Tithes & Alms

HEBREW READERS CHURCH
Understanding Divorce
Marriage in Alahayim's Sight
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To understand divorce, let’s first understand what marriage is in the sight of Alahayim:
Mark 10:6-9
But from the beginning of the creation Alahayim made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore Alahayim hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
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Alahayim is a spirit, {Jhn 4:24} and joins man and his wife together spiritually unto Him, their Alahayim.
John 4:24
Alahayim is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
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Alahayim joined man and his wife to make them one spirit and flesh with the intent that a holy seed of believing children would come from them:
Malachi 2:15
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a holy seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
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Since they are spiritually joined, it must be a spiritual reason for them to be divided and those spiritual reasons can only be identified in the law as it is spiritual {Rom 7:14} and the words of it is able to cause spiritual division. {Heb 4:12}
Romans 7:14
For we know that the law is spiritual:
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of Alahayim is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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Seeing as though Alahayim, in love, joined man and his wife together spiritually with the intent of holy children (seed) coming from them, the only grounds for division of what Alahayim (who is spiritual Himself) joined together is "dealing treacherously" in unrepentant spiritual fornication (uncleanness) by evidence of unwillingness to do the work to change and obey Alahayim's law which would keep the marriage together by working with the spirits of love and long-suffering for the salvation of the family:
Tesament of Gad 4:6
... the spirit of love worketh together with the law of Alahayim in long-suffering unto the salvation of men.
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For these reasons, when operating in the spirit of Fornication unrepentantly transgressing the spiritual law, it is grounds for divorce between a man and his wife as the spirit of Fornication withdraws a soul from the law (that was meant to keep spouses joined together unto Alahayim) separating it from Alahayim (and one's spouse) unto idols.
Testament of Reuben 4:6
For a pit unto the soul is the sin of fornication, separating it from Alahayim, and bringing it near to idols, because it deceiveth the mind and understanding, and leadeth young men into Hades before their time.
Testament of Judah 18:1
My children, the love of money leadeth to idolatry; because, when led astray through money, men name as alahayims those who are not alahayims, and it causeth him who hath it to fall into madness.
Testament of Judah 17:2-3
Beware, therefore, my children, of fornication, and the love of money, and hearken to Judah your father. 3 For these things withdraw you from the law of Alahayim, and blind the inclination of the soul, and teach arrogance, and suffer not a man to have compassion upon his neighbour
The Pollution of Marriage
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Alahayim put men and women together in marriage to make them one spirit as well as bone and flesh. Seeing as though Alahayim joined them together spiritually, they can only be divided (separated or divorced) spiritually by operating in the spirit of Fornication {uncleanness} against Alahayim {Wis 14:12, 27} and one another: {1Co 6:18}
1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
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Just confirming when a man commits fornication, he is also sinning against his own body, which is also his wife who is his bone and flesh. Likewise, a woman in fornication is disobeying the Most High and trespassing against her husband:
Ecclesiasticus 23:23
For first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High; and secondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery
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Let's understand what "committing adultery" is:
Understanding "Uncleanness" (Committing Adultery)
The Acts of Thomas 83
Abstain: First of all adultery, for this is the beginning of all evils,
Wisdom of Solomon 14:12, 27
For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life. 27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
Exo 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Definition:
H5003
נאף
Strong's: A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively to apostatize:
BDB: 1a2) idolatrous worship (figuratively)
Apostatize: renounce a religious or political belief or principle.
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Through precepts and understanding the Hebrew words, "adultery" is not only a physical act but a spiritual work that is manifested in idolatrous worship renouncing the religion and principles of Alahayim to serve idols in spiritual fornication. Precepts confirm idolatry is a work in the spirit of adultery against Alahayim:
Jeremiah 3:9
And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
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This shows adultery in spirit is falling into idolatry. Committing adultery in idolatry consists of: 1) pollutng one's flesh in unlawful intercourse, 2) polluting the mind and defiling one's heart in idolatry by lusting after someone who isn't your spouse, as well as 3) operating in spiritual fornication by sinning in general doing things like unto the heathen (unbelievers) against the commands of Alahayim as idolatry is the cause of all evil:
Matthew 5:27-28
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Hermas Mandate 4
1[29]:9 Not only," saith he, "is it adultery, if a man pollute his flesh, but whosoever doeth things like unto the heathen committeth adultery.
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Adultery is a product of the spirit of Fornication as one has to be operating in the spirit of Fornication to "commit adultery."
Hermas Mandate 4
1[29]:4 I say to him, "Sir, permit me to ask thee a few more questions" "Say on," saith he. "Sir," say I, "if a man who has a wife that is faithful in the Lord detect her in adultery, doth the husband sin in living with her?"
1[29]:5 "So long as he is ignorant," saith he, "he sinneth not; but if the husband know of her sin, and the wife repent not, but continue in her fornication, and her husband live with her, he makes himself responsible for her sin and an accomplice in her adultery."
