ACC ~ Matthew 5 v31

LET NO ONE PUT ASUNDER WHAT GOD HAS JOINED

CHROMATIUS: In all things our Lord and Savior reforms for the better the justice of the ancient law. Indeed, it seems that long ago a license for divorce was granted by Moses on tenuous grounds to the Jewish people who were living licentiously and serving their pleasures. This was due not to the system of law but to the unbridled pleasure of a carnal people unable to uphold the righteousness of the law according to rigorous standards.

This concession was allowed, according to what the Lord himself said in another place in his reply to the inquiring Sadducees. For when they asked why Moses had allowed a bill of divorce to be given, the Lord answered, “Moses, by reason of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to put away your wives, but it was not so from the beginning.” [1] And now, not without good reason does our Lord and Savior, with that license removed, restore the precepts of his former constitution. For he orders that chaste wedlock be preserved by indissoluble law, showing that the law of marriage was first instituted by himself. For he said, “What therefore God has joined together, let no one put asunder.” [2] TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 24.1.1-3. [3]

[1] Mt 19:8.

[2] Mt 19:6; Mk 10:9.

[3] CCL 9a:309.

FOUR INJUSTICES SIMULTANEOUSLY COMMITTED IN DIVORCE

ANONYMOUS: When he spoke about someone who gets angry without cause and who is consumed with lust, he deftly introduced the commandment about putting away wives. For if he who gets angry with his brother without cause is liable to judgment, how will that person not be liable who, without the sin of fornication, so hates his wife that he puts her away? But you say, “My wife has a lot of faults.” So what? Are you without fault? If we must bear the weaknesses of strangers according to the apostle, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ,” [1] how much more must we bear those of wives? If a man looks with lust at a woman, he commits adultery with her in his heart. How will that person not be held to account for adultery who puts away his wife and gives her occasion to commit adulteries, so that she too commits adultery with another and he with her? For a Christian must both remain undefiled and not give others an occasion to defile themselves. Otherwise their wrongdoing redounds to the sin of him who becomes the cause of sin for others. Note also that whoever gives a certificate of divorce according to the law commits four injustices at the same time. First, as far as God is concerned, there is a killing that is occuring. [2] Second, the man has put aside a woman who has not committed fornication. Third, he has made an adulteress out of her. Fourth, if he takes her back again, he still commits adultery. None of these injustices are committed, however, when Christ’s commandment has been kept. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 12. [3]

[1] Gal 6:2.

[2] A murder is taking place, the death of a relationship.

[3] PG 56:697.