Did Yehoshua Contradict His Father Regarding Divorce? (Rough Draft)

Did Yehoshua Contradict His Father regarding Divorce?
Chris Schaefer ©2009

Matt 5:31-32 (NKJV)
32 "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery

Matt 19:9-10 (NKJV)
9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.

The above verses have been used by the church and Messianic congregations as a means of forbidding divorce for any reason other than physical adultery. The result is a two pronged pitchfork. One prong makes it seem that with the exception of physical adultery, no divorce is allowed whatsoever: this has resulted in countless men being rendered impotent against rebellious wives, because after all, she can act like the devil, she can even lead the children astray, but if she doesn’t commit physical adultery he’s stuck with her, right? How many men can endure that sentence till the day they die? Of course many cannot bear up under such an edict, and so the other prong is they pretend the verses don’t exist and just simply divorce and remarry. The divorce and remarriage statistics in the church verify that this has indeed been the case.

Is the Torah eternal? Did Yehoshua come to make up His Own Torah in conflict with that of His Father’s? If the Words which Yehoshua spoke were from/inspired by His Father, how could He possibly contradict His Father’s words?

Let’s check the Father’s words on divorce.

Debarim 24:1-4 (AFN-T)
When a man has taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he has found some [dvar] uncleanness [ervah] in her,; then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hates her as well and writes her a bill of divorcement, and gives itin her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, who sent her away may not take her again to be his wife again, after that she is rutually impure.

It is significant that the word ervah is used. It can mean nakedness and could imply sexual impurity, but then again, what man would not want his wife naked at times. Isn’t nakedness in the marriage bed a good thing? Well ervah can also mean uncovered.

Let’s see how the apostle Pallu understood the symbolism of covering for a wife:

Qorintyah Aleph/First Corinthians 11:5-15 (RSTNE
5 But every woman that makes prayers, or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head: for that is the same as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman does not have a head covering, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn, or shaven, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to veil* his head, because he is the image and glory of YHWH: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 For the man is not from the woman; but the woman from the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have a symbol of AUTHORITY on her head because of the unclean fallen demons.**

If a woman refuses her husband’s authority over her, she is insubordinate, therefore she is positionally uncovered a.k.a ervah!

So if we look back at the Devarim 24:1-4 passage, If a woman is insubordinate, wouldn’t an expected result be that she would eventually not find favor in husband #1’s eyes? And if husband #2 ends up hating her, wouldn’t insubordination be a plausible cause for his hatred? So clearly that is the the context of Debvarim 24:1-4 since Devarim 22:13-21 and Bemidbar chapter 5 take care of physical adultery.

Now let’s take this a step further
1Schmuel 15:23a. (RSTNE)
For rebellion [mer ee 4805] is as the sin of witchcraft [keh sem’ 7081], and insubordination [paw tsar’ 6484] is as iniquity [aw ven’ 205] and idolatry [teraphim 8655].

All throughout the Tanakh, sexual immorality is likened to idolatry, and visa versa.
If idolatry can be compared to sexual immorality, then sexual immoraltiy can be an idiom for idolatry. Idolatry is obviously declared an euphemism for insubordination in 1 Schmuel 15:23. The context of 1 Schmuel 15:23 Is King Shaul’s chronic rebellion and insubordination against YHWH.

Shaul’s rebellion was compared to witchcraft, or more specifically divination. Divination is the rejection of YHWH’s authority in favor of demonic authority. The king was supposed to be subordinate to YHWH, but Shaul repeatedly refused. Finally YHWH rejected Shaul as king. Likewise, if a woman rejects her husband’s authority by being rebellious and insubordinate, then by default she is under demonic authority! If YHWH wouldn't continue to put up with Shaul’s rebellion, why would YHWH expect a husband to perpetually put up with a chronically rebellious/insubordinate wife?

Mattityahu 5:31-32 (RSTNE)
It has been said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a Get of divorce.” Therefore I say to you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication [gk:porneia/ heb:zenuth*], causes her to commit adultery, and whoever shall marry her that is undivorced [Aramaic: sh’bikta] commits adultery.