1[29]:9 Not only," saith he, "is it adultery, if a man pollute his flesh, but whosoever doeth things like unto the heathen committeth adultery.
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The precepts confirmed "polluting the flesh" in the spirit of Fornication through unlawful intercourse is adultery as well as doing things that are contrary to the ways of Alahayim following after the vain customs of the heathen are committing adultery in the sight of Alahayim. The angel speaking with Hermas said "doing things like unto the heathen is committing adultery because they worship and serve idols which is spiritual fornication causing them do all evil against the Law of Alahayim so it helps us understand adultery is also sinning or doing evil in general. The scriptures confirm idolatry is also a pollution of ourselves as well because of the transgressions they lead us to commit to help understand adultery in spirit is sinning against the law in general:
Ezk 37:23
Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions
Ezk 14:11
That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions;
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This helps see, idolatry, unclean meats, and transgressing in general defiles us and that’s how we get polluted and it’s reckoned as "adultery" with Alahayim. Yache was teaching us about coming out of the spirit of adultery as well not just the act of unlawful intercourse by example of showing its not just adultery in unlawful intercourse, but also our hearts intent toward a woman can get us into adultery for example
Matthew 5:27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
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Yache gave us understanding of the spirit of the law to keep us from the spirits that causes adultery all together understanding that adultery starts within our minds and hearts with any thought, inclination or desire thats drawing us away from the commandments of Alahayim in hatred.
Testament of Judah 17:2-3, 5-6
2 Beware, therefore, my children, of fornication, and the love of money, and hearken to Judah your father. 3 For these things withdraw you from the law of Alahayim, and blind the inclination of the soul, and teach arrogance, and suffer not a man to have compassion upon his neighbour. 5 And he hindereth the sacrifices of Alahayim; And he remembereth not the blessing of Alahayim, he hearkeneth not to a prophet when he speaketh, and resenteth the words of holiness. 6 For he is a slave to two contrary passions, and cannot obey Alahayim, because they have blinded his soul, And he walketh in the day as in the night
Testament of Gad 4:1
1 Beware, therefore, my children of hatred; for it worketh lawlessness even against the Lord Himself. 2 For it will not hear the words of His commandments concerning the loving of one’s neighbour, and it sinneth against Alahayim.
Understanding Adultery
Pro 6:32-33
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
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The spirit of Fornication leads a man in this lack of understanding to get a reproach unto himself:
Testament of Reuben 7:4
4 For in fornication there is neither understanding nor holiness, and all jealousy dwelleth in the lust thereof.
Testament of Rueben 4:6
6 For a pit unto the soul is the sin of fornication, separating it from Alahayim, and bringing it near to idols, because it deceiveth the mind and understanding, and leadeth young men into Hades before their time. 7 For many hath fornication destroyed; because, though a man be old or noble, or rich or poor, he bringeth reproach upon himself with the sons of men and derision with Beliar.
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The ways a man who lacks understanding can commit adultery are as follows:
Mat 5:27-28
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Mat 19:9
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Lev 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
A Man can commit Adultery by:
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looking at a woman who is not his wife to lust after her {Matt 5:27-28}
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Marrying another woman after divorcing his initial wife (who was not detected in fornication). {Matt 19:9}
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After putting away his believing wife because she wouldn't repent of her fornication, he doesn't abide alone for her one opportunity to repent and be reconciled to him, but instead, he marries another woman during that time of his initial wife's one opportunity for reconciliation. {Hermas Mandate 4}
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Departing from an unbelieving wife who was pleased to dwell with him and didn't commit fornication, yet he marries another woman after departing. {I Co 7:10-16; Matt 19:9}
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Intimate relations with anyone that is not your own wife is fornication. {I Co 7:2; 6:16-18}
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Intimate relations with another man's wife is adultery. {Lev 18:19; 20:10}
A Woman can commit Adultery by:
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A woman can commit adultery sleeping with a stranger that is not her lawful husband.
Eze 16:32
But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!
Sirach 23:22-23
[22] Thus shall it go also with the wife that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another. [23] For first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High; and secondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man.
A Person can commit an Abomination by:
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(By the spirit of Fornication leading him, a man can commit an abomination by the following:
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(for men and women) Having same kind relations.{Lev 18:22; 20:13, Rom 1:26-27}
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Sleeping with a wife or any woman (or uncovering their nakedness) during their issue of blood (menstrual). {Lev 18:18; 20;18}
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Uncovering the nakedness of his near kin according to the law. {Lev 18:1}
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A man remarrying his ex wife who he put away for uncleanness (fornication) after she has married another man and then returned back unto him.{Duet 24:1-4}
Understanding Fornication
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The Spirit of Fornication is seated in the nature and senses from youth if one is drawn by the love of pleasure in evil to let her overcome one's mind:
Testament of Rueben 3:3; 2:9
First, the spirit of fornication is seated in the nature and in the senses; 2:9..with which through love of pleasure sins enter in. Wherefore it is..the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leadeth the youth as a blind man to a pit, and as a beast to a precipice.
