Pastorally, this has become one of the most difficult issues for church leaders.  The rising incidence of divorce and remarriage appears to challenge Jesus' teaching.  But there is no right way to change His words or assume that they do not mean what they say.  Neither is there any room for the self-righteous gloating of those who have not divorced and remarried because Jesus also said, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28).

Marriage did not start as a Christian rite or cultural norm in Christianised countries.  Marriage is a creation ordinance: that is, it was an integral part of God’s plan of creation.  It is first stated in Genesis 2:20-24.  After Adam gave named identities to all animal life, none of them could provide appropriate companionship.  The man was different from them.  He had a different nature, one which could respond to God because he was made in the image of God with delegated responsibility to manage God’s creation (Genesis 1:26-28).  

In Genesis 2:24 we read, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."  This is one of the few verses which is repeated by the prophets, Jesus and the Apostles (Malachi 2:15-16; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9;  1 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 5:31), and for that reason alone we know that God has not changed His mind.  God's intention is that one man and one woman should live in mutual faithfulness until separated by death.  The closeness of that bond is so important that it acts as an example of the relationship between God and His people (Malachi 2:10-14; Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 21:1-2).   

Marriage is God's primary and essential building block for the stability of society.  However, we also know that weak humanity continually challenges God's Word, becomes hard-hearted (Mark 10:2-9) and easily tempted to sin.  But God does not make marital faithfulness optional.  Jesus strongly affirmed this divinely appointed way to live in society.  Whenever it does not work as God intended there is always pain, often for many people, and only God's grace can relieve it (2 Corinthians 12:9).  As with all sinfulness, we should repent, go back and ask for God's help to be true to Him in the future.  Whatever mistakes we cannot undo, we must also confess them, asking for the covering of His mercy and for daily grace to help us (Hebrews 4:15-16) because God is as kind as He is righteous.  But He does not want those around us to be ignorant about what is best.  We have a responsibility to explain to those who look up to us, that our sinfulness is not acceptable to God, but when we repent, His mercy and grace flows into our brokenness.  Let us not dilute the truth.  Let us be clear about what God has planned.  That is the way of blessing, not only for individuals but for the whole of each new generation.