Divorce is not new. It has been around since antiquity and continues to be a part of life. It is a tough and sensitive issue, and how we deal with those who are experiencing or have experienced divorce matters. It is our responsibility to understand how Christ saw divorce and show both grace and truth just as he did.

Although God hates divorce and intended marriage to be permanent, he allowed it because of the hard-heartedness of the people. The laws regarding divorce protected the wife, who was most vulnerable (Deut. 24:1 and Exod. 21:10-11). These protections were far better than those of any other nation at that time. Although these laws called out sexual immorality and provisions for food, clothing and marital rights, by the time of Jesus the Hillelite group of pharisees had created an “any cause” divorce that allowed divorce for “any cause.”

This is what Jesus is addressing both here and in Matthew 19. When confronted (Mt. 19), Jesus doesn’t just answer the question. He gets to the heart of the matter first and emphasizes God’s desire for marriage. Jesus always wants to get to the heart of an issue, to correct wrong understanding and to forgive and lift up people. In doing this, he shows both grace and truth. Just as with the woman at the well or the woman caught in adultery, Jesus can confront sin and then call to discipleship. Jesus was the master of grace and truth. We must constantly try and live out both concepts fully in our lives and to those we minister to. When faced with tough issues, specially like divorce, let’s learn from Jesus and let him model the way for us.