31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:31-32

Divorce is a very difficult matter and should never be taken lightly. It’s difficult because usually both parties cannot see any other solution. You hear the phrase “irreconcilable differences” in relation to divorce.

Jesus opposed divorce to protect the union of a man and his wife. Because marriage is sacred, divorce should be the farthest thing from the mind of two caring individuals.

Broadly interpreted, Jesus considered adultery, homosexual sex, incest, and bestiality as constituting grounds for divorce, as well as someone who no longer wishes to be married because of Christian faith (1 Corinthians 7:12-16) and abuse.

My heart breaks when I hear of couples breaking up for reasons other than those mentioned above. We can do nothing about it, of course, except to help pick up the pieces as there will surely be shattered pieces, especially as it relates to innocent children of the divorced parents. Unfortunately, even in the best of divorce cases, the children get the worst of the deal.

Right now you’re probably thinking of some of those children you know whose parents have been through a divorce. Even years later they need our prayers for peace and for a sense in what healthy marriages look like. If they are to have healthy marriages themselves, they’ll need this insight.