Testament of Reuben 7:4, 1-3
4 For in fornication there is neither understanding nor holiness, and all jealousy dwelleth in the lust thereof. 1 Beware, therefore, of fornication; and if you wish to be pure in mind, guard your senses from every woman. 2 And command the women likewise not to associate with men, that they also may be pure in mind. 3 For constant meetings, even though the unholy deed be not wrought, are to them an irremediable disease, and to us a destruction of Beliar and an eternal reproach.
Testament of Judah 16:1
And now, I command you, my children, not to love money, nor to gaze upon the beauty of women; because for the sake of money and beauty I was led astray to Bathshua the Canaanite.
Testament of Rueben 4:1
1 Pay no heed, therefore, my children, to the beauty of women, nor set your mind on their affairs; but walk in singleness of heart in the fear of the Lord, and expend labour on good works, and on study and on your flocks, until the Lord give you a wife, whom He will, that ye suffer not as I did.
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If one has pleasure in the works of the spirit of Fornication, being given to the love of pleasure, being enamored with the beauty of others will be a struggle and would lead to being "love sick" with desire in insatiability for someone who isn't your spouse:
Ecclesiasticus 9:8
Turn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another's beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman; for herewith love is kindled as a fire.
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This can be in thoughts, cares, and vexations for someone who isn't your spouse as Fornication is trying to overwhelm the mind with Insatiability to fulfill the desire:
The Acts of Thomas 27
the service of the belly casts the soul into thoughts, cares and vexations, taking thought lest it come to be in want, and have need of those things that are far from it.
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And if overtaken with pleasure, Fornication will continue working in the person until inflamed with their evil desires being enamored with others beauty unable to resist committing the act of polluting their flesh by sleeping with someone who isn't their lawful spouse feeling like they won't be judged for it blinded by the passions of Fornication and Lust blinding their inclination (with Hatred blinding the soul) from seeing things in truth. This can happen to a man or woman:
Ecclesiasticus 23:16-27
Two sorts of men multiply sin, and the third will bring wrath: a hot mind is as a burning fire, it will never
be quenched till it be consumed: a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease till he hath kindled a
fire. 17 All bread is sweet to a whoremonger, he will not leave off till he die. 18 A man that breaketh wedlock, saying thus in his heart, Who seeth me? I am compassed about with darkness, the walls cover me, and no body seeth me; what need I to fear? the most High will not remember my sins: 19 Such a man only feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering the most secret parts. 20 He knew all things ere ever they were created; so also after they were perfected he looked upon them all. 21 This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and where he suspecteth not he shall be taken. 22 Thus shall it go also with the wife that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another. 23 For first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High; and secondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man. 24 She shall be brought out into the congregation, and inquisition shall be made of her children. 25 Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring forth no fruit. 26 She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her reproach shall not be blotted out. 27 And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter than to take heed unto the commandments of the Lord.
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Being overcome with Fornication (idolatry) and Lust leads to sinning in general and can lead to same kind relations for men and women:
Romans 1:21-23
Because that, when they knew Alahyim, they glorified him not as Alahayim, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible Alahayim into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wisdom of Solomon 14:27
For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
Romans 1:24-31
Wherefore Alahayim also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 26 For this cause Alahayim gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of Alahayim, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
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Fornication causes whomever is under Her dominion, not only to sin in general, but also to sin against their own body by the act of fornication (relations with someone who isn't your lawful spouse) to pollute their flesh:
1 Corinthians 6:18
[18]Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication
sinneth against his own body.
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(As we know, a wife is the body of the man, so if a man commits fornication, he also sins against his wife because she is his bone and flesh. On the other hand (so long as they aren't partaking in unlawful intercourse), a man cannot commit fornication by laying with his own wife, which is his flesh nor can a woman commit fornication by laying with her own husband, even in a multi-wife household as Leah and Rachel were not fornicators when they slept with their own husband, Jacob, at their respective times.
1Co 7:2
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
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The spirit of Fornication also leads a woman to plot against a man to deceive his mind by outward attractions or craft (manipulation) unto fornication and it causes a woman to lust after a man in her mind who is not her husband:
Testament of Reuben 5:1-7
1 For evil are women, my children; and since they have no power or strength over man, they use wiles by outward attractions, that they may draw him to themselves. 2 And whom they cannot bewitch by outward attractions, him they overcome by craft. 3 For moreover, concerning them, the angel of the Lord told me, and taught me, that women are overcome by the spirit of fornication more than men, and in their heart they plot against men; and by means of their adornment they deceive first their minds, and by the glance of the eye instill the poison, and then through the accomplished act they take them captive. 4 For a woman cannot force a man openly, but by a harlot’s bearing she beguiles him.
Sir 26:9
The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids.
Testament of Reuben 6:1-4
1 Flee, therefore, fornication, my children, and command your wives and your daughters, that they adorn not their heads and faces to deceive the mind: because every woman who useth these wiles hath been reserved for eternal punishment. 2 For thus they allured the Watchers who were before the flood; for as these continually beheld them, they lusted after them, and they conceived the act in their mind; 3 for they changed themselves into the shape of men, and appeared to them when they were with their husbands. 4 And the women lusting in their minds after their forms, gave birth to giants, for the Watchers appeared to them as reaching even unto heaven.
