Divorce

Divorce is a sin in the eyes of God, and can lead to quite drastic consequences for those involved, including damnation of entire family lines.

In Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 God's views on divorce are most clearly articulated:

"32: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery" (Matthew 5: 32) and, "9: And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matthew 19: 9)

Most biblical scholars agree that these lines function as a total prohibition against divorce (as adultery is a sin) with a few scholars being of the view that "except it be for fornication" indicates that if one spouse commited adultery themselves then the other spouse is free of the marriage and may legally divorce. Many scholars, however, contend that these exceptions are not well founded in the scriptures.

In any event, it is clear that unless one spouse cheats on the other the institution of marraige in God's eyes lasts for all life, and that divorce is not recognized, and in fact the sin of adultery, resulting in eternal damnation.

The further consequences of adultery are played out more radically in Deuteronomy 23:2, when it is stated:

"2: A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD." (Deuteronomy 23:2)

This is translated to mean that anyone born after a divorce, or anyone not in a marriage approved by God, will go to hell along with his next ten generations.