We will take a short break from Isaiah for a while, and go back to Matthew. We start with a nice easy subject, divorce!
As was their habit, the Pharisees tried to trip Jesus up with a question about divorce. There is nothing new about people asking questions not in order to learn the truth, but to find an excuse to criticise the respondent. This happened many times to Jesus, and He always managed to turn the tables back on His questioners. So we should take heart from this and ask the Spirit to give us wisdom.
Now some people use Jesus' words here and elsewhere as grounds for saying that there should be no divorce except for adultery, and that it is wrong to remarry in any circumstances. However, I believe we need to look at the background to the question.
Behind the question was the fact that there were two schools of teaching on divorce. One was ultra strict, saying that there should be virtually no divorce at all, the other was ultra lax, allowing a man to divorce his wife for burning the toast.
So I believe Jesus is addressing this ultra lax school of thought and attacking their hypocrisy. For what they did if they fancied another woman was to find some excuse to divorce their current wife, marry the new one, and claim they were acting in accordance with the Law and were a very good Jew, thank you very much. Jesus is saying that this is nonsense, they were not being a good Jew at all, but an adulterer, no matter how they sought to dress up the matter.
Jesus points them right back to Genesis. Divorce should never happen. However, because we are evil there are times when it is the least worst option. That is why the Law allowed divorce. Not because divorce was a good lifestyle choice, but because sometimes, sadly, it is necessary. We should view divorce like having an arm or a leg amputated. Amputation is never a good thing in itself, but sometimes it is the only thing to do. Having said that, the high divorce rate is a clear symptom that something is wrong with society.
We need to beware of legalistic interpretations here as they so easily lead to unrighteousness, hurt for people, and downright nonsense. The "get a new wife" scheme is an example of unrighteousness. I do not think we should treat Jesus' words as saying adultery is the only legitimate grounds for divorce. If a husband or wife is being abused by the other partner, then divorce may be the only action. To say otherwise may cause great harm (emotional and physical) and is not fulfilling the will of God. At the same time, if a partner does commit adultery it does not mean that divorce has to happen. There can be cases where grace and mercy can lead to a reestablishment of the relationship, but it is entirely up to the individual to choose this path, no one has the right to impose it upon them.
Remarriage is not mentioned directly here. However, I side with those who say that in Jewish culture divorce automatically included the possibility of remarriage. So if divorce is permitted, then remarriage cannot be ruled out.
We need to remember that in all this Jesus is pointing back to the basic principle that marriage is for life. Divorce and remarriage are a product of the fall. If we read this and see it as an excuse to get remarried we have missed the point entirely.
The disciples were taken aback by Jesus teaching, seeming to think that lifelong marriage is a very dodgy business. Jesus then speaks about not getting married at all. Sometimes in churches we place too much emphasis on marriage, giving the impression that to live a fulfilled life you have to get married. This is nonsense. The most fulfilled and successful human being in history (Jesus) was not married. The most effective apostle (Paul) was not married. To freely chose to remain single for the sake of the kingdom is a good and noble thing to do. At the same time there are those who will not get married, not through a direct choice, but through circumstances it just never happened, or could not happen. If this is you, you can still live a fulfilled life.
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