Biblia inasema nini juu ya talaka na kuoa tena?
Swali: "Biblia inasema nini juu ya talaka na kuoa tena?"
Jibu: Kwanza ni muhimu kukumbuka maneno ya biblia katika malaki 2:16a: “ nachukia talaka, asema Bwana Mungu wa Israeli,” kulengana na biblia,mpango wa Mungu juu ya ndoa ni iwe ushikamano wa siku zote za mwanadamu duniani. “ Hata si wawili tena bali mmoja. Kwa hivyo kile Mungu amekiunganisha mwanadamu asikitenganishe” (mathayo 19:6). Mungu antambua ya kwamba kwa kuwa ndoa ni ya wenye dhambi wawili, talaka haina budi kutokea. Katika agano la kale aliweka shaeria za kulinda haki za watalaka hasa wanawake (kumbukumbu la torati 24:1-4). Yesu akasema sheria hizi zilitolewa kwa sababu ya ugumu wa mioyo ya wanadamu lakini hayakuwa mapenzi ya Mungu (Mathayo 19:8).
Utofauti wa maoni juu ya talaka na kuoa tena unatokana na maneno ya Yesu katika Mathayo 5:32 na 19:9. “isipokuwa kwa habari za uasherati” ndicho kipengele peke yake ambacho Mungu anatoa ruhusa ya talaka na kuoa tena katika maandiko. Wengi hutafsiri maneno haya kuwa ni kile kitendo cha zinaa kinachofanyika baada ya kuolewa. Katika mila na desturi za wayahudi mke na mme walihesabiwa kuwa wameoana toka wakati wa kuposwa kwa msichana. Kitendo cha mapenzi kilichofanyika wakati huu pia kingehesabiwa sababu ya kutosha talaka.
Neno la kigiriki lilitafsiriwa kumaanisha uasherati ni neno linaloweza kumaanisha kila aina ya uchafu wa kimapenzi kama zinaa, uasherati, ukahaba na kadhalika. Yesu anathibitisha kuwa talaka inakubalika mahali uchafu huu wa kimapenzi unapotendeka. Kitendo cha ngono ni cha umuhimu mkubwa katika ndoa “nao wawili watakuwa mwili mmoja” (mwanzo 2:24; Mathayo 19:5; waefeso 5:31). Kwa hivyo kosa la kufanya kitendo hicho nje ya ndoa inaweza kuwa sababu mwafaka ya talaka. Kama ni hivyo basi pia Yesu alikuwa na hoja ya kuoa tena. Katika kusema “na kuoa mwingine” (Mathayo 19:9) inathibitisha talaka na kuoa tena vinakubalika. Jambo muhimu ni kutambua ya kwamba ni wale waathiriwa na hali mbaya ya mapenzi nje ya ndoa pekee wanaokubaliwa kuoa tena. Kukubaliwa huku,ijapokuwa hakukutajwa moja kwa moja katika maandiko, ni huruma ya Mungu kwa yule aliyetendewa dhambi wala si kwa aliyetenda dhambi ya zinaa. Katika maandiko haya hayaelezi kama mwenye kutenda dhambi ya zinaa naye aruhusiwa kuoa au la.
Wengine hukubali wakorintho wa kwanza 7:15 kama maandiko yanayokubali kuoa tena kama mke ama mume asiyeamini akimtalaki mumewe au mkewe. Maandiko hapa hayasemi aoe tena ila tu yanagusia sehemu ya ushirikiano wao kuwa hafungwi aendelee na ndoa hiyo kama asiyeamini anataka talaka. Katika haya yote ni muhimu kujua kuwa jambo uslikuwa na uhakika nalo juu ya Mungu usilitende.
Kitendo hiki cha zinaa si sharti la talaka bali ni nafasi ya talaka. Hata kitendo hiki kikitendeka, kwa neema ya Mungu, mke na mme wanaweza kunusuru ndoa yao kwa kusameheana. Mungu ametusamehe mengi. Tunaweza kuiga mfano wake hata kiasi cha kusamehe dhambi ya zinaa (waefeso 4:32). Lakini mara nyingi watu hukosa toba halisi katika swala hili hata kiasi cha kuishi katika maisha ya zinaa. Hapo ndipo Mathayo 19:9 hutumika. Wakati mwingine watu huoa mapema baada ya talaka hata kama Munhu baado anawataka wakae bila ndoa. Mungu wakati mwingine huita mtu akiwa peke yake ili ushirika wake na Mungu usitatizwe na mtu. (wakorintho wa kwanza 7:32-35). Kuoa tena baada ya talaka ni mapenzi ya mtu binafsi lakini haimaanishi kuwa ndilo suluhisho pekee.
Ni jambo la kusikitisha kuona kuwa talaka za wakristo zimekuwa nyingi karibu sawa na za wale wasioamini duniani kote. Biblia inasisitiza kuwa Mungu hapendezewi na talaka (malaki 2:16 ) na kusameheana huko na kupatana upya ni alama mwafaka ya mwenye imani maishani (luka 11:4; waefeso 4:32). Mungu anatambua kuwa talaka itatendeka hata kati ya wanawe. Mwenye kutalakiwa au mwenye kuoa tena asijisikie kuwa hapendwi na Mungu sawa na wengine kama jambo hili limetukia maishani mwake wala si sawa na mathayo 19:9. Mungu hutumia hata hali ya dhambi ya mwanadamu kukamilisha mapenzi yake mema.