Mattityahu 19:9 (RSTNE)
And I say to you, Whoever shall divorce his wife, except it be for fornication [gk:porneia/ heb:zenuth*], and shall marry another [gk: alleen], commits adultery; and whoever marries her who has >not yet been divorced [Aramaic: sh’bikta] does commit adultery.

sh’bikta means: not yet divorced, or incompletely/improperly divorced.

As Yehoshua’s manner always was, He corrected the religious leaders' twistings of the Scripture. They wanted an OK of their idea of it being alright to divorce a wife for whatever reason. However Yehoshua showed that the only valid reasons for divorcing a wife were for adultery and insubordination (chronic) which are both codified as fornication (porneia and zenuth).

*From Eliyah’s online article Divorce and Remarriage (note,: I don't exhaustively endorse all aspects of Eliya's article but I think he makes many excellent points, and so am in agreement with much of what he says.)

“The use of this word "porneia" to refer to idolatry is quite frequent throughout the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the "old testament" that was in use at the time. This word family (#4202 "porneia) is used 36 times in the Septuagint. A remarkable fact is how this word family is used. It is used to describe physical marital unfaithfulness only twice, but it is used to describe the spiritual harlotry/idolatry 36 times! The complete list of these verses are as follows: Genesis 38:24; Numbers 14:33; 2 Kings 9:22; Isaiah 47:10; 57:9; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:2, 9; 13:27; Ezekiel 16:15, 22, 25, 33f, 36, 41; 23:7f, 11, 14, 17ff, 27, 29, 35; 43:7, 9; Hosea 1:2; 2:4, 6; 4:11f; 5:4; 6:10; Micah 1:7; Nah. 3:4. I have also studied the Hebrew Matthew (DuTillet version) of Matthew 19:9 and found that it uses Hebrew word #2184 "zenuth", a noun which means "whoredom". Out of the 9 times it is used in the "old testament", it is used to describe idolatry 7 times with the other 2 instances being unclear whether idolatry or literal whoredom is intended. The complete list is: Num. 14:33; Jer. 3:2, 9; 13:27; Ezek. 23:27; 43:7, 9; Hos. 4:11; 6:10. In consideration of the core meanings of "zenuth" and "porneia", they certainly could possibly be used to describe literal harlotry. But since "zenuth" and "porneia" are used so frequently to describe idolatry, it is certainly worth investigating whether or not Yahushua could have been allowing for divorce when a person is married to a spouse who is an idolater/unbeliever. This is especially true when you consider the Torah based prohibition against marriages to unbelievers, the examples of disastrous marriages to unbelievers, the importance stressed on bearing righteous children of Elohim, the divorce of pagan wives in the book of Ezra, and the fact that Yahushua said it was the hardness of hearts that inspired Moshe to not outright forbid divorce.”

Comment by Deborah Peterson on December 15, 2009 at 11:21pm: Brother, that person having sinned against us doesn't make it right or ok for us to sin ~ and thats what we are doing when we willfully choose to rebel against Yah'shua's commandment to forgive. When we choose to hold on to unforgiveness , there *is* a break in relationship with Him ~ it can't be otherwise when we hold on to willful rebelion. For that person that needs to forgive, it means broken prayer relationship ~ that prayers are hindered from being heard or answered because their willful rebelion (and in the case of the husband, that would mean his prayers that Elohim would work in and change his wife would also be blocked and hindered until by Yah's grace he forgives). It means for that person that they can't clearly hear when Elohim seeks to speak to them (in their heart, through others or through Scripture), because of that break in relationship... By choosing to rebel against Elohim, that person is allowing the enemy rights to operate in their lives.

Forgiveness means *freedom* and *healing* for the person forgiving ~ freedom from bitterness and anger and resentment and hate, and healing from sadness and hurt and betrayal, and freedom from the enemy that had been given rights to operate in that person's life.

