Is remarriage always adultery?
That’s the question Pastor Vlad Savchuk tackled in a recent teaching, diving deep into Scripture’s view on marriage, divorce and restoration. With divorce still prevalent despite declining rates, many believers wrestle with guilt and confusion over remarriage.
“Marriage is a lifelong commitment and many break their vows,” Savchuk said. “Divorce is painful. Even when necessary, it does mark the death of a relationship.”
Savchuk began by tracing the biblical framework starting in the Old Testament. “God’s original design for marriage was permanent,” he said, referencing Genesis 2:24–25. Yet in Deuteronomy 24:1, divorce was permitted because of “some uncleanness,” a term that sparked two opposing interpretations in Jesus’ day.
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“The Shammai… thought that some uncleanness refers only to moral reasons, like adultery or unfaithfulness,” he explained. “The second school of thought, Hillel… honestly for any reason, like a wife could have bad breath or bad cooking.”
Jesus aligned with the stricter view. “Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery,” Savchuk quoted from Matthew 19:9. He noted the disciples’ shocked reaction in the next verse: “It is better not to marry.”
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In cases of infidelity, Savchuk emphasized, “He doesn’t require it because… God divorces Israel for their unfaithfulness. Yet He asks them to repent… hoping for reconciliation and restoration.”
Turning to the apostle Paul, Savchuk quoted 1 Corinthians 7:10–11: “A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband.” He added, “That’s pretty straightforward. Pretty much, believers, don’t leave your spouse.”
However, Paul also recognized abandonment by an unbelieving spouse as valid grounds for divorce. “But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.”
Savchuk addressed abuse carefully. While not explicitly stated as a ground for divorce, he pointed to 1 Corinthians 7:15: “‘God has called us to peace,’ does suggest that separation may be necessary for safety.”
So when is remarriage not a sin?
Savchuk offered three biblical conditions: “If divorce happened because of adultery, the faithful spouse may remarry. If a spouse passed away, remarriage is allowed. If an unbeliever abandoned the marriage, the believer is free to remarry.”
He warned that remarriage without biblical grounds does carry serious consequences. “According to Matthew 19:9, if divorce occurs without biblical grounds, remarriage results in sin.”
Still, hope remains. “It is not an unpardonable sin,” Savchuk said. “Those who recognize their mistake and repent, can receive and should seek God’s forgiveness.”
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To those who’ve remarried outside biblical grounds, he advised, “Confess and repent before God. Do seek wise counsel and honor the current marriage covenant rather than breaking it again.”
Quoting 1 Samuel 12:20, he reminded believers: “‘You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on Him.’”
“Marriage is sacred,” Savchuk concluded. “Divorce should never be taken lightly… If someone has divorced and remarried wrongly, there is still grace. But we must recognize the gravity of God’s standards.”
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
