The Reformed Olive Press

Matthew 5 and Divorce: Grounds for Abuse Divorce is one of the most controversial issues in the Church today. In the Bible, there is a handful of passages that talk about marriage and divorce-more in the New than in the Old Testament. Unfortunately, the Church has done a poor job in the areas of abuse. Most Christians believe that there are ONLY two permissible reasons :Physical Adultery and Physical Abandonment. Simply because it is explicit. In one of the infamous divorce passages in Matthew 5, if you noticed VERY CAREFULLY, Jesus talks about Lust BEFORE and OATHS after the topic of divorce. If we interpret Lust and Oaths figuratively, then TO BE CONSISTENT you need to interpret the divorce passage figuratively as well. Otherwise, you would need to chop off your limbs and LITERALLY never make an oath, which would be a difficult if not possible venture. We all make oaths for marriage, court proceedings, work, loans, extracurricular activity memb

                                                          Abuse in the Old Covenant Was a woman under the mercy of her husband if she wanted a divorce in the Old Testament? Not necessarily. The OC wife could file a divorce claim to the Jewish Court for review. One example is a lack of provision in Exo 21:10-11. If deemed neglectful or abusive, or if the husband drags out the legal proceedings, they can pressure him by targeting his social reputation or use other methods to make him approve the divorce. Although scripture teaches marital principles, it wasn't intended to be a manifesto on marriage. For example the following OC scenarios are probable and considered legitimate reasons for divorce, but not clearly listed in scripture: Husband murders a slave/child. Tells wife to keep it a secret. Exo 21:20-21. Giving money to Mother Withholding sexual intimacy Gambling. Taking multiple high rate loans to financially hurt the family. Ecc 5:5. Harboring dangerous Gentil

                                                  The End is NEAR/AT HAND: Old Testament Edition         Ezekiel 30:3 English Standard Version 3      For the day is NEAR , the day of the Lord is NEAR ; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. Context: God judges Egypt by using Babylon.   Isaiah 13:6 English Standard Version 6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is NEAR ; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Context: God judges Babylon by using the Medes.   Isaiah 13:22 English Standard Version 22 Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at HAND and its days will not be prolonged. Context: God judges Babylon by using the Medes.   Jeremiah 48:16 English Standard Version 16 The calamity of Moab is NEAR at HAND , and his affliction hastens swiftly. Context: God judges Moab by using Babylon.   Ezekiel 12:25-28 English Standard Version 25 For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak, a

Gray=Indirect Conclusion of the Text White=What the Text says Reflections based on the Chart ·          No such thing as a dead person (flesh and blood) or disembodied spirit in Heaven. A Spiritual BODY is essential for Heaven. ·          No such thing as a dead person WITH a Spiritual Body in Heaven-NOT inheriting the Kingdom of God. Inheritors are essential for Spiritual Bodies. ·          You have to have a Spiritual Body to inherit the Kingdom of God. The text leaves no wiggle room for a third category-Disembodied Spirit. ·          To say you don’t have a Spiritual Body (when you die) AND that you are waiting for the resurrection………. is to say that “Death has NOT been defeated” and you are still under the Old Covenant Law-The image of Adam. ·          You cannot separate the resurrection from the New Covenant. They are tied to together. A completed resurrection is essential. If you deny this, you are under the Old Covenant Law-The image of Adam.   ·          By logi