Our first reponsability is to Yah'shua ~ to submit to Him, and to trust Him with the results. Even if it might seem impossible to a husband in those moments that they could ever be reconciled, he needs to ask Elohim to help him really believe with his heart that whats impossible with man, is possible with Elohim.
Before anyone had repented of their sins, Yah'shua gave Himself that His rebelious Bride may be forgiven, and cried out to His Father to forgive them.

While we were yet sinners ~ when we had done nothing BUT sin,every moment of our lives having been lived in idolatry ~ Yah'shua gave Himself to die so we could be forgiven. And af we will call out to Him, He will enable us to die to self and to forgive those who don't deserve it ~ to give them grace. And we can know that if we will die with Him, we will also be raised with Him :)

I can testify that Yah'shua's words are faithfull with this :) Forgiveness has meant freedom and healing from me ~ not for little things, but also BIG things. Elohim's taught me that I can't do it in my own strength ~ but its amazing to be able to turn to him after an emotional barage, and just ask him to enable (and give the faith) to forgive ~ and the healing and relief that comes from that :) The more He's been teaching and enabling (constant) forgiveness, the more freedom its meant around manipulative and controling people (especially when I'm falsely accused). Its something He's still walking with me with :) Forgiveness means freedom ~ and I never knew how much until Yah began to show and enable me myself to forgive.

Blessings,
Deb :)

Comment by Lev/Christopher on December 15, 2009 at 7:53pm: Forgiveness of others is mostly for us, not the one we are required by Yah'shua to forgive. It's the spiritual health of our own heart that Messiah is mostly interest in :)

Comment by DR on December 15, 2009 at 2:42pm: I had simply meant the power of Christ's crucifixion makes it easier for us to keep the commandments, so the death penalty has been abolished for those who choose to trust Him and live in a conquering lifestyle. :)

But that still doesn't mean that repentance isn't bitter if we violate His commandments or that they're any less serious . . . just that we are entitled to get back in the saddle if our heart is sincere. And because of that, a woman need not fear her husband abandoning her if he's a true Christian and she hasn't committed adultery -- because, through Christ, the nature of the relationship has changed from one that is entitled to "rights" to one that sacrifices for love.

That's what I mean by "those laws are relaxed" -- the fear that a woman can be divorced for ANY reason, which gives her more breathing room (as some Jews in Yehoshua's day believed you could divorce your wife for over-cooked food).

Comment by Yaacov on December 15, 2009 at 12:54pm: Deb,
forgiveness and consequences are not necessarily polar opposites. One can be forgiven, but still reap consequences. Furthermore, if there is no repentance, then the forgiveness accomplishes what?

Comment by Lev/Christopher on December 15, 2009 at 6:07am: " they have turned the Gospel into" should read " they have turned the Gospel into existentialism

Comment by Lev/Christopher on December 15, 2009 at 6:05am: I do not believe Yahweh has "relaxed" any laws - quite the contrary, His own divorce laws, hearkening back to Eden as you rightly pointed out, shows that He has tightened them up. Rather, we should be viewing Old Covenant Torah as the BASE LINE - the basic minimum - a series of markers so that we can know where we are in our spiritual life, from what we must repent, and how to be where we are supposed to be through the empowerment of Messiah. Torah is our map and our conscience - and yes, we need a written conscience until our own conscience becomes fully undefiled from sin. Alone it is not enough - Torah is the first witness, conscience the second - and when our conscience does not agree with Torah, we must default back to Torah. That's only common sense.

When antinomians and semi-antinomians tell me that the Ruach will always lead them to obey Yahweh's laws I am forced to give a wry smile because it has never fully worked like that - the only reason Torah appears "relaxed" to them is because they have themselves relaxed the requirements Yahweh has placed on themselves - in other words, they have turned the Gospel into . The theory sounds all very rosy but in practice it doesn't work like that.

I'll give you an illustration. There is a ministry in Asia that I have been supporting which has really impressed me. They are dedicated, sacrificing, and have learned to listen to the Ruch in evangelism. They are converting tens of thousands. They without a shadow of a doubt know how to "listen" to the Ruach. But they still celebrate Xmas and all the pagan nonsense. Why doesn't the Ruach "tell" them that it's wrong? Because they have no BASE LINE - they have rejected Torah. Were they following it, they would be observing the festivals, and then they would KNOW xmas is wrong. Without the base line of Torah they would never be told by the Ruach - Yahweh does not repeat Himself. Thus folks like you and me before we started obeying Torah (presently or formerly) had to rely on scholarly studies to persuade us.

