Divorce back then is not the same as divorce these days, said Pastor Ed Lapiz of Day by Day Christian Ministries Bulwagan ng Panginoon said.
Lapiz explained that divorce according to God and the biblical passage that says “God hates divorce” meant that Yahweh hated unilaterally divorcing one’s wife as to Him this was cruelty – which was the practice of Israelites back then.
Divorce disadvantaged women both within the marriage and after the divorce. God hated the cruelty that characterized traditional Jewish divorce. God hates the abusive and cruel divorce done only to serve the husband’s selfish interest, Lapiz said.
“Ito ang problema pag pumitas ka ng verse na thousands of years old at ia-apply mo bigla sa buhay mo ngayon ng hindi mo naman naiintindihan ang ibig sabihin noon, tapos pipilitin mong i-apply ngayon. Nagmumukha tuloy unreasonable ang Diyos.” said Lapiz. (That’s the problem when you pick a verse from thousands of years ago then apply it in the present context without understanding what the verse meant during those days.)
Lapiz said Jesus set women free from the traditional chains that bound them to their male partners. Jesus restrained the men from divorcing their wives capriciously.
God hates divorce done to get rid of an innocent spouse. But Jesus approves of divorce for the victim to separate from an unfaithful partner. “The law had to be updated.” said Lapiz
