1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Introduction:

1. Few passages have generated as much debate as this one.

2. Marital love is one of the most powerful forces in the cosmos, so naturally people are strongly driven to such relationships.

3. Our goal is to allow what God allows and refuse what He refuses.

4. The stakes are extremely high in this study.

Discussion:

I. What God Has Joined…

A. Marriage was God’s first institution (Genesis 2:18-24).

B. He intends permanence (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:1-9; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11).

1. Two people become one flesh (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6).

2. The OT allowance of divorce demonstrated the hardness of their hearts, not God’s approval (Matthew 19:7-8).

3. Jesus denounced separating what God joined (Matthew 19:6).

4. Paul upheld Jesus’ demands for permanence (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).

C. Jesus made one exception and allowed the victim of adultery to remarry with God’s approval (Matthew 19:9).

II. The Pauline Privilege Explained

A. It is argued that the marriage bond is what Paul intended when saying the deserted believer is not under bondage.

B. Some argue that Matthew 19 only applies to Christians while others argue it only applied to the Jews.

C. If this is so, we have no right to deny such unions (Deuteronomy 4:2).

D. If this is not so, we must deny such unions (Deuteronomy 4:2).

III. Issues With the Pauline Privilege

A. First, this interpretation has Paul contradicting Jesus.

1. Jesus only named one exception allowing remarriage.

2. His language applied to both the ones putting away and the one put away (Matthew 19:9).

B. Second, Jesus was giving the universal marriage law.

1. “Whoever” is a universal affirmative.

2. Matthew 28:20 binds all Christ’s teachings in His kingdom.

C. Third, the NT word “bondage” (133x) never spoke of marriage.

D. Fourth, the perfect tense of the word is significant.

1. It indicates a current state resulting from past action.

2. Literally, it reads “was not bound and is not bound.”

3. This would mean “was not married and is not married.”

4. The context clearly demands these parties were married.

E. Fifth, it implies partiality by God in giving special privileges to an unbeliever’s spouse (vv. 10-11; Acts 10:34).

F. With all this in view, this is questionable at best (Romans 14:23).

IV. The Gravity of the Situation

A. The conclusion I have presented is hard to accept.

1. It was hard for the disciples as well (Matthew 19:10).

2. Jesus did not compromise His position (Matthew 19:11-12).

B. The reason He was unrelenting is doubtless the consequences.

1. Unscriptural marriage is adultery (Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11-12).

2. The present tense “commits” indicates a continual action.

3. Those who live in adultery cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 13:4).

C. Such can certainly be forgiven, but repentance demands the cessation of the sin involved (1 Corinthians 6:11, 18-19; Ephesians 5:3-7).

Conclusion:

1. Jesus would not compromise God’s marriage law, so neither can we.

2. Such will set people up to continue in adultery and be eternally lost.

3. Though a life of celibacy is hard to accept, it is far better than an eternity of both celibacy (Matthew 22:30) and punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

4. Why risk eternal sorrow in exchange for temporary pleasure?