What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?
Question: "What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?"
Answer: First of all, no matter what view one takes on the issue of divorce, it is important to remember Malachi 2:16: “I hate divorce, says the LORD God of Israel.” According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment. “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:6). God realizes, though, that, since marriages involve two sinful human beings, divorces are going to occur. In the Old Testament, He laid down some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcées, especially women (Deuteronomy 24:1–4). Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people’s hearts, not because such laws were God’s desire (Matthew 19:8).
The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase “except for marital unfaithfulness” is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God’s permission for divorce and remarriage. Many interpreters understand this “exception clause” as referring to “marital unfaithfulness” during the “betrothal” period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged or “betrothed.” According to this view, immorality during this “betrothal” period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce.
However, the Greek word translated “marital unfaithfulness” is a word which can mean any form of sexual immorality. It can mean fornication, prostitution, adultery, etc. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: “the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). Therefore, any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce. If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage. The phrase “and marries another” (Matthew 19:9) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. It is important to note that only the innocent party is allowed to remarry. Although not stated in the text, it would seem the allowance for remarriage after divorce is God’s mercy for the one who was sinned against, not for the one who committed the sexual immorality. There may be instances where the “guilty party” is allowed to remarry, but they are not evident in this text.
Some understand 1 Corinthians 7:15 as another “exception,” allowing remarriage if an unbelieving spouse divorces a believer. However, the context does not mention remarriage but only says a believer is not bound to continue a marriage if an unbelieving spouse wants to leave. Others claim that abuse (spousal or child) is a valid reason for divorce even though it is not listed as such in the Bible. While this may very well be the case, it is never wise to presume upon the Word of God.
Sometimes lost in the debate over the exception clause is the fact that, whatever “marital unfaithfulness” means, it is an allowance for divorce, not a requirement for it. Even when adultery is committed, a couple can, through God’s grace, learn to forgive and begin rebuilding their marriage. God has forgiven us of so much more. Surely we can follow His example and even forgive the sin of adultery (Ephesians 4:32). However, in many instances a spouse is unrepentant and continues in sexual immorality. That is where Matthew 19:9 can possibly be applied. Many also look to quickly remarry after a divorce when God might desire them to remain single. God sometimes calls people to be single so that their attention is not divided (1 Corinthians 7:32–35). Remarriage after a divorce may be an option in some circumstances, but that does not mean it is the only option.
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and that reconciliation and forgiveness should mark a believer’s life (Luke 11:4; Ephesians 4:32). However, God recognizes that divorce will occur, even among His children. A divorced and/or remarried believer should not feel any less loved by God, even if the divorce and/or remarriage is not covered under the possible exception clause of Matthew 19:9.
Answer: First of all, no matter what view one takes on the issue of divorce, it is important to remember Malachi 2:16: “I hate divorce, says the LORD God of Israel.” According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment. “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:6). God realizes, though, that, since marriages involve two sinful human beings, divorces are going to occur. In the Old Testament, He laid down some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcées, especially women (Deuteronomy 24:1–4). Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people’s hearts, not because such laws were God’s desire (Matthew 19:8).
The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase “except for marital unfaithfulness” is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God’s permission for divorce and remarriage. Many interpreters understand this “exception clause” as referring to “marital unfaithfulness” during the “betrothal” period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged or “betrothed.” According to this view, immorality during this “betrothal” period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce.
However, the Greek word translated “marital unfaithfulness” is a word which can mean any form of sexual immorality. It can mean fornication, prostitution, adultery, etc. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: “the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). Therefore, any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce. If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage. The phrase “and marries another” (Matthew 19:9) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. It is important to note that only the innocent party is allowed to remarry. Although not stated in the text, it would seem the allowance for remarriage after divorce is God’s mercy for the one who was sinned against, not for the one who committed the sexual immorality. There may be instances where the “guilty party” is allowed to remarry, but they are not evident in this text.
Some understand 1 Corinthians 7:15 as another “exception,” allowing remarriage if an unbelieving spouse divorces a believer. However, the context does not mention remarriage but only says a believer is not bound to continue a marriage if an unbelieving spouse wants to leave. Others claim that abuse (spousal or child) is a valid reason for divorce even though it is not listed as such in the Bible. While this may very well be the case, it is never wise to presume upon the Word of God.
Sometimes lost in the debate over the exception clause is the fact that, whatever “marital unfaithfulness” means, it is an allowance for divorce, not a requirement for it. Even when adultery is committed, a couple can, through God’s grace, learn to forgive and begin rebuilding their marriage. God has forgiven us of so much more. Surely we can follow His example and even forgive the sin of adultery (Ephesians 4:32). However, in many instances a spouse is unrepentant and continues in sexual immorality. That is where Matthew 19:9 can possibly be applied. Many also look to quickly remarry after a divorce when God might desire them to remain single. God sometimes calls people to be single so that their attention is not divided (1 Corinthians 7:32–35). Remarriage after a divorce may be an option in some circumstances, but that does not mean it is the only option.
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and that reconciliation and forgiveness should mark a believer’s life (Luke 11:4; Ephesians 4:32). However, God recognizes that divorce will occur, even among His children. A divorced and/or remarried believer should not feel any less loved by God, even if the divorce and/or remarriage is not covered under the possible exception clause of Matthew 19:9.
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