One Flesh One Covenant Part 3

03. The Exception Clause

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (part3)

Non-denominational 34%

Baptists 29%

“Born Again” 27%

Mainline Protestants 25%

Mormons 24%

Catholics 21%

Lutherans 21%

Atheists and Agnostics 21%

When we step back and look at the practice of divorce and remarriage in the Church today, it is hard to imagine that Jesus ever gave any prohibition against divorce and remarriage at all. Recent studies have indicated that the divorce rate among people who call themselves “born again” fares even worse than non-Christians, coming in at 27%. Catholics and atheists tie for the lowest divorce rate, averaging around 21%. 

A Quick Review

As was discussed in Part 1, Jesus’ prohibition against divorce and remarriage stemmed not so much from a new teaching about divorce, but rather from reinstating God’s original heart on marriage from the beginning. The basics of Jesus’ teaching on marriage can be summed up in His words, “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh” (Matt. 19:6).

When challenged by the Pharisees about when divorce might be permissible, Jesus attempted to change their entire way of thinking by informing them that, contrary to their understanding, a married couple no longer remained as two individuals that even could be split up— “they are no more twain, but one flesh.” The fundamental nature of this teaching is essentially that marriage, by definition, is actually a miracle from God, whereby two people are made into one indissoluble union.

In Part 2 we examined Jesus’ teachings on divorce, both with and without remarriage. We discussed that Jesus gave His teaching about divorce and remarriage from the standpoint of what constituted “adultery” in the eyes of God. Summarizing these teachings with their respective scriptures, Jesus taught:

• Divorcing a wife and marrying another is adultery

(Mark 19:11).

• Marrying someone who has been divorced is adultery

(Luke 16:18).

• Divorcing a spouse for any reason except for fornication is to be guilty of causing your spouse to commit adultery (Matt 5:32, 19:9).

Questions

Some questions that naturally come up when discussing Jesus’ challenging teaching on adultery in them light of divorce are questions such as: 

Why would I be held guilty of the sin of adultery if I have lawfully divorced my spouse and married someone else?

Why would I be committing adultery if I have never been married before but I marry a person who has been divorced from someone else who is still living?

Why is remarriage looked at so negatively in the New Testament scriptures?

The answer to all of these questions, simply put, is that Jesus taught that the marriage bond was indissoluble, outside of the death of a spouse. Therefore, any other union is considered adultery. No matter what we may do—be it to legally divorce, separate, or just plain don’t get along, nothing can separate the marriage union except death. As the Apostle Paul succinctly put it, “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:39).

Simple Words

The words of the Gospel concerning marriage and divorce are often seen today as culturally insensitive, irrelevant, or confusing. However, they are nonetheless conspicuously plain. The Gospel of Mark recorded, in very plain words, the teaching of Jesus concerning divorce followed by a subsequent remarriage as: 

“…Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery” (Mark 10: 10-12).

The Gospel of Luke also puts the teaching of Jesus in clear, simple words:

“Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away [divorced] from her husband committeth adultery” (Luke 16:17-18).

I would certainly agree that these scriptures are indeed out of fashion. However, they cannot be negated simply because they do not suit the cultural trend. Jesus taught that the marriage bond was permanent and because of that, remarriage is adultery. So why all the confusion today about divorce and remarriage?

When Did The Confusion Start?

The Gospel of Matthew contains a phrase that has opportunistically become more and more prominent throughout the passing centuries. The modern theologians refer to this phrase simply as “the exception clause.” It is this phrase that will be the focus of this article. During the Reformation, the Catholic theologian Erasmus, subsequently followed by Martin Luther and John Calvin, taught that Jesus’ strong prohibition against remarriage had one exception, and that was adultery. They claimed that Jesus allowed for remarriage when the reason for the divorce was adultery. This view, however helpful it may have seemed at the time, rendered the essence of Jesus’ “one flesh” teaching on marriage as conditional. Furthermore, it caused considerable difficulties in harmonizing the other Gospel accounts with the epistles of Paul.

