Let me out, Let me out!
Reading: Matthew 19:1-12
“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts
were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning” (Mt 19:8)
Innumerable women are trapped in a brutal marriage, crying to be let out. But society would not let them out. They are condemned for “breaking the one-flesh bond,” and deserting their husbands; for not being adjustable and forgiving. Jesus was not so inconsiderate. He knew the pain a woman undergoes in such a marriage and provided them a way out so that they need not suffer any more beause of the “hard heart” of the husbands.
The one Biblical reason for divorce is adultery. It was not a commandment but a “permission,” meaning, if at all the wife can put up with it hoping for a change in her husband, let her live with him. But if the husband is a habitual adulterer and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, if her mind is getting affected or she develops a tendency to kill herself or her husband or the children, if she is driven to extremes of behaviour, then it will be better for her to obtain a divorce to save herself and her children.
A Tamil proverb says that even if God gives a blessing, the priest will not pass it on to the devotee. It is the same today in India where many women are forced to live under torturous conditions to “save her testimony.” See how kind God was even during the Law period towards mistreated women — “If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money” (Ex 21:9-11). So how is a wife to be treated in the period of grace? Don’t kill her by your hard heart, let her go free.
Discouraging the right women at the right time from getting a divorce is telling them that God has misguided us when He said divorce is right in the case of adultery. Mary’s husband Joseph being a just man, had in mind a quiet divorce. How do you explain that? Being just can lead you to divorce. The inevitable has to be accepted so that the woman will be free of the physical and emotional abuse.
Do not look down upon divorcees. Empathise with them. There are too many people to condemn, criticize and advice them. But what they need are love, understanding and support.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Let me out, Let me out!
Reading: Matthew 19:1-12
“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts
were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning” (Mt 19:8)
Innumerable women are trapped in a brutal marriage, crying to be let out. But society would not let them out. They are condemned for “breaking the one-flesh bond,” and deserting their husbands; for not being adjustable and forgiving. Jesus was not so inconsiderate. He knew the pain a woman undergoes in such a marriage and provided them a way out so that they need not suffer any more beause of the “hard heart” of the husbands.
The one Biblical reason for divorce is adultery. It was not a commandment but a “permission,” meaning, if at all the wife can put up with it hoping for a change in her husband, let her live with him. But if the husband is a habitual adulterer and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, if her mind is getting affected or she develops a tendency to kill herself or her husband or the children, if she is driven to extremes of behaviour, then it will be better for her to obtain a divorce to save herself and her children.
A Tamil proverb says that even if God gives a blessing, the priest will not pass it on to the devotee. It is the same today in India where many women are forced to live under torturous conditions to “save her testimony.” See how kind God was even during the Law period towards mistreated women — “If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money” (Ex 21:9-11). So how is a wife to be treated in the period of grace? Don’t kill her by your hard heart, let her go free.
Discouraging the right women at the right time from getting a divorce is telling them that God has misguided us when He said divorce is right in the case of adultery. Mary’s husband Joseph being a just man, had in mind a quiet divorce. How do you explain that? Being just can lead you to divorce. The inevitable has to be accepted so that the woman will be free of the physical and emotional abuse.
Do not look down upon divorcees. Empathise with them. There are too many people to condemn, criticize and advice them. But what they need are love, understanding and support.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
