Many things are legal, but not moral, including adultery. Statistics show that over half of all first marriages end in divorce. Many times a divorce comes as a result of the couple’s inability to get along. In other words, they are selfish and unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices a marriage requires, so they end it (cp. Ephesians 5:22-33). The law of the land allows for divorce for any reason; often called “no-fault divorce.” While remarriage is unregulated altogether.
Such divorces and second or third (or more) marriages violate the will of God. The only reason God allows one to put away his or her spouse and marry another is unfaithfulness. Jesus said, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9).
The law may be loose on divorce and remarriage, but God is not. He established standards with consequences (Hebrews 13:4). Therefore, we see it may be legal to divorce and remarry at will, but it is not moral.
Steven F. Deaton