What started out as a small “exception” or “loop-hole” in Jesus’ strong prohibition against divorce and remarriage, grew exponentially into the crisis situation we now face in the Church today. When it was first introduced during the time of the Reformation, the “exception” was considered valid only in the case of adultery. Later however, the “exception” expanded to include desertion, abuse, excommunication, and eventually verbal insults and incompatibility. Finally, the wholesale acceptance of “no-fault divorce” and “new-beginning remarriages” and all manner of special considerations has done well to bring about the complete dissolution of the very nature of what God intended marriage to be in the first place.

The Exception Clause 

Matthew records Jesus’ words spoken during the Sermon on the Mount as, 

“It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery” (Matt. 5:31-32).

Similarly, in the Matthew 19 passage, Jesus repeated the Sermon on the Mount teaching to the Pharisees saying,

“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away [divorced] doth commit adultery”

(Matt 19:9). 

The two phrases “saving for the cause of fornication” and, “except it be for fornication” are the scriptural texts from which the “exception clause” has derived.

Divorce Without Remarriage: A Closer Look

The primary mistake by some of these reformers, as well as by modern theologians, is that of sandwiching together the ethics of divorce with those of remarriage. When looked at apart from this unwarranted grouping, the challenging teachings of Jesus, as well as the firm teachings of Paul, harmonize beautifully.

The Matthew 5 Exception: The Sermon On The Mount

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was teaching through the Old Testament laws, and expanding them beyond mere outward obedience. For example, before the discussion on adultery, Jesus was teaching from the 6th Commandment, “Thou Shall Not Kill.” In this teaching He expanded the sin of “murder” to include hating a brother, or even calling someone hateful names. Next, when addressing the 7th Commandment against adultery,

Jesus added looking lustfully at a woman as “adultery,” and gave a few extreme examples, like plucking out your eye, to highlight the importance of dealing with this lust. Finally, in Matthew 5:32, Jesus added both divorce and also the act of remarriage to His list of those who would be considered guilty of the sin of adultery.

What is most significant about Matthew 5:32 to this current study, is that Jesus held the man guilty of adultery simply for divorcing his wife, even without remarriage. Jesus said that the man who divorces his wife actually shares in the guilt of the woman’s remarriage by causing his wife’s future adultery! Let’s read the passage again:

“whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery”(Matt 5:32).

In reference to the guilt of causing his wife’s adultery by sending her away, Jesus gave only one exception: “saving for the cause of fornication.” Why did Jesus grant this exception? It is very clear; the man was obviously not going to be held guilty of causing his wife to become an adulterer, if she was an adulterer already. 

Please take special note of this fact—because that is all the exception clause is saying. The only “exception” that was given here in Matt. 5:32 is from the guilt of causing a woman to commit adultery. It says absolutely nothing about an exception for remarriage. As Bible commentators Dale Allison and W. D. Davies state, “the question of freedom after lawful divorce is just not addressed, and we cannot wring from the text what it will not give” (International Critical Commentary, Edinburgh: T&T Clark). 

So again, what exactly is the “exception”? Jesus said the man is allowed this one reason to separate from his wife—sexual immorality. Remarriage is still not granted here—it is not even hinted at. Trying to make this “exception” in Matthew 5:32 apply to remarriage would be stretching this text to say something that it simply does not say. Jesus allows for separation, but not remarriage. This is the same teaching echoed by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife” (1 Cor. 7:10-11). [Note: There will be more on Paul’s writings in the next issue.] 

Marrying A Divorcee 

Concluding His loving instruction that marriage was permanent and that remarriage was always wrong, Jesus ended His entire teaching concerning those who will be held guilty of the sin of adultery by saying, “and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” This phrase stands, like all the other Gospel accounts, as a blanket prohibition against marrying a divorced person. Why? Again, even though a physical separation has occurred, the marriage bond remains intact. A very insightful Biblical example of this understanding that is worth mentioning is when Matthew and Mark refer to Herodias as “Philip’s wife,” even after she had divorced Philip and was married to Herod Antipas (Matt 14:3, Mark 6:17). 

