Jesus and Divorce: A Biblical Guide for Ministry to Divorced Persons

347 Pages·1991·0.76 MB·English

by  George R. Ewald

Jesus and Divorce : A Biblical Guide for
title:
Ministry to Divorced Persons
author: Ewald, George R.
publisher: Herald Press
isbn10 | asin: 0836135725
print isbn13: 9780836135725
ebook isbn13: 9780585239958
language: English
Jesus Christ--Views on divorce, Divorce--
Biblical teaching, Divorce--Religious
subject
aspects--Christianity, Church work with
divorced people.
publication date: 1991
lcc: BS2417.D6E93 1991eb
ddc: 261.8/3589
Jesus Christ--Views on divorce, Divorce--
Jesus Christ--Views on divorce, Divorce--
Biblical teaching, Divorce--Religious
subject:
aspects--Christianity, Church work with
divorced people.
Page 1
Jesus and Divorce
A Biblical Guide for Ministry to Divorced Persons
George R. Ewald
Foreword by Willard M. Swartley
HERALD PRESS
Waterloo, Ontario
Scottdale, Pennsylvania
Page 2
Canadian Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Ewald, George R., 1931
Jesus and divorce
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8361-3572-5
1. Jesus ChristViews on divorce. 2. DivorceBiblical teaching.
3. DivorceReligious aspectsChristianity. 4. Church work with
divorced people. I. Title.
BS2417.D6E8 1991 241'.63 C91-095190-X
The paper used in this publication is recycled and meets the minimum
requirements of American National Standard for Information
SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI
Z39.48-1984.
All Bible text is used by permission: unless otherwise indicated, it is
from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, by the
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the USA; also from NIV, The Holy Bible, New
International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International
Bible Society, Zondervan Bible Publishers; RSV, the Revised
Standard Version Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division
of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the USA; and KJV, The Holy Bible, King James Version.
JESUS AND DIVORCE
Copyright © 1991 by Herald Press, Waterloo, Ont. N2L 6H7
Published simultaneously in the United States by Herald Press,
Scottdale, Pa. 15683. All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Catalog Number: 91-75419
International Standard Book Number: 0-8361-3572-5
Printed in the United States of America
Book and cover design by Gwen M. Stamm
Cover photo by Jean-Claude Lejeune
99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Page 3
To my wife, Shirl,
my best friend and devoted partner in life,
and to those caring pastors
who work to ease the burdens
of hurting people
Page 4
Contents
Foreword 7
by Willard M. Swartley
Preface 10
1. Jewish Marriage Customs and Patriarchy 13
Jewish Law on Marriage 13
Patriarchal Rights Abused 16
Conclusions and Questions 18
2. Jewish Law on Divorce 22
The Pre-Mosaic Patriarchal Right to Divorce 22
Deuteronomy Misunderstood 23
Something Shameful 24
The Positive Side of Divorce 26
Divorce Forbidden in Certain Circumstances 28
Divorce Replaces Stoning for Adultery 29
Judicial Separations Required 30
Wives Could Sue for Divorce 30
Against Divorce for Any Cause 31
Efforts to Check Divorce 32
Status of Divorced Women 32
Conclusions and Questions 33
3. The Pharisees and Jesus 35
Conflict with the Pharisees 35
Development of the Pharisees 36
Traits of the Pharisees 38
Jesus' Criticisms of the Pharisees 40
Conclusions and Questions 42
Page 5
4. Jesus, the Model of Caring for Sinners 43
Challenging Hypocrites 43
Befriending Sinners 44
Applying Law to Life in a Nonlegalist Manner 46
In a Jewish Setting, According to Matthew 47
5. Matthew 5 as Context for Matthew 19 50
The Significance of the Antitheses 51
A Comparison of Shammai, Hillel, and Jesus 53
Summary 56
6. Matthew 5:2732 57
The Antitheses 57
Irresponsible Divorce 58
The Excepting Clause 59
Remarriage 60
Conclusions and Applications 61
7. Matthew 19:39 64
The Test Question 64
What God Has Joined Together 68
The Pharisaic Defense 70
Jesus' Declaration on Divorce 71
The Excepting Clause 72
Conclusions and Applications 75
8. Matthew 19:1012 77
Better Not to Marry? 77
The Gift to Be Married 79
Conclusions and Applications 80
9. Studies from the Letters 81
Questions from the Corinthian Church 81
Against Divorcing to Be More Spiritual 83
Paul's Counsel on Mixed Marriages 87
In Whatever Situation, Remain with God 88
Examining Romans 7:14 90
The Pastoral Epistles 91
10. Practical Applications of Scripture 95
The Jewish World 95
Jesus' Conflict with the Pharisees 96