Jesus makes it clear that divorce followed by remarriage constitutes adultery. 1 In a society where only men initiated a divorce, kingdom citizens must not think that they are obedient to the seventh commandment when they divorce their wives and marry someone else. In saying this, it is clear that Jesus assumes that marriage is a lifelong bond and that divorce is contrary to God’s will for marriage (see Matthew 19:3–9). 2 Jesus’ comments also imply that the husband is responsible for the adultery of his wife, and her new husband, if he should divorce her where there was no marital unfaithfulness. 3 He must act quickly to reconcile with his wife before someone else rushes in to marry her. 4 Presumably, if there was marital unfaithfulness, then the husband is not responsible for his wife’s adultery, or the man who marries her, should she decide to get remarried.
32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.