Simple? It was for 1500 years; but unfortunately today, numerous teachers and centuries of inherited precedents have confused this simple teaching significantly. Even the NIV Bible has tried to “help” the situation by adding its own interpretative corrections. In Matthew 5:32b, the NIV reads, “and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.” But as Cornes points out, “There is nothing whatsoever in the Greek to make this connection. The Greek simply says, ‘And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery’” (Divorce and Remarriage, pg. 206). This statement, like all the other statements of Jesus on remarriage, simply says that to marry a person who has been married before is to be guilty of the sin of adultery. 

Jewish Betrothal 

Some conservative theologians who agree that remarriage is wrong, preserve the harmony of the Gospel accounts by drawing attention to the word “fornication,” used both in Matthew 5 and 19. (The NIV uses the words “marital unfaithfulness.”) Those supporting this “betrothal view” legitimately bring out that the word rendered here as “fornication” [porneia] could possibly indicate a word of lesser offense than the word “adultery” [moichao]. Because of this differentiation in the Greek, they deduce that the word “fornication,” as it is used in Matthew 5 and 19, must be something other than infidelity during a regular, lawful marriage. They suggest that this different use of the word “fornication” is given as a reference to pre-marital infidelity during a Jewish betrothal period. 

The advocates of the “betrothal view” point to the example of the courtship between Joseph and Mary (Matthew 1:18-25). They say that in the Jewish custom, the couple was considered “man and wife,” even though they have not yet come to live together. In this Jewish custom, if physical immorality was to occur during this time period, the man could divorce his “wife” and marry another, based on the fact that they were not actually married yet. With this in mind, it is said that the “exception clause” was given to allow for remarriage only if the “fornication” occurred during this betrothal period. Furthermore, they would say that the Matthew account was the only one mentioning this exception, simply because his Gospel was the only one written originally to a primarily Jewish audience. 

Although this view nicely harmonizes the Gospel accounts, I personally find it difficult to accept for the following reasons. First of all, to restrict the use of the imprecise word porneia to such an exacting definition as “betrothal period fornication,” when it is so commonly used in other places representing all kinds of sexual sins, from prostitution to incest, is questionable. Secondly, as a pastor, I find it difficult to counsel and make decisions on such important and potentially life changing issues, based upon a purported Jewish custom that cannot be explicitly stated or emphatically quoted from the Bible. Ancient Jewish records of manners and customs are impressive, but even the oldest documents are still literally hundreds of years separated from the time of Jesus. 

And finally, and most importantly, I find the use of the “betrothal view” unnecessary. When divorce and remarriage is examined in light of the clear passages of the Gospels, as well as the writings of the early Church, the prohibition against remarriage does not hang on the exact syntax of the word fornication (porneia). The word is still important of course. However, the need to overly scrutinize every nuance of the word “fornication” becomes superfluous. Nevertheless, I say this carefully, not wanting to dismiss the “betrothal view” altogether. 

The Matthew 19 Account 

In Matthew 19 the language is more ambiguous than in Matthew 5, but the meaning is still the same: 

“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, [divorce] except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away [divorced] doth commit adultery.”

The difficulty with this passage is that the placement of the “exception clause” in the original Greek allows it to be read in two different ways. You can read it as the early Church read it, and that is to harmonize it with the Matthew 5:32 account as an exception to the guilt of adultery for divorcing an adulterous wife. With this view, the scripture reads just like Matthew 5, including its blanket prohibition against remarriage. 

On the other hand, the construction of the Greek will permit that it can be read, as the modern theologians have read it since Erasmus, as an exception to both the sin of divorce and the right of remarriage. Advocates of this view, like J. Murray, admit that the passage can be read in more than one way. Surprisingly, even Murray, who sides with the modern view, acknowledges that the early Christian view “does in itself make good sense and would solve a great many difficulties in …the accounts given in the three Synoptic Gospels” (ibid. 219). 

How does one decide which view they like best; or more importantly, how does one discern which is right? Which method of interpretation should be used to arrive at our conclusion? Should we consider the surrounding context and similar passages? Should we research the original Greek? Should a historical witness ever bear any weight of consideration? Perhaps we would do well to consider all three. 

