a 365 day trip through Matthew with a key thought, prayer, focus verse and contextual verses for each day
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You flood the LORD’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.You ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel.
Malachi 2:13-16
"I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Matthew 19:9
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 |
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February 26
Divorce! - Matthew 5:31-32
“It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written divorce paper.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife forces her to be guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if she has sexual relations with another man. And anyone who marries that divorced woman is guilty of adultery."
Full Text
Key Thought
The prophet Malachi said it forcefully, "God hates divorce!" Jesus' words here are equally emphatic. Jesus' condemnation is specifically directed to men because they were the only ones in Jewish culture at this time that could divorce a marriage partner. A woman was left with few options other than remarriage or poverty.
While God hates divorce, Jesus' ministry demonstrates God's love for those broken by it (cf. John 4). In fact, God hates divorce because of the brokenness it creates in the lives of those involved and the loss of character in one or both parties that often causes divorce. Because of their love for God, husbands and wives have as their goal two key things: (1) loving each other and (2) learning faithfulness through their relationship with each other. By pursuing a loving relationship and remaining faithful sexually, they are guarding themselves against divorce and honoring God by maintaining their covenant with him and with each other. In an age where promiscuity and sexual indiscretion runs rampant, we must heed the call to sexual purity and loving commitment so that divorce can be prevented and its devastation avoided.
Today's Prayer
Holy and faithful God, please help me keep my heart loyal and true. I want to be a person of character. Empower me by your Spirit to stay free of sexual sin and to be faithful in the commitments I make. Holy God, I pray that you not only keep me from divorce, but that you lead me to a life of loving service with my marriage partner. In addition, dear Father, please strengthen and bless those that I know are in marriage distress and ransom their marriage from impending divorce. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses with Jesus
(key verses in bold)
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not
be guilty of adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that if anyone
looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind
he has already done that sin with the woman.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw
it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have
your whole body thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes
you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose
one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
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31 “It was also said, ‘Anyone
who divorces his wife must give her a written divorce paper.’
32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife forces her to
be guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his
wife is if she has sexual relations with another man. And anyone
who marries that divorced woman is guilty of adultery.
31 “It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife
must give her a written divorce paper.’ 32 But I tell you
that anyone who divorces his wife forces her to be guilty of
adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if
she has sexual relations with another man. And anyone who
marries that divorced woman is guilty of adultery.
“You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘Don’t
break your promises, but keep the promises you make to the Lord.’
34 But I tell you, never swear an oath. Don’t swear an oath
using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne.
35 Don’t swear an oath using the name of the earth,
because the earth belongs to God. Don’t swear an oath using
the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great
King. 36 Don’t even swear by your own head, because you
cannot make one hair on your head become white or black. 37 Say
only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more
than yes or no, it is from the Evil One.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
Used by permission.
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