Malachi 2:10-16 God says : “I hate divorce!”

Malachi 2:10-16

God says :“I hate divorce!”

Unique Features

1. There is more of God’s speech in Malachi than in other of the prophetic books. Of its 55 verses, 47 (that is, 85%) are the direct words of God.

Unique Features

1. There is more of God’s speech in Malachi than in other of the prophetic books. Of its 55 verses, 47 (that is, 85%) are the direct words of God.

2. It is unusual in that Malachi is the one prophet who had dialogues with people.

Unique Features

2. It is unusual in that Malachi is the one prophet who had dialogues with people.

So the prophecy takes the form of sharp exchanges between the prophet and the people. On 12 occasions, he said, “But you ask ..” – implying interruption of one sort or another.

Unique Features

3. This is God’s last message to them until the coming of Jesus Christ 400 years later.

Unique Features

3. This is God’s last message to them until the coming of Jesus Christ 400 years later.

Malachi 4:6 “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Actually, God’s last (written) word to His people are :

Revelation 22:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”

Background of Malachi• Written 100 years after the return of

Judah from exile.• Jerusalem was still relatively deserted

and the farmland largely barren and uncultivated.

• The temple was small compared to that built by Solomon.

• Judah simply comprised of a small hill town and some surrounding villages.

Background of Malachi• For God’s people in Malachi’s time,

their religion had become a formality – a ritual without true faith.

Background of Malachi• For God’s people in Malachi’s time, their

religion had become a formality – a ritual without true faith.

1st generation – “why be too serious with God?” [Sunday Christians – God should not be in my life Monday to Saturday.]




2nd generation – “why bother about God?” [Christmas, Easter, Wedding, Funeral Christian – God should not be in my life most of my life.]




2nd generation – “why bother about God?” [Christmas, Easter, Wedding, Funeral Christian – God should not be in my life most of my life.]

3rd generation – “why bother be good ?” [No longer a Christian – no longer need to be good.]



• “Why be faithful to God?” “why be faithful to my wife

?”

Malachi 2:10-16 :

10Have we not all one Father ? Did not one God create us ? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?

11Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.

12As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord cut him off from the tents of Jacob — even though he brings offerings to the Lord Almighty. 13Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.

14You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the

wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. 15 Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are His. And why one? Because He was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

16 “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,” says the Lord Almighty.

So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.” – Malachi 2:10-16

Malachi 2:11


Malachi 2:11


The bible commandment is that a person who belongs to God must not marry someone who does not worship the God of Israel (OT) / Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (NT).

Malachi 2:10-16


Why does the Lord says He hates divorce ?

Angle #1 : Biblically, according to Malachi

1. It was a reflection of one’s unfaithfulness to covenants one swore to upkeep – both to spouse and to God (Malachi 2:10).

Divorcing one’s wife = Breaking faith (Malachi 2:11, 14-16)

Angle #1 : Biblically, according to Malachi

2. Men abandoned their wives for foreign women who worshipped other gods (Malachi 2:11).

Why does the Lord says He hates divorce ?

Angle #1 : Biblically, according to Malachi 1. It was a reflection of one’s unfaithfulness to covenants one

swore to upkeep – both to spouse and to God (Malachi 2:10).


3. God was the Witness at the wedding between a husband and his wife (Malachi 2:14) – God’s will had been broken.

Angle #1 : Biblically, according to Malachi1. It was a reflection of one’s unfaithfulness to covenants one

swore to upkeep – both to spouse and to God (Malachi 2:10).


3. God was the Witness at the wedding between a husband and his wife (Malachi 2:14) – God’s will had been broken.

4. God’s will was also that godly offspring be the fruit of the marital union. The abundant life that should have been, became a life of suffering because of man’s sin.

Shouldn’t God be less angry with divorce, since in such a case, no one is victimized ?

Angle #2 : Theological Journey of “Divorce”

a) In the time of Moses

Deuteronomy 24:1 – “If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, …”

Divorce except for “something indecent”

Angle #2 : Theological Journey of “Divorce”

a) In the time of Moses

b) In the time of Jesus

The more conservative school of Shammai believed that divorce was only permissible on account of adultery.

The more dominant and liberal position of the school of Hillel allowed divorce on whatever basis which caused displeasure to the husband.

Theological Journey of “Divorce”b) In the time of Jesus

Matthew 19:3-9 3Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 4“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5and 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’? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Jesus’ teaching on Marriage(based on Genesis 1:27, 2:24)

1. Marriage is a divine institution (Matthew 19:6 – “… God has joined together …”)

Jesus’ teaching on Marriage(based on Genesis 1:27, 2:24)1. Marriage is a divine institution (Matthew 19:6 – “… God

has joined together …”).