Torah is the glass we drink the Ruach out of it. Knock the bottom out and you end up invetning your own gospel. Furthermore, you can't argue that the New Covenant has converted physical death penalties of the Torah into spiritual ones - the dead bodies of Annanias and Sapphira should be testimony enough of that - for lying against the Ruach - just because Yahweh isn't executing today doesn't mean that the penalty is no less serious or cancelled - it's simply been delayed or postponed. Yahweh views us as whole beings (Hebraic thinking) - not as two different physical/spiritual compartments (that's Western thinking) and we need to return to that mindset again. The difference between Old and New is that Yah'shua has become our punishment (including our death penalty) if we repent - those who don't remain under death penalty. So adultery is doubly serious. And yes, divorce is capital punishment, physically and spiritually. Yahweh says so and we'd be fools to deny it. That is why my teaching on divorce, sabbath observance, or any of the Torah pentalties for disobedience is not watered-down. I have no intention of trifling with Yahweh's Word - which is Yah'shua, Torah-in-the-flesh. Grace we have in abundance if we repent but it was never a licence for ANY degree of antinomianism.

Comment by DR on December 15, 2009 at 1:06am: divorce isn't capital punishment.

I was waxing allegorical. Although I don't think its too far off if we choose that analogy, as it would lead to spiritual death by forcing a wife to commit adultery. I definitely see Yehoshua's words in Matthew 19, when referring to allowing divorce due to the hardness of man's heart, as referring to the Mosaic dispensation and His viewpoints on marriage refer to the Messianic dispensation (which was foreshadowed in the Garden, a place where divorce never existed).

There's also a certain spiritual warfare aspect that I think changes the nature of the two covenants. For example, in the Old Covenant, we were under the bondage of Satan and thus Israel needed the Torah as a task master to keep them in line until the coming of Messiah (see Galatians 3:19-4:11). Under the New Covenant, we have freedom and access to Messiah and thus can conquer Satan, as we have died to the world's elemental spirits (see Colossians 2:8-23). For the demonized, unredeemed flesh, I can definitely see the need for the Old Covenant. But now that those laws are relaxed, there is a lot more freedom in the Spirit and we do not need all the "thou-shalt-nots", as obedience comes naturally as a result of our faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). For this reason and for other reasons which I think are clear from Scripture, the "harsh" laws, designed to control our flesh, are no longer needed as we can spiritually conquer them.

So, indeed, the husband in question can lovingly separate, I think, and trust Yahweh to work on her heart. The power is there, but it is her choice to access it. By being a loving encouragement to her, albeit from a distance, the husband can win her soul and I think that's the important thing here.

Comment by Deborah Peterson on December 14, 2009 at 11:53pm: With this, I think another question is if whether the wronged husband will seek the Heavenly Bridegroom he is Bride to enable him to forgive... Because otherwise, he himself is in rebellion to his Bridegroom who commanded that we forgive from our hearts (and to know if we won't forgive, neither will we be forgiven). In Truth if that husband chooses to hold on to his unforgiveness (and thus rebellion), he is reflecting the very thing he just saw the spiritual ugliness of demonstrated by his wife ~ he is choosing to take the wheel and commit mutiny against Yah'shua the Captain, his Heavenly Bridegroom, instead of seeking Him and His enabling, and choosing to submit to Him and to forgive...
Yah'shua is great enough to give him the Grace he needs to give.

Comment by Yaacov on December 14, 2009 at 1:09pm: divorce isn't capital punishment.

Comment by Lev/Christopher on December 14, 2009 at 11:59am: Though I agree the analogy is limited, if you insist on using it, then you put the first mate in a lifeboat and sail on without him - you don't make him walk the plank. Then, when the first mate has come to his senses, you pick him up again.

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