We are in need of understanding a question that has been tossed about in many minds and in ranks of Adventism. This question deals with the Words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, the mount of blessings and yet this verse has caused all sorts of complications and problems in the minds of people.

Matthew 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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.

Among the Jews a man was permitted to put away his wife for the most trivial offenses, and the woman was then at liberty to marry again. This practice led to great wretchedness and sin. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus declared plainly that there could be no dissolution of the marriage tie, except for unfaithfulness to the marriage vow. “Everyone,” He said, “that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.” R.V. {MB 63.1}

In Adventist Home this statement is qualified without any confusion whatsoever;

I saw that Sister Johnson as yet, has no right to marry another man; but if she, or any other woman, should obtain a divorce legally on the ground that her husband was guilty of adultery, then she is free to be married to whom she chooses… There is only one sin, which is adultery, which can place the husband or wife in a position where they can be free from the marriage vow in the sight of God. Adventist Home page 344

Even if it was possible because of Gods compassion in that exception to the rule, there is another side of the story. If a marriage falls into disarray there is a relationship with Jesus that is more precious than any other relationship which can take us through that scene which is a life long sore.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

This is one of the major problems in people honing in on certain aspects of their favourite hobby horses of belief. They will make issues of certain things and leave the other ones undone. This subject as the backdrop of our whole seminar is exactly what I am going to demonstrate to you. Mercy, judgment and faith – these are the weightier matters of the law. Jesus made it plain.

Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.  24 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

A legal religion has been thought quite the correct religion for this time. But it is a mistake. The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those who have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion. 1Selected Messages. page 388.1

If you’ve been under it you know exactly what Sr. White is writing about. It is cold, it is judgmental. It causes people to flee from such a company. There a many people on the subject of our discussion that have found that coldness on the stand that is made that there is no chance of remarriage after the partner has married another and committed adultery. This mentality of legal interpretation has shut out so many people from the grace that God’s faithful true people should imparting to them. 

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Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again:

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus declared plainly that there could be no dissolution of the marriage tie, except for unfaithfulness to the marriage vow. MB 63:1