divorce & remarriage

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Divorce & Divorce & Remarriage Remarriage Why Christians Why Christians disagree disagree & the Matthean & the Matthean Exception Exception

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Divorce & Remarriage. Why Christians disagree & the Matthean Exception. Divorce - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Divorce &  Remarriage

Divorce & Divorce & RemarriageRemarriage

Why Christians disagree Why Christians disagree

& the Matthean Exception& the Matthean Exception

Page 2: Divorce &  Remarriage

Matthean Exception Matthean Exception (5:31-2)(5:31-2)

DivorceDivorce It has been said, It has been said,

'Anyone who divorces 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' certificate of divorce.'  But I tell you that  But I tell you that anyone who divorces his anyone who divorces his wife, except for *wife, except for *marital marital unfaithfulnessunfaithfulness, causes , causes her to become an her to become an adulteress, and anyone adulteress, and anyone who marries the who marries the divorced woman divorced woman commits adultery.commits adultery.

NIV VersionNIV Version

DivorceDivorce 'It has also been said, 'It has also been said,

Anyone who divorces Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I writ of dismissal. But I say this to you, say this to you, everyone who divorces everyone who divorces his wife, except for the his wife, except for the case of *case of *an illicit an illicit marriagemarriage, makes her an , makes her an adulteress; and anyone adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced who marries a divorced woman commits woman commits adultery.adultery.

Jerusalem BibleJerusalem Bible

* ‘Porneia’ in the Greek texts

Page 3: Divorce &  Remarriage

Clue 1Clue 1

St Matthew’s St Matthew’s Gospel is the only Gospel is the only Synoptic Gospel to Synoptic Gospel to contain this phrase contain this phrase in which Jesus in which Jesus seems to allow an seems to allow an exception of any exception of any kind – the other two kind – the other two Gospels don’t Gospels don’t mention any mention any exception.exception.

Page 4: Divorce &  Remarriage

Clue 2Clue 2

PorneiaPorneia usually carries the meaning usually carries the meaning of sexual sin, fornication, unlawful of sexual sin, fornication, unlawful intercourse (some marriages intercourse (some marriages permitted in Greek-Roman culture permitted in Greek-Roman culture might be seen as incestuous in early might be seen as incestuous in early Judeo-Christian understanding)Judeo-Christian understanding)

MoicheaMoichea is a Greek word that is a Greek word that specifically means adultery, specifically means adultery, unfaithfulnessunfaithfulness

Page 5: Divorce &  Remarriage

Clue 3Clue 3

In Matthew 15, Jesus mentions the In Matthew 15, Jesus mentions the two words porneia and moichea two words porneia and moichea together:together:

For from the heart come evil intentions: For from the heart come evil intentions: murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that make a slander. These are the things that make a person unclean. But eating with unwashed person unclean. But eating with unwashed hands does not make anyone unclean.' hands does not make anyone unclean.'

porneia,porneia,moichemoichea,a,

Page 6: Divorce &  Remarriage

Clue 4Clue 4

In Jesus’ time there were two In Jesus’ time there were two opinions about divorce:opinions about divorce:

A man could divorce his wife for A man could divorce his wife for adultery (Rabbi Shammai’s school of adultery (Rabbi Shammai’s school of thought)thought)

A man could divorce his wife for a A man could divorce his wife for a range of lesser ‘offences’ (Rabbi range of lesser ‘offences’ (Rabbi Hillel’s school of thought)Hillel’s school of thought)

Page 7: Divorce &  Remarriage

Clue 5Clue 5

The betrothal period in a Jewish The betrothal period in a Jewish marriage at the time of Jesus could last marriage at the time of Jesus could last up to a yearup to a year

The couple were considered on the The couple were considered on the threshold of marriagethreshold of marriage

They lived apart; the man was expected They lived apart; the man was expected to get the household readyto get the household ready

Then there was a ceremony marking the Then there was a ceremony marking the fact that their full married life had begunfact that their full married life had begun

Page 8: Divorce &  Remarriage

Clue 6Clue 6

St Matthew is the only evangelist (Gospel St Matthew is the only evangelist (Gospel writer) who tells us of the dilemma St writer) who tells us of the dilemma St Joseph had when he discovered his young Joseph had when he discovered his young betrothed (Mary) was pregnantbetrothed (Mary) was pregnant

His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they came to live together she but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being an upright Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being an upright man and wanting to spare her disgrace, man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally.decided to divorce her informally.

Page 9: Divorce &  Remarriage

TaskTask

Why do Christians disagree as to Why do Christians disagree as to whether divorced Christians whether divorced Christians should be allowed to remarry in should be allowed to remarry in Church?Church?