A Look At The Context 

The fundamental principle of scriptural interpretation is that scripture is the best interpreter of scripture. Ambiguous passages ought to be compared with clear passages that speak on the same subject. When applying this approach, we would take into consideration the emphatic prohibition against remarriage found in Mark 19:11, Luke 16:17-18, Romans 7:1-3, and 1 Cor. 7: 10-11, 39. In this case, it would be illogical not to lean the interpretation toward the early Christian view. 

Also, considering the immediate context, the response of the Apostles following this scripture in the next verse is revealing. Their response was one of shock and amazement. They cried, “If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.” Surprisingly, instead of consoling the Apostles by reminding them of any “exceptions” which would allow them to remarry, Jesus went on into a discussion telling them that at times men will be called on to become eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven! (Matthew 19:10-12) 

Examining The Greek 

Jacques Dupont, speaking on a Greek exegesis of Matthew 19:9 states: 

There is only one way of understanding the syntax of 19:9: it is a double conditional clause in which an elliptical phrase is placed immediately after the first condition, ‘to put away’. The elliptical phrase, ‘except for immorality’, does not contain a verb, and one must be supplied from the context. The only verb that has been stated for the reader to understand is the one immediately preceding the “exception clause”—‘put away’—the verb Matthew’s readers just passed over. Matthew 19:9 would then be read: “if a man puts away his wife, if it is not for immorality that he puts her away, and marries another, he commits adultery” (Mariage’ et divorce, 102-3). 

Dupont says that the “exception clause” is grammatically connected to the phrase before it and simply acts as a parenthetical clarification to the original question asked by the Pharisees: ‘is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?’ Therefore, just like in Matthew 5:32 the exception is from the guilt of divorcing a woman who is already an adulterer. Summing up the Greek approach and surrounding context, Heth and Wenham in their book “Jesus and Divorce” conclude: 

When Matthew 19:9 is analyzed into its constituent parts, the ambiguity disappears and it makes a fitting punch line to the dispute with the Pharisees. They asked: ‘is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?’ Jesus replies: ‘it is always wrong to divorce what God has joined together: what is more, divorce, except for unchastity, is adulterous; and remarriage after divorce is always so’. Naturally the disciples object: ‘if the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.’ Unabashed, Jesus replies in a vein reminiscent of His remarks about cutting off hand or eye to avoid committing adultery (5:29-30) ‘You are able to live up to this teaching, for there are some who are even able to become eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven.’ (pg 71-72) 

Historical Consideration 

Drawing from a historical interpretation, the early Church would have unanimously understood the exception to be dealing only with divorce—not remarriage. There was no significant change to this view for the first 1,500 years of the Church! (Note: In a future issue, a historical look at divorce and remarriage will be examined in greater detail.) 

An Example 

When considered outside of such a hot topic as divorce and remarriage, it is much easier to follow the mode of speech used by Jesus in Matthew 19:9. Consider for a moment a limited analogy, taking the 6th Commandment dealing with anger and murder in Matt 5:22, in place of the controversial 7th Commandment, dealing with adultery and divorce found in Matt 5:32. The following scripture quotes will be an inference to the corresponding verses dealing with divorce and remarriage.

• Anyone who is angry with his brother, unless it is for a just cause, has committed a sin (Matthew 5:32a).

• Anyone who is angry with his brother and kills him, has committed a sin (Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18a).

• Anyone who has killed his brother after being angry with him, has committed a sin (Matt 5:32b 19:9b and Luke 16:18b).

• Anyone who is angry with his brother, unless it is for a just cause, and kills him, has committed a sin (Matthew19:9).

In the last example, I do not believe anyone would find it difficult to make the “exception clause” apply to the first part of the phrase and not the second. Likewise, in conclusion,

I sustain that in the time of Christ and the Apostles, continuing on into the early Church, the “exception clause” of Matthew 5 and 19 would have applied just as naturally to separation and not to remarriage as it would for us today in the analogy above.

