The permission of Moses to “put away” their wives was only allowed for the man to initiate the divorce Deut 24:1 “When a man…” God does not give further instruction to the ungodly woman who “committed sexual immorality” against her husband, vs. 2-4 (Jer 3:1).

When Paul says in Rom 7:1 “for I speak to those who know the law” he was referring to what he said next to these believing Jews… “that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives.” Paul goes on and states some simple truths that have dominion over another: “another law” vs. 23, “law of husband” vs. 2-3, “law of sin” vs. 7:23, 25 “law of God”, “I find a law that evil is present with me” vs. 21, “law of my mind” vs. 23, “law of Spirit” 8:2, “law of sin and death” vs.3 and briefly spoken of earlier the “law of faith” 3:26.

Paul uses a physical truth “For…” Rom 7:2 to bring a conclusion “Therefore…” Rom 7:3 to explain its spiritual truth Rom 7:4 “So…” how they are released from the Law of Moses to “come to another” and not to be an “adulteress”. So, the “law of the husband,” spoken by Paul in Rom 7:2-3 and 1 Cor 7:39 is not referring to the Law of Moses, but “another law” that has “dominion over” her. That was man had “rule over” his wife from the Law of God Gen 3:16. While she is “under her husband” Rom 7:2a (married to her husband) as long as he “lives” she is bound by this “law” (1 Cor 14:34).

Paul tells this to the Gentile and Jewish Church in 1 Cor 7:39 “A woman has been bound by law for as long a time as lives the husband of her, if but “sleeps” the husband of her, free she is to who she desires to be married, only in the Lord.” Which is further commanded of the Christian women, “Do not let a (godly living) widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man” 1 Tim 5:9. The “has been” in Greek shows once in her life time, or as long as a husband of her was still living.

1 Cor 7:10-11 all is wrapped up in this “command” by our “Lord” Jesus towards all Christians, “a woman is not to separate from her husband, if separated let her remain unmarried or reconcile with her husband.” And to the men, “a man is not to leave (some translations have dismiss) his wife”. These commands are for any reason or purpose. That is the general principle of marriage taught by Jesus Matt 19:6 let man not “separate” what God joined together .

The reason Paul uses the word “separate” towards the woman is the Jew’s (who knew the Law) knew the women did not have a right to `leave’ their husbands on account of `uncleanliness’ as the man did (this church was struggling with obeying commands in the Law of Moses 1 Cor 7:19 “circumcision,” and vs. 12-14 from the command of Ezra chap 9-10). The only `exception clause’ is said latter by Paul to the “rest” in vs. 15 giving Christians permission to separate, “If but the unbeliever separates, let be separated.” For they have “not been put into bondage” for the responsibility to remain married to these unbelievers to “save” them (1 Cor 7:16) but to let them go for `peace’ sake (for all “us” Christians are to strive to live in peace with unbelievers whenever possible).

Only the Law of Moses gave man permission to divorce his wife in Matt 19:9. Jesus did not give this permission to His follows only corrected the Law of Moses to the Pharisees and Scribes concerning “adultery”. For the carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can it be Rom 8:7. Jesus taught his followers, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so” Matt 19:8 and man is not to “separate what God has joined together”. For those living under the Law, divorce was permitted, but we have been given a “new heart” and a “new spirit” Eze 36:26 in Christ Jesus, and no longer live in the hardheartedness of sin Heb 3:8-13 to “put away” our wives, but “walk in the Spirit” to obey Christ in all righteousness.

We are commanded to be Holy as God is Holy. Jer 3:8, 9 He gives us His example of staying married when His wife Judah was unfaithful to Him (1 Cor 7:11b), and only divorcing Israel when she would not return to Him (1 Cor 7:15). We are not allowed to live according to the Law of Moses, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them” Gal 3:10.

As God has forgiven you, forgive others Matt 18:33 for the measure you use against others shall be used against you vs. 35.

Paul acknowledges Deut 24:1-4 by saying if a man “has been bound to a wife seek not to be loosed/released” in 1 Cor 7:27. Stating a man according to the Law (Deut 24:1) can divorce his wife for the case of sexual immorality but a Christian man should not “seek” this “permission” (though it would not be sexually immoral for him to do so). But if the man found himself divorced from his wife and “loosed or released” from her, according to scripture, then he may marry another while his wife was still living and this would not be considered “sin” 1 Cor 7:28.

Amen

-love you guys & gals

Michael Sayen

From the book “The Cure 4 Divorce” (title by Stratton Wells).

And help from a word by a friend, Adam (knowingly or unknowingly, I am not sure).

The longer version can be found at [...]
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