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A woman’s desire is suppose to be unto her husband, so the desire for stranger besides him is the spirit of fornication at work seeking to withdraw her from her husband and the Lord;
Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said, … thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
1 Corinthians 7:34
… she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
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A woman’s desire is suppose to be unto her husband and how she may please him being subject unto him as unto the Lord, so the desire for another or the desire to please another besides her husband is the spirit of fornication at work and it is shown in how she adorn herself and dresses with the intent to entice others to desire her. A woman can be in the spirit of Fornication for:
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Plotting against someone in her heart (by means of outward attractions or craft {manipulation}) to turn them unto fornication, gain control of them, get supply out of them, or get an advantage over them.
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Lusting after someone in her mind that is not her husband.
For further edification on the spirit of Fornication and her works, please visit the website tab "Flee Fornication"
https://www.hebrewreaders.com/flee-fornication
Is Divorce Lawful?
Mark 10:2-3
And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
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Let's see what Moses commanded to know the answer as to whether it is lawful for a man to put away his wife:
Deuteronomy 24:1
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness H6172 in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Definition:
H6172
ערוה
BDB Definition:
1) nakedness, nudity, shame, pudenda 1a) pudenda (implying shameful exposure) 1b) nakedness of a thing, indecency, improper behaviour
Strong's Definition:
figuratively (disgrace, blemish):...unclean(-ness).
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Yes, it’s lawful for the right cause of uncleanness {fornication} wherein a wife is "doing things like unto the heathen" (sinning) unrepentantly by evidence of continuation in improper behavior for a man to put away his wife according to the law of Moses. A man of understanding trusts in the law and thats what he meditates on in his life for guidance and goes in the ways of the commandments:
Ecclesiasticus 33:3
A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
Ecclesiasticus 6:37
Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.
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By precept, the uncleanness that would cause a woman not to find favor in a man of understanding's eyes are as follows:
Ecclesiasticus 7:26
Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.
Ecclesiasticus 25:26
If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.
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By precepts, he would be seeking to have a woman after his mind to go in the way he would have her according to the commandments, yet if he can't build with her in that direction by her respecting him to go as he would have her, she won't find favor in his eyes because of the uncleanness (the spirit of Fornication in idolatry) at work in her, so he would have to put her away as her works show she is "a light woman" who won't respect him to submit to him as her husband. On the other hand, if she was after his mind, he wouldn't forsake her to put her away. {Sir 7:26} Also, the grounds for divorce being uncleanness (operating in the spirit of fornication) is for men too. If a woman's husband is showing he isn't pleased to dwell with her by operating in the spirit of fornication being a stumbling block to her walk in the faith, she also has to divorce him on the grounds of fornication lest she be a partaker in his sins:
Hermas Mandate 4
1[29]:9 Not only," saith he, "is it adultery, if a man pollute his flesh, but whosoever doeth things like unto the heathen committeth adultery. If therefore in such deeds as these likewise a man continue and repent not, keep away from him, and live not with him. Otherwise, thou also art a partaker of his sin.
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This is a just grounds for divorcing her husband because he is operating in the spirit of fornication, but if she divorced him based on her own grounds (though he wasn't operating in the spirit of fornication) and married another, she would be committing adultery too because she wasn't justly divorced in the sight of Alahayim:
Mark 10:12
And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
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Notice, no mention of "the cause of fornication" is made by Christ to relay that divorcing (outside of the grounds of a spouse operating in the spirit of fornication) and remarrying to someone else is committing adultery because the person wasn't lawfully divorced in the sight of Alahayim. Thus far, Lord willing, you understand Christ was just shedding light on the law of Moses so folks could understand what's right in the sight of Alahayim in regards to the legality of divorce and the proper grounds for it. Yache understood and gave the simple edification as to the truth of the Law of Alahayim given to Moses for us to understand divorce is lawful if done on the lawful grounds of fornication (uncleanness).
Matthew 19:3
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Matthew 5:31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
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This is not the law of Moses as it is what was "being said" amongst the people, from the Pharisees unrighteous doctrine on divorce wherein they would put away their wives for every cause. On the other hand, Moses said that if "she found no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement" so he gave the reason why one would give a bill of divorce. Christ came to rectify the truth of the law that the only just grounds in the sight of Alahayim for putting away one's wife was for the cause of fornication (uncleanness), where she is unrepentantly operating in that spirit (or committing the act of fornication polluting her flesh with another person being lead by that same spirit of Fornication to do so).
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:...
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Notice, Christ's words aligns with the law of Moses as he came to give the truth of the same Law (not to cause one jot or tittle to pass away) {Mat 5:17-18} to help us understand the "uncleanness found in her" that would cause her not to find favor in her husband's eyes would be "fornication."
