Can God’s Law on Remarriage Change?
In this article, you will learn how Deuteronomy 24:4 contradicts Hosea 3:1, Jeremiah 3:1, Matthew 5:32 and 1 Corinthians 7:11. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
In Deuteronomy 24:4, we find a specific command regarding remarriage. When a man divorces his wife and she marries another man, the original husband is expressly forbidden from marrying her again after she leaves the second man. This law was designed to maintain the sanctity and purity of the land God had given to the Israelites. It was a clear-cut rule meant to prevent a cycle of marital swapping, which could cause societal instability.
However, as we move through the Bible, we encounter verses that seem to present a different perspective. In Hosea 3:1, God commands the prophet Hosea to reconcile and love his adulterous wife again, symbolizing God's unending love and eventual reconciliation with the Israelites despite their unfaithfulness. Here, the focus is on forgiveness and restoration, suggesting a deeper, divine intention beyond mere legal restrictions.
Similarly, in Jeremiah 3:1, we see God inviting Israel to return to Him, despite Israel's spiritual adultery. This invitation to reconciliation starkly contrasts with the marital restriction outlined in Deuteronomy, indicating a higher call for repentance and reconciliation.
Jesus, in Matthew 5:32, addresses divorce, adding grounds for divorce not specified in earlier laws, yet does not reiterate the exact remarriage restriction from Deuteronomy. His teaching shifts the focus to the spiritual intentions behind actions, not just legal adherence.
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7:11, encourages separated couples to reconcile if possible, emphasizing unity and forgiveness without defining specific limits like those in Deuteronomy.
These differences can seem like contradictions, but they may reflect the evolving understanding of love, forgiveness, and holiness. Like how a parent might amend house rules as children mature, scripture reveals God's heart more deeply over time. Isn't it possible that God's expectations grow as humanity's understanding matures?
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Deuteronomy 24:4 | Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that [is] abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance. |
| 2. | Hosea 3:1 | Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of [her] friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. [of wine: Heb. of grapes] |
| 3. | Jeremiah 3:1 | They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. [They say: Heb. Saying] |
| 4. | Matthew 5:32 | But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. |
| 5. | 1 Corinthians 7:11 | But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife. |