Adultery and divorce

[Timmy]

I've raised this question somewhere before, but, if I recall correctly (always doubtful! ), it wasn't resolved.

Jesus forbids divorce except in the case of unfaithfulness. He also said that someone who has lust in his heart has committed adultery. So, does one plus one equal two? Is a woman whose husband has lusted for another woman justified in getting a divorce?

[rgcraig]

Check at the bottom of this page - - there are several other threads on the subject already.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Check at the bottom of this page - - there are several other threads on the subject already.

Figures.

Thanks. I'll have a look when I get some time. (If I remember to. )

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Figures.

Thanks. I'll have a look when I get some time. (If I remember to. )

Yes, that figures.

[Sam]

the woman at the well in John chapter 4 had had (past tense) 5 husbands and was living with someone who was not her husband. Jesus took the time to talk to her and then through her, many believed that He was Messiah/Christ.

Too bad we are more concerned than Jesus about people's marriages

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Timmy

I've raised this question somewhere before, but, if I recall correctly (always doubtful! ), it wasn't resolved.

Jesus forbids divorce except in the case of unfaithfulness. He also said that someone who has lust in his heart has committed adultery. So, does one plus one equal two? Is a woman whose husband has lusted for another woman justified in getting a divorce?

Jesus stated that if a man looks upon a woman to lust after her (with desire and intent to have) he has committed adulter with her already "in his heart".

Jesus is illustrating moral flaw of the heart. Jesus isn't stating that adultery was actually committed.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Jesus stated that if a man looks upon a woman to lust after her (with desire and intent to have) he has committed adulter with her already "in his heart".

Jesus is illustrating moral flaw of the heart. Jesus isn't stating that adultery was actually committed.

So, are you saying that committing adultery in one's heart is not as serious as committing adultery physically? And that it would not justify divorce, in God's eyes?

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Timmy

So, are you saying that committing adultery in one's heart is not as serious as committing adultery physically? And that it would not justify divorce, in God's eyes?

I think that's what he's saying...yes.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Timmy

So, are you saying that committing adultery in one's heart is not as serious as committing adultery physically? And that it would not justify divorce, in God's eyes?

Yes.

[Aquila]

If your wife enjoys romance novels and happens to occasionally fantasize about her being a captive princess rescued by some hot young Italian Romeo that looks like an actor on television... it might be lustful. But it's not actual adultery.

If your wife is in the mood to be a "bad girl" and has a fantasy about the pool boy that cleans the pool next door... it might be lustful. It might even an adulterous thought in the heart. But it's not actual adultery.

Sure... for such a woman... some confession, repentance, Spirit filled effort to guide her thoughts better, and hubby going on a diet and being more manly and clean the pool might be in order. But she has not actually committed adultery.

Even the Law distinguishes the two:

Exodus 20:14
14 “You shall not commit adultery."

Exodus 20:17
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”

I'd never accuse my wife of committing adultery if I found a raunchy Cosmo Magazine in her things or discovered she had a trashy fantasy. Now, I might want to talk about it. I might want to encourage her to seek more of Jesus. But I'd not accuse her of adultery and I definitely wouldn't think about divorce. In my mind, this is one of those human issues that might rear its head several times throughout the course of one's lifetime within marriage. It has to addressed... bounderies should be drawn... prayer, confession, and repentance sought. But not a divorce. That's some serious stuff. If I ever remarry, I'd rather live with a wife who gets freaky every now and then... and seek some counseling... than shatter my family and reduce both of us to part time parents and doom our kids to experience the trauma from coming from a broken home.

Just being honest.