Matthew 5:17-18
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
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This was to help us understand the answer to the Pharisees question, "is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" was "no, only for the cause of fornication (uncleanness) is it lawful to put away one's wife and give her a bill of divorce" as it is written in the law of Moses. {Duet 24:1}
Matthew 5:32
...and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery
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If a man divorced his wife who wasn't in the spirit of Fornication committing adultery by doing things like unto the heathen (sinning) or polluting her flesh by having relations with a stranger besides her lawful husband, the man is causing her to commit adultery with another if she remarries to someone else because she wasn't lawfully divorced in the sight of Alahayim (though the man may have put her away according to his own causes).
Mark 10:11
And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
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Notice, Christ didn't mention "the cause of fornication" here? It's because if a man just divorces her (and it isn't for the cause of fornication) then marries another, he is committing adultery (sinning) because it's only lawful to put a wife away if a man finds some "uncleanness in her," which means that she is polluted with idolatry in spiritual fornication unwilling to submit herself to her husband, {Eph 5:22} agree with him, {Amo 3:3; Sur 25:1} be after his mind, {Sir 7:26} and go in the way he would have her in obedience to the commandments showing she isn't pleased to dwell with him by her unwillingness to do the work it takes to submit herself to his rule over her for her salvation. {Gen 3:16; Eph 5:23} By law of Moses and truth of Christ's teachings, the grounds for divorce is fornication (committing adultery) wherein there has been found some uncleanness (idolatary) in a spouse that they are unwilling to repent of. With this foundation on the law from the beginning, there are certain judgements in the law and testimonies for different marital situations as well to be covered:
Laws of Divorce/Separation/Re-marriage
Marrying Virgins of Israel
If a man take a wife of the virgins of Israel and goes in unto her, and hates her, and brings up an evil name upon her saying she was not a virgin and the occasion of speech against her be false, she shall be his wife and he may not put her away all his days. [Deu 22:13-19]
Marrying Maid-Wives
A woman who is a (maid-wife) is free depart from her husband and to return to her family if he is not "taking care of his own" [ITi 5:8] by providing her food, raiment, and duty of marriage. [Exo 21:10-11] He is operating in unbelief (fornication) showing he is not pleased to dwell with her by his works. If he is unrepentant not desiring to reconcile and do right by her after she departs and abides alone with her family, she may be given in marriage to a man of understanding (believer) after she goes out free. [Sir 7:25]
Marrying Wives of War
An orphaned woman who is taken for a wife after war may freely depart from her husband if she is not pleased to dwell with him to go where ever she may. [Duet 21:10-14] He may give her a bill of divorce and let her go out of his house. [Duet 24:1] If she doesn't remarry to another man, she may repent and return unto her husband during her one opportunity of repentance, [ICo 7:10-11] yet not often as there is only one opportunity of repentance [ICo 7:16] unless the Lord give healing and would have the man to take her back a second time. [Hermas Mandate 4 {1:11}]
Widows and Widowers
If a spouse dies, the living spouse is free to marry another, only in the Lord [I Co 7:39] and it is not adultery though he/she is married to another in this case. [Rom 7:2-3]
Equally Yoked Marriages
Believing Spouses ought to remain together. If believing spouses are not at peace to dwell together for some cause and a wife must depart from her husband for peace sake, they both must remain unmarried. If they desire to marry or cannot contain their desire for benevolence, [I Co 7:9] they must return to each other to avoid fornication. [I Co 7:10-11, 2]
Believers with Grounds for Divorce
If a believer detects their believing spouse in adultery (sinning) and they won't repent, the believer must not live with that unrepentant spouse lest they be an accomplice in their adultery.[Shepherd of Hermas Mandate 4] The believer must remain alone to give the unrepentant spouse at fault one opportunity to repent and return. There is one opportunity of repentance from adultery for a believing spouse wherein the believer is required to abide without taking on another spouse as the law does not permit for a relationship to continue in a cycle of fornication, getting put away, repenting, and returning. This means, if the spouse who was put away for fornication and returned, goes back into fornication again and won't repent, then the believer is free to divorce them outright and marry another believer if the Lord wills they do so. [Shepherd of Hermas Mandate 4; I Co 7:39] After putting away the unrepentant spouse a second time, they are not obligated to let them return (unless the Lord gives healing and ordains for the believer to do so.)
