Having previously considered the Old Testament word for divorce, כְּרִיתוּת (k’rithuth), which means “cutting off,” let us now consider the New Testament word for divorce. The word contributes in a fascinating way to a mature understanding of divorce’s devastating nature.

Jesus mentioned divorce specifically on two different occasions. The first was in the Sermon on the Mount, while discussing adultery and violations of the seventh commandment. The second occasion was when He was specifically asked about divorce, as recorded in Matthew 19:3–12; the parallel passage describes the same conversation which is recorded in Mark 10:2–12. In both accounts, the same Greek word is used to describe divorce.

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5)

In His sermon given upon a hillside in Galilee, Jesus had these words to say on the topic of divorce. “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” (Matthew 5:31–32).

At another time, we will examine carefully what Jesus meant in Matthew 5 when He said “for the cause of fornication.” We will address many of the delicate questions that arise from that discussion. However, for now, our focus is only on the word divorcement.

Jesus carefully used the Greek word ἀποστάσιον (apostasion), the word from which we derive our word apostasy. The word comes from a verbal root that can be variously rendered “to stand aloof, to stand away from, to desert, to withdraw” and “to fall away.” A writing of divorcement is a writing of apostasy. Just as theological apostasy (the normal use of the term) means to fall away from the orthodox truth into error and heresy, so also marital apostasy is to fall away from the covenant and, thus, into covenant-breaking.

The Specific Question on Divorce (Matthew 19 and Mark 10)

“The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” According to Matthew 19:3, the Pharisees were specifically hoping to force Jesus to misspeak. As so often with questions raised concerning marriage and divorce, the motivation behind the questions are selfish. However, Jesus would not be distracted in His answer.

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4-6).

Furthermore, according to Matthew 19:7–9, “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 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 doth commit adultery.”

Following the example of Jesus, we also should not be distracted by selfish and devious questions about divorce. Jesus presented divorce for what it is—apostasy, the falling away from God’s design.

When we are confronted with similarly difficult or complex questions, may God give us the grace and courage to instead focus on the simple truths that Jesus our Lord emphasized and taught.