The word “except” (ĕan, also translated “unless” and “if”) is a conditional particle. It presents a condition which must be met to bring about its explicitly stated or necessarily implied effect. If the condition is met, then the result occurs. For example, Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless (ĕan, except, ASV) your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Therefore, we conclude that if our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we will enter the kingdom of heaven. Otherwise, we will not.
Seems simple enough, right? When the exception is present, its result is realized. Let’s make some applications.
First, entering the kingdom of God. “Unless (ĕan) one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Therefore, without being born of water and the Spirit (baptized by the direction of the Spirit’s word) a person does not enter the kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:26). He has not been born again, and is lost in sin (John 3:3).
Second, repentance. “I tell you, no; but unless (ĕan) you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). One remains lost in sin unless he repents.
Third, forgiveness. “For if (ĕan) you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if (ĕan) you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14–15). When we forgive, we will be forgiven — and, of course, the reverse is true.
Fourth, marriage is for life, but death frees one to remarry. “For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if (ĕan) the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if (ĕan), while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if (ĕan) her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man” (Romans 7:2–3). The lifelong nature of law is illustrated by marriage (Romans 7:1, 4-6). If one dies, then the survivor is “released from the law of the husband” and is free to remarry without sin. But, to marry another person while one’s spouse lives is adultery. This should impress everyone with the seriousness of carefully choosing one’s marriage partner. Marriage is a lifelong commitment in which each one is accountable to God.
5. Approved remarriage. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except (ĕan) for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9). When one does not divorce a spouse “for sexual immorality” (the cause of “fornication,” ASV) and marries another person, he commits adultery. When one divorces a spouse for the cause of fornication, then he (or she) is free to remarry without committing adultery in the remarriage. One person has the right to remarry. No remarriage is allowed when the marriage does not end for the cause of fornication.
Jesus affirmed God’s rule for marriage “from the beginning of the creation” as one man and one woman for life (Mark 10:6; Matthew 19:4-6). When pressed that Moses commanded divorce, He explained that Moses permitted it (the contingencies were given in the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), but “from the beginning” God’s purpose was not for men to put away their wives (Matthew 19:7-8). Having dealt with Moses, Jesus then pronounced His authoritative will on the matter (Matthew 19:9).
Some brethren do not wish to apply Christ’s restriction on divorce and remarriage today. They say He was teaching Jews the Law of Moses. But, the context of Matthew 19:3-12 makes it clear that was not the case. He pronounced His will on the matter after correcting a mistaken impression about Moses. What Jesus taught is now binding on all whom God joins together in marriage.
A few people would nullify the exception clause of Matthew 19:9 because it is not found in Mark and Luke (Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18). They would tell all divorced people, including those who have followed the exception in Matthew 19:9, that they must separate. But, truth spoken once is true. The synoptic gospels often supply more information as well as omit certain details found in the others. That the exception is not in all three gospels does not negate its credibility.
Christ’s exception does not contradict or invalidate Romans 7:2-3. Jesus Himself said marriage is for life (Matthew 19:3-6; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11). He gave one exception that allows one party in a marriage to divorce and marry another without committing adultery (Matthew 19:9). That condition, “for fornication,” stands today. To remove it is to bind where God has not bound.
We must neither refuse the Christ-given exception for divorce and remarriage, nor broaden it to include other reasons for ending a marriage. We must be careful not to go beyond the doctrine of Christ, as well as not preventing souls from fully applying revealed truth. We do this by respecting God’s exceptions and not inserting our own.
Joe R. Price