Unequally Yoked Marriages
Believers divorcing Unbelievers
A believer is free to remarry unto another believer (if the Lord wills) after divorcing an unbelieving spouse for the cause of fornication. [Matt 19:9, Deut 24:1] If it was an unbelieving wife who was put away for fornication (and she hasn't remarried to another man), she does have an one opportunity of repentance to return unto her believing husband, yet not often as the law doesn't permit for fornication, repentance and returning to be a cycle. On the other hand, if she did remarry another man after being put away, she cannot return unto her former husband in any wise. [Duet 24:1-4]
Unbelievers departing from Believers
If the unbelieving spouse is not pleased to dwell with the believer and departs on their own accord (fornication), the believer must let them depart in peace, give them a bill of divorce, and remain unmarried, giving the unbeliever an opportunity to repent and return to their spouse. [I Co 7:15, 11] If the believer marries another while separated from the unbeliever (during the unbeliever's one opportunity of repentance after departing), the believer has committed adultery against the unbeliever [Matt 19:9; Mark 10:12] because the unbeliever remained alone [I Co 7:11] by not marrying another. [Matt 19:9] On the other hand, if the unbeliever departs from the believer and sleeps with another, it is fornication; which is grounds for divorce and the believer may remarry though the unbeliever can repent and desire to return unto the believer. On the other hand, if the unbeliever marries another after departing, it is adultery. [Matt 19:9; Mark 10:12] In that case, the believer is then free to re-marry someone else in the Lord [I Co 7:39] because the unbeliever gave grounds for divorce by fornication which means the believer is not "in bondage" to remain bound to the unbeliever in such cases. [I Co 7:10-15]
Divorce with an Unbeliever
(who departs)
1 Corinthians 7:12-13
But to the rest speak I, not Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
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It is unrighteous for a Brother or Sister to divorce their spouse who has not committed fornication against them and is pleased to dwell with them by not being a stumbling block to their walk in the faith and respecting the direction they would want the children to go in the faith.
1 Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
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By the brother or sister being respected by their unbelieving spouse to walk in the faith without being withstood and teaching their children likewise, it sanctifies the whole household though the unbelieving spout may not believe the Gospel themselves.
1 Corinthians 7:15
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but Alahayim hath called us to peace.
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If the unbelieving spouse is not pleased to dwell with the believer by not respecting their lifestyle in the faith or trying to deter them from upholding the faith or teaching the kids to go in the same direction, they will want to separate and the brother or sister must let them depart peaceably, give them a bill of divorce and remain unmarried for the unbeliever's one opportunity of repentance.
1 Corinthians 7:16
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
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It may be that the unbeliever that departed in their unbelief will repent and return unto believer to be saved, so for this reason, if the unbeliever departs on their own accord, the believer must remain unmarried to give the unbeliever an opportunity to return unto them:
I 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.
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As you can see the endeavor is for things to work out in love wherein the believer doesn't want to put the unbeliever away but respects that the unbeliever wants to depart so gives them a bill of divorce and lets them depart in peace while remaining alone themselves for the sake of the unbeliever's one opportunity of repentance to return unto them. Now if the unbeliever goes and marries someone else while they departed from the believer, they have committed adultery against the believer because the believer didn't commit fornication against them to justify divorcing them and remarrying:
Matt 19:9
[9]And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry
another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Mar 10:12
And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
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So an unbeliever who departs (divorces) a believer who hadn't committed fornication against them and marries someone else, is committing adultery against the believer. For this reason, if the unbeliever departs from the believer, they ought to remain alone or be reconciled to the believer to avoid committing adultery in this scenario.
I Corinthians 7:11
But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband
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Also during the time while the unbeliever is remaining alone without remarrying after departing, if the believer remarries instead of remaining alone during that time, they are committing adultery as well because they ought to have remained alone until the unbeliever that departed on their own according repented and returned or committed adultery by remarrying someone else. In this scenario, if the unbeliever commits adultery to remarry, that justifies the divorce outright for the believer to remarry as well and it wouldn't be adultery because they were justly divorced because of their unbelieving spouses fornication against them. In relationships where the woman was the unbelieving spouse that departed from a brother, she surely ought to repent and return to her husband, {1Co 7:11} yet if she chose to remarry another man, she may not return unto the brother under any circumstances after that she has been defiled lest the land fall to whoredoms:
Deuteronomy 24:2-4
And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 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 Ahayah and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Ahayah thy Alahayim giveth thee for an inheritance.
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If the unbelieving spouse was a man that departed from a sister, she ought to remain alone and he ought to be reconciled unto her for his salvation. Yet, if he chooses to remarry another woman, he has committed adultery against the sister and she is free to remarry a brother in the Lord according to the Lord's will. If she happens to be alone and the unbelieving man repents and divorces the other woman he was in adultery with and returns unto the sister, she is not obligated to receive him back as there was only one opportunity of repentance wherein he chose not to, yet if the Lord wills she receives him, she may as its the Lord who gives healing and has authority over all things. Also, the brother or sister is to remain unmarried giving the unbeliever space for repentance to be reconciled unto them.
Divorce with an Unbeliever
(in uncleanness)
1 Corinthians 7:12-13
But to the rest speak I, not Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
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It is unrighteous for a Brother or Sister to divorce their spouse who has not committed fornication against them and is pleased to dwell with them by not being a stumbling block to their walk in the faith and respecting the direction they would want the children to go in the faith.
