There is no universal consensus among Bible-believing Christians regarding divorce and remarriage. The following statement is not exhaustive but an attempt to summarize my understanding of Scripture concerning several common questions:

• What are the biblical grounds for divorce?
• What are the biblical grounds for remarriage?
• Is divorce for the purpose of marrying another ever justified?
• Does an unjustified remarriage constitute adultery?
• Does Scripture require a second divorce when an unjustified remarriage has occurred?

Marriage is a lifelong covenant established by God between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6). Consequently, adultery is not merely an unlawful sexual act but a repudiation of the covenant of exclusive fidelity established by God. Jesus’ teaching that one who looks with lust has already committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:27–28) reveals that the essence of adultery is covenant unfaithfulness, of which sexual immorality is the outward expression. This covenantal understanding of marriage provides the framework for understanding the biblical teaching on divorce and remarriage.

Therefore, a Christian may not divorce his or her spouse for the purpose of marrying another. Such a divorce violates God’s design for marriage and is not biblically justified.

Jesus teaches that when a person unlawfully divorces a spouse and marries another, the act of entering into that second marriage constitutes adultery because it violates the covenant of the first marriage (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11–12; Luke 16:18). His condemnation is directed toward both the unjustified divorce and the subsequent remarriage. While Scripture plainly identifies the remarriage as an adulterous act, it does not explicitly teach that the resulting marriage is a continual state of adultery requiring another divorce.

An unjustified divorce and subsequent remarriage are not unpardonable sins. Like every sin, they are subject to God’s grace through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9). While Jesus identifies an unlawful remarriage as an adulterous act because it violates the covenant of the first marriage, Scripture nowhere commands those in such marriages to dissolve the subsequent union. Rather, repentance requires confession of the sinful divorce and remarriage, not the creation of another divorce. Once a marriage has been established, the responsibility of husband and wife is to honor the covenant that now exists, seeking to glorify God through faithfulness and obedience.

Scripture permits, though never commands, divorce in limited circumstances:

• Sexual immorality (porneia), as taught by Jesus (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9).
• Abandonment by an unbelieving spouse, as taught by Paul (1 Corinthians 7:15).

Accordingly, remarriage is biblically permissible following:

• the death of a spouse (Romans 7:2–3; 1 Corinthians 7:39);
• a biblically justified divorce on the grounds of marital infidelity, the covenant-breaking act identified by Jesus (Matthew 19:9); or
• abandonment by an unbelieving spouse, because Paul’s statement that the believer is “not bound” (1 Corinthians 7:15) includes the freedom to remarry.

In every circumstance, God’s desire is reconciliation wherever genuine repentance and restoration remain possible. Divorce is never God’s ideal but a concession within a fallen world where the marriage covenant has been grievously violated. Every marriage should therefore be entered into reverently, nurtured faithfully, and preserved whenever possible. Decisions regarding divorce and remarriage should always be governed by the authority of Scripture and the grace of the gospel. –PGR