2. It is meant to be complementary (Matthew 19:4 – “… the Creator ‘made them male and female’ …).

Jesus’ teaching on Marriage(based on Genesis 1:27, 2:24)1. Marriage is a divine institution (Matthew 19:6 – “… God



3. Marriage is intended to be permanent (Matthew 19:5 – “… the two will become one flesh”).

Jesus’ teaching on Marriage1. Marriage is a divine institution (Matthew 19:6 – “… God



3. Marriage is intended to be permanent (Matthew 19:5 – “… the two will become one flesh”).

4. It is to be exclusive (Matthew 19:5 “… united to his wife …”).

Jesus’ teaching on Marriage3. Marriage is intended to be permanent (Matthew 19:5 –

“… the two will become one flesh”).

4. It is to be exclusive (Matthew 19:5 “… united to his wife …”).

5. The marriage bond would surpass that of a man’s relationship with his parents (Matt 19:5 – “… for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife …”).

Why did Moses allow divorce?

It was to protect the women.

Theological Journey of “Divorce”b) In the time of Jesus

Therefore permission for divorce was a concession made because of men’s hard hearts. God has never intended divorce.

Divorce except for adultery.

Theological Journey of “Divorce”c) In the time of the Apostle Paul

1 Corinthians 7:15 “But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.”

Divorce except if a non-

believing husband/wife deserts the believing spouse.

Theological Journey of “Divorce”d) In the first 2 centuries

Divorce except for adultery.

Shepherd of Hermas

Clementof Alexandria

Theological Journey of “Divorce”e) In the Medieval Period

The Roman Church’s stand was that marriage is ‘indissoluble’, that is, no divorce would be permitted.

Divorce !!!!

The Church of Rome came to view marriage as one of its 7 sacraments; a sacrament being a sign of a holy thing, that which can sanctify man.

Theological Journey of “Divorce”

f) In the Reformation

Martin Luther and then John Calvin saw the sacramental understanding of marriage as something more of a papal tool of control.

Divorce except for adultery, desertion,

impotence and ignorance of a previous marriage.

Luther – “nowhere in Scripture was marriage given any such redemptive significance”.


f) In the Reformation

The spiritual perspective of marriage can allow the individuals to relate deeper with each other and with God, and it can also help us understand the relationship between Christ and His Church.


g) In Our Time

How does the modern church respond to Divorce ?

Divorce : ???

No United Stand on this matter.


g) In Our Time

How does the modern church respond to Divorce ?

Divorce : ???

As such, it is really up to the Senior Pastor and Church leadership to decide what they will do with divorce.


h) In Our Church

Divorce : ???


h) In Our Church

Divorce : ???



h) In Our Church

Using the Jesus-Principle in Matthew 5:21-48 to understand what it means when God says He hates divorce


h) In Our Church

Using the Jesus-Principle in Matthew 5:21-48 to understand what it means when God says He hates divorce

People then thought that God is only against the act of Murder and Adultery, but Jesus went deeper into the Root Causes of murder and adultery.


h) In Our Church

Using the Jesus-Principle in Matthew 5:21-48 to understand what it means when God says He hates divorce.

It is not just the act of divorce that God is against, we need to look at the root causes of divorce. It is not that God hates those who divorce but rather the act of divorce and especially the sins that lead to that happening.

Sins (leading to divorce) such as • infidelity

• abuse (be it physical or emotional)• lack of love (usually it is the

husband who commits such a sin)• lack of honor (usually it is the wife

who commits such a sin) • lack of faithfulness • lack of responsibility

Family

Spouse

Children Parents

Siblings

Friends

Sins (leading to divorce) such as • infidelity

• abuse (be it physical or emotional)• lack of love (usually it is the

husband who commits such a sin)• lack of honor (usually it is the wife

who commits such a sin) • lack of faithfulness • lack of responsibility

The Social Principles of the Methodist Church in Singapore :

“The Church views with great concern the increasing number of divorces and affirms the need for adequate premarital and marital counselling as well as marriage enrichment programmes. We also encourage an active and supportive commitment of the church and our society to minister in love to the divorced and their families.”

Overcoming “Divorce”

1. Adequate Premarital and Marital Counseling

Unbiblical Beliefs

a. Marriage will lead to divorce, so why marry ?

b. Romance is most important for marriage (other factors not considered).



Unbiblical Beliefs

a. Marriage will lead to divorce, so why marry ?

The Christian community should teach and model for our young people this truth – that marriage is a beautiful gift.



Unrealistic Thinking




Unrealistic Thinking


“This is a worldwide statistic – if you make mandatory pre-marriage counseling, you will lower the divorce rates by 50%”.



2. Marriage Enrichment programmes

The Marriage Course !!




What Pam wanted was not her 2nd nor 3rd chance – but her 3652nd chance.




What Pam wanted was not her 2nd nor 3rd chance – but her 3652nd chance.

The Marriage died from NEGLECT !




Seek Reconciliation !!




3. Ministry to the divorced and their families.



Legalism

(that is, we cannot accept divorce nor anyone who has divorced and remarried because the Bible says it is a sin).

Casual divorce



Through it all, may we find the faith to believe that the kingdom of God is one of mercy, forgiveness and the giving of new life; where there can be new relationships, where the past is mercifully forgiven, and a loving and life-giving future is possible.

Documents

Malachi 2:10-16 God says : “I hate divorce!”