1 Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
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By the brother or sister being respected by their unbelieving spouse to walk in the faith without being withstood and teaching their children likewise, it sanctifies the whole household though the unbelieving spout may not believe the Gospel themselves. Now it may happen that the unbelieving spouse is not pleased to dwell with the believer, but they don't desire to depart, but rather to maintain the believer by means of uncleanness (idolatry) to control the relationship. When this happens and the believer becomes aware of the adultery being committed against them and the unbeliever won't repent, they must put them away because of their uncleanness that's hurting the relationship lest they be a partaker and accomplice in their adultery:
Deuteronomy 24:1
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
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This is the proper grounds for divorce as the unbeliever's uncleanness is fornication which makes the divorce just in the sight of Alahayim so that no adultery is being committed on the believer's behalf:
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.
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In this scenario, since the unbeliever has been divorced for the cause of fornication, the believer is free to remarry whom they are lead in the Lord if the Lord wills they remarry, yet they aren't to go seeking a spouse, but rather, they are to remain unmarried focusing on pleasing the Lord until He gives them a spouse according to His will:
1 Corinthians 7:27
Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
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Now if the Lord wills for them to marry, they may marry and it is no sin upon them because they justly divorced their unbelieving spouse so they do not have to remain unmarried waiting on the unbeliever to repent from their fornication against them:
1 Corinthians 7:28
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned;...Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
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The believer need only be mindful to wait upon the Lord to ensure they marry another believer as it is unlawful to be unequally yoked by making marriages with unbelievers:
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
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Now as far as the unbeliever who was put away for fornication by the believer, they have a three options.
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Remain alone in their uncleanness unrepentantly.
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1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but Alahayim hath called us to peace.
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Repent in humility and be reconciled to the believer (in such instances where a sister put away an unbelieving man and remarries to a brother, her former husband cannot return unto her as that would be adultery against the brother she is married to now. On the other hand, is its a brother who put away an unbelieving woman, she may be reconciled unto him if she repents as she does have an opportunity of repentance though the brother may remarry himself. In instances where the brother may have already remarried then the unbelieving woman repents and desires to return unto him, if its agreeable to the brother and his new wife according to the Lord's will he may receive her back, yet if she goes back into fornication and he has to put her away again, he is not obligated to receive her back a second time seeing as though there is only one opportunity of repentance unless the Lord gives healings and ordains for the brother to do so.)
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1 Corinthians 7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
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Go be another person's spouse in their uncleanness. In such instances, if it be an unbelieving woman that was put away from her husband for uncleanness, she may not return unto the brother that divorced her at the first lest the land be defiled:
Deuteronomy 24:2
And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 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 Ahayah: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Ahayah thy Alahayim giveth thee for an inheritance.
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On the other hand, if it was a unbelieving man that was put away from a sister and he chooses to remarry, he has continued in adultery against the sister seeing as though he was already put away for committing adultery against her, so he has absolved his one opportunity of repentance to return unto her, so if he happens to divorce the woman he married in his adultery and repents and desires to return unto the sister, (if it be that she didn't remarry as yet according to the Lord's will) she is not obligated to be reconciled with him unless the Lord reveals it is His will for her to do as He is who gives healing and has authority in these things. If she happens to be reconciled unto him and he goes back into fornication again, she ought put him away and not recieve him back as the opportunity of repentance is once and the law does not give an occasion that a cycle of fornication, repentance, and returning should continue happening.
Divorce with a Believer
(detected in adultery)
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There is a difference between how marriage situations play out between believers as oppose to unequally yoked marriages wherein someone is an unbeliever when it comes to adultery being committed. If a faithful spouse is detected in adultery (sinning) and they won't repent of it, they must be put away lest the their believing spouse be an accomplice and partaker in their adultery. After they are put away, the struggling spouse has one opportunity of repentance to humble themselves and be reconciled to their spouse, but if they do not repent by evidence of marrying another person to continue in their fornication, the Brother or Sister who put them away is free to marry another believer and is not obligated to receive their former spouse back again because they have chosen not to take advantage of their one opportunity of repentance. In instances where the struggling spouse does use the opportunity of repentance to return unto their believing spouse, if they go back into fornication again unrepentantly, they must be put away again as they are showing they are truly an unbeliever, so the believing spouse is free to remarry in the Lord and is not obligated to permit the now unbelieving spouse from returning unto them. Lets look at the law pertaining to these things:
Shepherd of Hermas Commandment 4:
1[29]:4 I say to him, "Sir, permit me to ask thee a few more questions" "Say on," saith he. "Sir," say I, "if a man who has a wife that is faithful in the Lord detect her in adultery, doth the husband sin in living with her?"
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So Mandate 4 of Hermas pertains to marriages between believers wherein one of them may be facing a hurdle in their journey and fall into adultery (sinning). This chapter explains what the spouse who is still standing in the faith ought to do when the detect their spouse operating in the spirit of Fornication:
1[29]:5 "So long as he is ignorant," saith he, "he sinneth not; but if the husband know of her sin, and the wife repent not, but continue in her fornication, and her husband live with her, he makes himself responsible for her sin and an accomplice in her adultery."
