

/

Cute!

 

[St. SteVen]

And boy did I suffer the consequences of that sin,,,.

Yup.
That's what Hollywood neglects to tell us when they create all this content with random encounters.
They romanticize it with no thought to the cost.

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[Ritajanice]

I knew a lot of women after I was born again. In the biblical sense. - LOL

I finally settled into a repentant monogamous relationship though.

/

Did you know straight away that she was the one?

Was it Love at first sight?

 

[St. SteVen]

Did you know straight away that she was the one?

Was it Love at first sight?

That's an interesting question.
When we first met I thought she wasn't the right one.
And I didn't really pursue it at first.

We met at a young singles roller skating event.
She was a friend of my sister who was also there.

They had a couples only song with the mirrored ball sending swirling starlight everywhere.
I asked her to skate with me. At the end of the night we went our separate ways.

I didn't indicate any interest in seeing her again. Didn't ask for a phone number.
Not sure that I even bothered to say goodbye, or tell her it was nice to meet.
I was very ambivalent about the whole situation. - LOL

Some time later, my sister asked what I thought of her.
She was one of three girls living in a house together.
Seems they had been discussing this with my sister.

I told my sister that I thought she was nice but was too young for me.
Turns out she was actually 1.5 years older. Information my sister had ready. - LOL
My sister gave me her phone number. So I called.

We went on a date, and I didn't call her again for two weeks. - LOL
She figured it was over between us. No, I'm just not one to smother a girl.

That Summer I was led to go on a missions trip to Europe.
I didn't want to leave without telling her how I felt about her.
She wasn't sure if that was a proposal, or not. - LOL
I clarified my position which led to a plan to get married upon my return.

A plan which was then delayed to get more time.
We were finally wed in early December, a year after we had met originally.
But I had been overseas for three months.

/

 

[St. SteVen]

Did you know straight away that she was the one?

Was it Love at first sight?

I think it is interesting how messed up our mindset is about finding a life partner.
More stressful than it needs to be.

We get this idea that there is only one perfect mate for us in the whole world
and our mission is to find them at all cost. The one. The only. Mr/Mrs. Right.

Then as Christians we take it to the next level. It has to be God's will.
So, forget the worldly way of finding a mate, now we are looking for the
clouds to part and beams of golden light to enshroud the one.
(to the sound of the Hallelujah Chorus) Choirs of angels descending...

We want a sign from heaven. And not just for one of us. Both.

Him: Are you feelin' it?
Her: Nope, I'm not feelin' it.
Him: (sigh)

/

 

[Ritajanice]

I think it is interesting how messed up our mindset is about finding a life partner.
More stressful than it needs to be.

We get this idea that there is only one perfect mate for us in the whole world
and our mission is to find them at all cost. The one. The only. Mr/Mrs. Right.

Then as Christians we take it to the next level. It has to be God's will.
So, forget the worldly way of finding a mate, now we are looking for the
clouds to part and beams of golden light to enshroud the one.
(to the sound of the Hallelujah Chorus) Choirs of angels descending...

We want a sign from heaven. And not just for one of us. Both.

Him: Are you feelin' it?
Her: Nope, I'm not feelin' it.
Him: (sigh)

/

My belief after becoming Born Again..if there is a husband out there, God will bring us together, as in our paths will cross...I received that faith from day one, of becoming Born Again..

If God wills it...” it will be done” God knows my hearts desire....I will keep you posted...

If it’s not meant to be....I accept it...because there is NONE that can Love me like God Loves me...our Love just gets deeper and deeper.....I couldn’t live without God..I would perish and die.

I also know in my heart that God will NEVER leave me.....God is “ TRUE” to his word.

Man is NOT...God Bless.

 

[BlessedPeace]

Seeing as my Christian husband divorced me without cause, and married the wife of his best friend, I studied what God had to say about divorce in Deuteronomy. He is still the last man I kissed back in 2001.

What a shame but a choice none the less.

He committed adultery. You are entitled to remarry and always have been.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

What a shame but a choice no e the less.

He committed adultery. You are entitled to remarry and always have been.

