Dear Minister: I recently found out that my wife has cheated on me. Should I try to work things out with her or just go ahead and divorce her?
– Ready to Quit in Cape May
Answer: It is very understandable that you might feel ready to throw in the towel on your marriage. And you do have biblical grounds for divorcing your wife.
In Matthew Chapter 19 we read that some Pharisees came to Jesus to test him. They asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” Jesus replied, “At the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
To emphasize his point, Jesus added this – “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Sadly, your marriage now meets that biblical exception for divorce.
However, it should be noted that having biblical grounds for divorce does not equal a biblical command for divorce when adultery has been committed. Many couples have chosen to work through the painful reality of infidelity and have successfully restored and repaired their broken marriage to a level of love and commitment that is now stronger than ever.
Perhaps you are familiar with the old saying that – To err is human and to forgive is divine. It is only through God’s grace – divine intervention – that damaged relationships can be restored.
As Jesus reminded us in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I pray that God will make a way for you and your wife to restore your marriage and love for one another through his grace and mercy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steve Rahter – Pastor
Praise Tabernacle
Egg Harbor Township
