The Deuteronomic Divorce Law
Deuteronomy 24:1–4 contains the only explicit legislation on divorce in the Pentateuch. The passage permits a man to divorce his wife by giving her a "certificate of divorce" (sēper kĕrîtut) if he finds "some indecency" (ʿerwat dābār) in her. The precise meaning of "some indecency" was debated in rabbinic Judaism: the school of Shammai interpreted it narrowly as sexual immorality, while the school of Hillel interpreted it broadly as any displeasure. The passage does not command divorce but regulates it, and its primary concern is to protect the divorced woman by requiring a formal legal document that establishes her freedom to remarry.
The theological context of the passage is important. Deuteronomy 24:1–4 does not present divorce as God's ideal but as a concession to human hardness of heart — a point Jesus makes explicit in Matthew 19:8. The certificate of divorce is a protective measure for women in a patriarchal society where a woman without legal documentation of her divorce would be in a precarious social and legal position.
Jesus's Teaching on Divorce
Jesus's engagement with the Deuteronomic divorce law in Matthew 19:3–12 and Mark 10:2–12 is one of the most debated passages in the New Testament. Jesus appeals to the creation order (Genesis 1:27; 2:24) to establish the permanence of marriage as God's original intention, and then interprets the Deuteronomic certificate of divorce as a concession to human sinfulness: "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so" (Matthew 19:8).
The exception clause in Matthew 19:9 ("except for sexual immorality") has generated extensive debate. Most scholars interpret it as permitting divorce in cases of sexual unfaithfulness, though the precise scope of the exception is disputed. The pastoral challenge is to hold together Jesus's affirmation of marriage's permanence with his recognition that divorce is sometimes a tragic reality in a fallen world.
Pastoral Care for the Divorced
Christian counselors and pastors working with divorced individuals face the challenge of applying biblical principles with both theological integrity and pastoral compassion. The Deuteronomic certificate of divorce, whatever its limitations, reflects a concern for the dignity and protection of the vulnerable party in a divorce. This concern for the vulnerable should characterize the church's pastoral response to divorce.
Practical pastoral care for the divorced includes: creating communities of belonging where divorced individuals are not stigmatized; providing counseling that addresses grief, anger, and the complex emotions of marital breakdown; offering practical support for single parents; and developing theologically grounded frameworks for thinking about remarriage. The goal is not to minimize the seriousness of divorce but to extend the same grace to the divorced that God extends to all who have fallen short of his ideal.
Implications for Ministry and Credentialing
The Deuteronomic divorce law and Jesus's teaching provide a biblical framework for pastoral care of the divorced. Christian counselors can draw on these texts to develop compassionate, theologically grounded approaches to divorce ministry. Abide University offers courses in marriage and family counseling.
For ministry professionals seeking to formalize their expertise, the Abide University Retroactive Assessment Program offers a pathway to academic credentialing that recognizes prior learning and pastoral experience.
References
- Instone-Brewer, David. Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible. Eerdmans, 2002.
- Tigay, Jeffrey H.. Deuteronomy. JPS Torah Commentary, 1996.
- Keener, Craig S.. ...And Marries Another: Divorce and Remarriage in the Teaching of the New Testament. Hendrickson, 1991.
- Wenham, Gordon J.. Jesus and Divorce. Paternoster, 1984.
- Block, Daniel I.. Deuteronomy. Zondervan (NIV Application Commentary), 2012.