No, I am agreeing with the OP. Because of knowing the Old Testament laws in Deut. 22 and 24, there was always something mismatched in church doctrine that didn't ring true especially regarding remarriage. But the OP connected Matt. 19 with Deut. brilliantly. Thank you, @St. SteVen

BP, have you ever read Karen Kingsbury books? I sure wish they were available when I was a teenager. They are Christian series that are also connected with other series using the same people. I loved them. Try and read them in order.

 

[BlessedPeace]

No, I am agreeing with the OP. Because of knowing the Old Testament laws in Deut. 22 and 24, there was always something mismatched in church doctrine that didn't ring true especially regarding remarriage. But the OP connected Matt. 19 with Deut. brilliantly. Thank you, @St. SteVen

BP, have you ever read Karen Kingsbury books? I sure wish they were available when I was a teenager. They are Christian series that are also connected with other series using the same people. I loved them. Try and read them in order.

It was not brilliance when it was in error.
The exception clause is adultery.
except for sexual immorality,

Anyone who divorces, except on the grounds of adultery and remarries is an adulterer.

 

[TheHC]

Word definitions are extremely important. If you have no understanding, or an incomplete understanding of a word, you can make it mean anything you want it to mean.

Man, isn’t that the truth!!

That’s why it’s so important in helping us understand what the Bible writers meant!
Which really means understanding what God meant.

 

[TheHC]

Seeing as my Christian husband divorced me without cause, and married the wife of his best friend…

Wow! I’m sorry you went through all that.
I was just wondering though: you said Christian husband…. I guess you meant what he claimed to be back then?
Do you think he is still a Christian?

Something similar happened to me. My wife divorced me, and married my best friend (he was at the time), who had been married - leaving his wife & kids!

But she eventually approached me, to ask my forgiveness. (In line with Matthew 5:24.) So I accept her now as a Christian once again. And accepted by others….

There was more involved … all of us were Jehovah’s Witnesses (and fortunately, we all are again), so application of 1 Corinthians 5 was administered. But it was necessary, for many reasons.

I studied what God had to say about divorce in Deuteronomy.

That’s great. Just wondering what was the source of information you used? Or did you just meditate on those passages by yourself?

He is still the last man I kissed back in 2001.

Very commendable!

Is single & celibate the lifestyle you choose?
Nothing wrong with that; or remarriage, either!
I have, and I’m happy.

You don’t have to reply, if I’m touching on personal things.

All the best to you!

 

[St. SteVen]

TLHKAJ said:
Word definitions are extremely important. If you have no understanding, or an incomplete understanding of a word, you can make it mean anything you want it to mean.

Man, isn’t that the truth!!

That’s why it’s so important in helping us understand what the Bible writers meant!
Which really means understanding what God meant.

As an isolated post I too agree with the importance of word definitions. But...
If you have been following the thread, the word definitions have been twisted out of proportion.

They are claiming that fornication is a broad umbrella term that actually includes adultery. Say what?

When you read the scripture in question it is obvious that Jesus was referring to fornication as sex BEFORE marriage.
I made this clear in the OP. Post #1.

With all the arguing over definitions, we can't even get to the bigger questions.

/

 

[St. SteVen]

My belief after becoming Born Again..if there is a husband out there, God will bring us together, as in our paths will cross...I received that faith from day one, of becoming Born Again..

If God wills it...” it will be done” God knows my hearts desire....I will keep you posted...

That's a great way to put it. And truly the right approach.
Relax and let God put it together.

Like an arranged marriage with God as the parent. "What God has put together..."

My wife and I were on that track. Neither of us was looking to get married.
Probably why my relaxed approach didn't put her off.

In retrospect I had unwittingly done a lot that would have sabotaged the normal process.

I even "put out a fleece".
I had heard that my Mother was objecting to our marriage plans.
So, I suggested that we get the parents on both sides together.

And I hadn't officially asked her father for his daughter. Needed to be done.
I was already good friends with and well-acquainted with her family.

The agreement with my wife-to-be and I was that I would ask for our parents blessing.
And if they refused, we would wait. We laid it all on the line.

Parents agreed to bless us. I had my wife-to-be and I kneel and parents prayed over us.
Done deal.

Seemed to have worked. We've been together 44 years now.

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