Remarriage after divorce isn’t always adultery; God allows it in specific cases like adultery or abandonment. While lifelong faithfulness is God’s ideal, His grace covers brokenness, calling us to faithfulness and forgiveness rather than judgment.
The Bible shows that remarriage after divorce is not always adulterous, especially when the divorce is biblically justified, such as in cases of adultery or abandonment. God’s ideal for marriage is lifelong commitment between one man and one woman; however, life does not always go according to plan. Still, God has parameters for when divorce is acceptable, and He has presented those in the Bible. Jesus teaches that divorcing a faithful spouse and remarrying is adultery, with a few specific exceptions where remarriage is allowed. While remarriage after an unbiblical divorce is sinful, once remarried, the couple is called to faithfulness and should not divorce again. Believers are encouraged to extend grace and support to divorced and remarried individuals, focusing on God’s forgiveness and ongoing commitment rather than past mistakes.
Divorce and remarriage are serious matters that require careful reflection on God’s standards and grace. While the Bible teaches that remarriage after an unbiblical divorce is adultery, it also shows that remarriage itself is not always sinful—especially when the divorce is biblically justified, such as in cases of adultery or when a spouse dies. This reminds us that God’s ideal is lifelong faithfulness, but He also understands human brokenness and provides specific allowances. Decisions about marriage and remarriage require us to seek God’s truth, not simply operate out of fear of loneliness or societal expectations.
If a divorced person remarries unbiblically, the sin is in the decision and act of remarrying; being in a marriage that was formed against the teaching of Scripture is not a state of sin. Despite the origin of the marriage, God still joined the two together. The couple should not divorce, which would be adding sin to sin (Matthew 19:6); they should not let anyone compel them to consider divorce. The adultery occurred between the decision to marry and the wedding day; it does not continue every time the couple consummates their marriage or in their day-to-day married lives.
Furthermore, knowing that a remarried couple joined by God is called to remain faithful regardless of past mistakes challenges us to practice grace and commitment toward others. Even if the beginning of a marriage was complicated or marked by past sin, the ongoing relationship is not defined by that initial sin but by faithfulness moving forward. This encourages us as believers to support others who have faced divorce and remarriage with compassion and point them to faithfulness. We’re to remind them—and ourselves—that God’s forgiveness and restoration can bring new life and hope, as long as we commit to walking obediently with Him.