Summary

In this issue we reviewed the teaching of Jesus about the essence of marriage, noting that Jesus taught that marriage was an indissoluble union. 

Next we reviewed Jesus’ teaching on adultery, noting that Jesus added remarriage to His list of what He considered adultery. On this point we also saw that even divorce, itself, without remarriage would make a person guilty of their spouses’ adultery—unless, of course, their spouse was already an adulterer. 

Finally, we looked at the “exception clause” found in Matthew 5 and 19, and suggested that the “exception clause” was only an exception from the guilt of causing a spouse to commit adultery—when the basis for the divorce was adultery. We asserted that we believe that this was not an exception granting the right to remarry. In addition, we stated that all the Gospel accounts are in agreement, and that they give an overriding prohibition against all remarriage. 

As the modern Church has drifted so far from this ancient teaching, the sight of such a far-off resolve can seem almost a fantasy. Many Christians may find themselves in situations which seem hopeless; or they may feel there are no answers to their discouraging situations. And as we said before, once many of these truths are realized, people or churches may differ as to how to deal with each case. However, I think it has been proven well enough through the centuries that turning a blind eye and ignoring the situation has only made matters worse. The first step toward recovering lost ground is to come to grips with the words of Christ, Himself—to truly take Him at His Word, by faith. After that…remember, 

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).

Written by Dean Taylor

Do We Love Our Friend God's Way

"Nothing is so cruel as the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer


If we saw our friend teetering on the edge of a bridge, ready to jump because they were just tired of life and wanted desperately to find a way out, what would we do?


Would we stand from a distance and say, "well, whatever makes you happy." Or would we rush over to them to snatch them from the railing while at the same time attempting to reason with them to reconsider their decision that could ruin them?


As believers, when we deeply care about another believer, we evaluate their actions in light of God's heart. We may ask them the question, "what could the consequences be if you disobey the Words of the Lord." God is a patient God but not indefinitely. He gives us every chance to hear Him so that we can be snatched from our own foolishness. He desires that we make our own decision to repent and trust His ways to glorify Him. When we refuse to be reasoned with and obey Him, then He allows the natural consequences of our actions.


When we refuse to warn a friend of the consequences of their actions against God, we are ultimately responsible before God for not loving them. When our concern is more about the feelings for the moment, it is only ourselves that we are protecting. We don't want to be disliked by our friend or others who are watching, so we watch our friend slide into the abyss without our protest and then we later become disgusted with them for their choices, even though we remained silent before they made their final choice.


Our American style love is not love at all. The only way to discover God's Love, is to read His Word, ask for His discernment and then actually obey what He has told us. Then we will know true love, the love that Christ had for us, when He was mocked and scourged for bringing the truth. Are we willing to be mocked and scourged on the chance that we may help snatch someone from the fire and bring them the vehicle that will save them. Christ is the answer and His principles are contained in the Bible, for every situation.


When we refuse to pray, search His Word or confess his sin, then we know that God will bring consequences in order to catch our attention. He wants a broken and contrite heart. Until there is brokenness over sin, there can be no growth, but we can be sure that there will be continued backsliding.


Let's seek Him now, while there is still time!

The Attacks of Satan

http://www.radiofreechurch.com/speaker_display/1?topic=42

Choosing A Marriage Partner

I had the privilege of visiting with a young man from India this week. He said that he had been married four years this next May. I asked him which day in May and he told me the date. His anniversary date is the day before ours in the same month. That was interesting, but the most interesting part of the conversation was how he found his wife, or should I say, had his wife presented to him.

He said to me that his father chose his wife for him, using the Word of God as his criteria for his choice. The young woman was chosen on the basis of her relationship with Christ. She was required to be a believer and walking with the Lord to be considered for marriage with the father’s son.

So often we as Americans think that something is terribly wrong when a parent “interferes” with the choice a child has made in a mate. Not only are we expected not to interfere, but we are chided and ridiculed if we make suggestions to our children as to the character of the person being considered.

American children choose their own spouses on the basis of “emotional love” not character, or for beauty or money, anything but character. To evaluate ones character is called “judging” an intolerable word these days to most.

