Tuesday, September 26: “Staying Friends”
Matthew 5: 32: “Everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Jesus speaks here against those who see a spouse not as a relationship partner, but as a useful tool to help them satisfy their lust. When the thrill is gone, so is their usefulness, and so is the marriage; they become enemies. But marriage, like all relationships, must be based on mutual respect and value of each other, not lust. Anything else is a base commoditization of the other person. Just as with any relationship based on what one receives from the other (v. 28), it is no better than adultery, and those involved are no better than enemies.