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When the believer wasn't aware of their spouse's operation in fornication, they weren't sinning by living with them, yet when they detect their spouse's unhealthy works in fornication as they may grow in understanding to help themselves and their spouse, they must have a conversation with them in hopes that they'll repent so as not to allow fornication to continue to cause division between them (as idols have to concord with Alahayim). Yet, if they struggling spouse won't repent, the believer has to separate from them and give them a bill of divorce lest they sin as an accomplice in the adultery of their struggling spouse.
1[29]:7
"If then, Sir," say I, "after the wife is divorced, she repent and desire to return to her own husband, shall she not be received?"
1[29]:8 "Certainly," saith he, "if the husband receiveth her not, he sinneth and bringeth great sin upon himself; nay, one who hath sinned and repented must be received, yet not often; for there is but one repentance for the servants of Alahayim. For the sake of her repentance therefore the husband ought not to marry. This is the manner of acting enjoined on husband and wife.
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The law is about mercy in marriage as Alahayim our Father is merciful. The believer ought to dwell alone without remarrying for the duration of the struggling believers one opportunity of repentance in hopes that they will repent and be reconciled unto them, lest they bear sin for not operating in humility and long-suffering to observe the law by remarrying while their struggling spouse still has an opportunity to repent and return. This goes the same for a sister who may detected her husband, a brother, in adultery. She also has to put him away if we won't repent and continues in it after she has gone through the proper steps to bring her concerns to his attention:
1[29]:9 Not only," saith he, "is it adultery, if a man pollute his flesh, but whosoever doeth things like unto the heathen committeth adultery. If therefore in such deeds as these likewise a man continue and repent not, keep away from him, and live not with him. Otherwise, thou also art a partaker of his sin.
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If a believing spouse is detected in adultery (fornication), the Brother or Sister must not live with them and divorce them so as not to partake in their sins and remain single (or without taking another wife if one already has a wife when the divorce is transpired) for the one opportunity of repentance for their spouse to return.
1[29]:10 for this cause ye were enjoined to remain single, whether husband or wife; for in such cases repentance is possible.
1[29]:8 ".. one who hath sinned and repented must be received, yet not often; for there is but one repentance for the servants of Alahayim.
1[29]:11 I," said he, "am not giving an excuse that this matter should be concluded thus, but to the end that the sinner should sin no more. But as concerning his former sin, there is One Who is able to give healing; it is He Who hath authority over all things."
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This means a Brother or Sister is to remain single to give a believing spouse an opportunity to repent, yet the law does not give occasion for a spouse to continue in a cycle of fornication, divorce, and reconciliation as the intent is for the sinner to sin no more, so repentance is not often, but once for the servant of Alahayim.
Divorce for maid-wives:
Exo 21:7
And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
Exo 21:8
If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
Exo 21:10
If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
Exo 21:11
And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
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The daughter is free to get married again but only in the Lord [I Co 7:39] in this case of maid-wives.
A Testimony of the Original Laws on Divorce/Separation
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Let's look at the testimonies to see how Abraham fulfilled the original law of separating from his wife and not committing adultery by taking another wife but remaining unmarried for the sake of his wife's repentance. Abram lawfully married his first wife not having been divorced from another wife before marrying her:
Jasher 12:44
And at that time Nahor and Abram took unto themselves wives, the daughters of their brother Haran; the wife of Nahor was Milca and the name of Abram's wife was Sarai.
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He also lawfully married his second wife not having been divorced from his first wife to avoid committing adultery against her by marrying his second wife.
Gen 16:3
And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
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He now has two wives at this point in his life. No adultery has been committed because he did not divorce Sarai and marry Hagar. He stayed married to Sarai and in agreement with his wife, he took another wife, not for lust, but uprightly. He didn't cut his first wife off from his flesh to deal treacherously against her because Alahayim joined them together as one flesh. Now he and his second wife are also joined together as one flesh.
Gen 21:10
Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Gen 21:11
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
Gen 21:12
And Alahayim said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Gen 21:14
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
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The law showed Abram cannot re-marry if Hagar didn't commit fornication [Matt 19:9] and Hagar cannot re-marry lest it be adultery, [Mark 10:12] though it is lawful for them to separate and remain unmarried for the sake of peace. [I Co 7:11, 15] Hagar never remarried in scripture, hence Abram did not re-marry during the life of Hagar. Sarah was Abram's wife beforehand, so he didn’t break any law by remaining married to Sarah. Now, let us see if he broke the law by getting another wife while Hagar was put away to commit adultery against her.
Jubilee 19:11
And Abraham took to himself a third wife, and her name was Keturah, from among the daughters of his household servants, for Hagar had died before Sarah. And she bare him six sons, Zimram, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah, in the two weeks of years.
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Abraham only re-married because Sarah died and Hagar had died before Sarah, so he was free by law to marry again since they were dead {Rom 7:3} though neither had committed fornication against him.
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In conclusion, He married his two wives uprightly, not for lust nor by divorcing one, who had not committed fornication, to take another. Also, he didn't commit adultery against either because he remained unmarried to another wife when he sent away his second wife for the sake of her repentance.