Because our culture is brain washed into the mindset of “not judging” we have frightened ourselves into never correcting the youthful thinking that so dominates our society. We allow the youth to think silly things, so as not to harm their confidence or self esteem. They do not learn simple social graces and kindnesses because they are taught that whatever they do is alright as long as they like it.

This thinking has led to parents neglecting to evaluate a potential partner and if a problem is encountered we are expected to withhold our comments. If we do obey God and attempt to instruct we are chastised for it.

Has this worked for us?

I think not!

Fifty years ago it was the wicked fringe element that lived together in sin without the benefit of marriage. No one we knew was doing such a thing. There were those who were living in sin, but not many and never in the church.

Now we have most young people living together before they are married if they ever get married. We have babies being born out of wedlock more often than in marriage and millions of babies have been killed by abortion.

The divorce rate is off the charts, while the children are being brought up in single parent homes.

This is what all this tolerance has done for us. It has caused children to be abandoned, abused and aborted at an alarming rate.

Child abuse has escalated out of control; most of the perpetrators are the non-biological parents or live in lovers.

The young people of today have no concept of commitment to anything or anybody. Their idea of happiness is to eliminate anyone who causes them to have to sacrifice for them. Just “delete” them when we don’t like what they ask of us.

We need to ask ourselves what we have gained by all this selfishness and immorality. In our country the parents have stayed out of the way in the choice of the spouses of their children, did this bring greater stability for marriages and children? The answer is no, our families are a mess and getting worse all the time.

What we have in our culture now is proof that the young people were not mature or capable enough to choose their own spouse without the benefit of counsel.

What we have now if proof that without parental involvement in the choice of a spouse, young people lack the wisdom of life long experience in discerning the character of a person.

Not only have we abandoned the old world ways of preparing for marriage with the help of our parents, we do not consult God for His guidance on choosing a mate for life.

We have a mess but we don’t’ evaluate what we created or change anything. It reminds me of the saying. “The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again expecting a different result.” Albert Einstein.

Did living together first, as the seventies crowd proclaimed, make a better marriage or successful relationship? The divorce rate among those who live together first is higher than those who do not. This is because when we live together first we are displaying a non-committal attitude; it is that attitude that destroys marriage and all relationships. The “bail out when it gets rough” mentality is no way to start any relationship.

The Biblical standard for marriage never leaves out the parental involvement of the children contemplating marriage. We have left the Biblical standard in the dust and are experiencing the consequences today for that foolishness.

The only hope for our country is for our culture to repent of abandoning God’s principles and begin to hold up the standard once again. This is a hard road because we parents will have to stand firm and even be rejected for our dedication to the Word of God. It is God’s approval we seek, if we love Him.

When Righteousness Is Mocked Everyone Suffers

"Do not be conformed to this world.... Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Romans 12:2, 9


"You love evil more than good...." Psalm 52:3

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness....

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,

And prudent in their own sight!" Isaiah 5:20-21

"...you have polluted the land with your harlotries and your wickedness.

Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain.

You have had a harlot’s forehead; You refuse to be ashamed." Isaiah 3:2-3

"How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame?

How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?" Psalm 4:2-3

"All those who hate me love death.” Proverb 8:36

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17

"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. " 2 Timothy 2:22-23



"He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,

He who despises the gain of oppressions,

Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes,

Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed,

And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:

He will dwell on high;

His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks...." Isaiah 33:15

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

“Hear now, O heads of Jacob, and you rulers of the house of Israel:

Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil..." Micah 3:1-2

“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land:

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power;

And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" Jeremiah 5:30-31

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24

“But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you." John 5:42

"You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?" Galatians 5:6-7

"... who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed." 1 Peter 3:13-16



“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge....

I have called and you refused,

I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,

When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind,

When distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

And be filled to the full with their own fancies." Proverb 1:8-31

"A scoffer does not love one who corrects him..." Proverb 15:12



“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’" Matthew 23:6-7



“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:11-14



"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:9-10



"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." James 1:12-15



“He who would love life and see good days,

Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

Let him turn away from evil and do good;

Let him seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:10-17



"Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you." 1 John 3:10



“...you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent." Revelation 2:3-6



"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:19-20



"Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things..." 2 Timothy 4:2-5

“...the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets... saying, 'Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes....

"Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks.... And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God... and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.

“Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight." 2 Kings 17:13-20



“Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. ...they did not fear the Lord; therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them." 2 Kings 17:24-25



"...every nation continued to make gods of its own.... They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away." 2 Kings 17:29, 33



"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17

Repentance and Forgiveness God's Way

Recently a thought has been nagging at me. I have been taught in our American Christian culture that forgiveness was to be extended even if the sinner was not sorry or repentant in any way. This tormented me because I was not seeing this principle in Scripture. I prayed and prayed as I sought an answer to this problem. Then I searched the Scriptures and the internet for verses and articles or books that would address another viewpoint than those that we have all been raised with for the last fifty years. The Lord had been telling me that what I was encountering in our culture was not forgiveness at all but human tradition.


Why was I so frustrated at the easy flippant form of forgiveness that I was experiencing all around me? I guess the reason was because I was not seeing it lead to greater holiness in the sinner or the forgiver. The one who carried out the sin felt nothing, they did not stop their sinning and there was no reconciliation for the tattered relationship. There wasn't any recompense for destroyed things or for attitudes. In other words, the idea of forgiveness was expressed in words, thrown into the air landing on nothing. They were empty words accomplishing little if even the base effect of relationship restoration. The offender was completely unaware of their own attitudes and the victim was left attempting to pretend friendliness to someone who was not sorry for their offense and would likely repeat the same offense again.

It has become considered rude in our culture to correct or rebuke someone no matter how wicked the actions may be. In the original languages of the Bible "rebuke" is a very strong word. Its effect can be one of restoration of a relationship, although this is rare in our culture, but it can cause greater holiness in both the victim and the offender. When there is repentance and then forgiveness extended, there is more likely a restored and intimate relationship with the parties involved. When we do not follow the scriptural mandates to go to those who have offended us and for those who have offended to repent, then we short-circuit the process of growth and the restoration of the relationship.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood the principles of God's way of restoring a relationship, not only our relationship to God but also to our fellow man. Mr. Bonhoeffer said:

"Nothing is so cruel as the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin."

When our Lord said on the cross, "Father forgive them." He was not asking for forgiveness for those who were not repentant, but desiring to extend forgiveness to anyone who would repent. We try to do away with the step of repentance in our culture, and because of this the neither the offended nor the offender grow and become stronger. When the offended must approach a sinner with their offense, they become stronger in the Lord, more concerned about the well being of the offender than about their own feelings. When the offender repents, they become more concerned also about the needs and desires of the person they have harmed than about their own desires. There is a growing process involved in the whole matter of relationship restoration.

We are a fast food culture; we want the problem to be solved quickly instead of waiting on the Lord to change a heart. We do not like to do difficult things that make us uncomfortable. Have we noticed that fast food has made us fat and lazy; it is no different with relationships. We are obsessed with our own comfort rather than deeply concerned about the spiritual well being of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We no longer challenge anyone to greater holiness or a better job well done, as long as they and we feel good. What a terrible disservice we have perpetrated on our fellow man, to place their happiness and pleasure above their ultimate relationship with a Holy God and with their neighbor.

Proverbs 27:14 says, “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.”

Have we forgotten Scriptures that say, "My brethren count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience? But let patience have its perfect work, that you may perfect and complete lacking nothing." James 1:1-4

Proverbs 27:6 says “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

God says that “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

When we find someone who is defensive about their sin, and runs and hides from those who would care deeply enough to expose it, then we have our clue about the guilt that plagues that person and the pride that dominates their very being.

God warns us that, “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayers shall be an abomination.” Proverbs 28:9

Let us look to the Word of God for our advice and practice, rather than our culture. Next time we are challenged to do something in a certain traditional way, let’s ask, why do we do it that way and where does that idea come from. Then go to God’s Word and search the matter out to find out what God thinks about it.








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