The Bible addresses remarriage in several passages, primarily in the Gospels (Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18) and 1 Corinthians 7, with Jesus allowing divorce and remarriage for sexual immorality (porneia), while Paul adds that if an unbelieving spouse leaves, the believing spouse is "not enslaved" (1 Cor 7:15). Mainstream views emphasize marriage as a lifelong covenant, with death dissolving it, but permit remarriage after death or in cases of adultery/abandonment, though interpretations vary on the specifics.
While Jesus makes it plain that divorce and remarriage without biblical grounds is sinfully adulterous (Matt. 19:9; cf. 1 Cor. 7:10–11), he also acknowledges that those who are divorced are truly divorced (not still married in God's eyes) and those who have remarried are truly married.
Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery. Thus, while recognizing exceptional circumstances for divorce, the Roman Catholic Church, for example, does not recognize remarriage as permissible.
The argument against remarriage is clear and simple and seemingly irrefutable: Jesus said whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 5:32, 19:9, Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18).
Matthew 19:9 condemns the remarriage of the “innocent party” as adultery.
The short answer: If sin was involved in your past divorce, yes, that needs repentance—but once confessed, it is forgiven in Christ. If you've remarried, your new marriage is a covenant before God. God's call is not to tear apart that relationship, but to make it holy and faithful.
The Bible teaches that divorce is not allowed by God unless there is adultery within the marriage. If divorced, remarriage is not permitted unless the spouse has died. Only then is the bond broken by death.
The only unforgivable sin is the sin of refusing to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. Neither divorce nor remarriage is in itself the unforgivable sin any more than murder, stealing, lying or coveting. "All sins will be forgiven the sons of men" (Mark 3:28).
In the Gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ says that to divorce one's wife and marry another is to commit adultery (Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18).
This article explores the three commonly accepted biblical grounds for divorce—adultery, abandonment, and abuse—and their relevance today.
In cases where a believer obtained a divorce on unbiblical grounds and remarried, he or she is guilty of the sin of adultery until that sin is confessed (Mark 10:11-12). God does forgive that sin immediately when repentance takes place, and there is nothing in Scripture to indicate anything other than that.
Though the Bible does not specifically forbid having multiple wives or husbands, it is not God's original plan. The Lord's expectation for marriage is that it be held as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman.
Mark 10:11-12 (ESV) – “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” Jesus emphasizes that divorce and remarriage can lead to adultery.
Paul does not encourage remarriage after divorce, but he also does not condemn it for innocent parties (1 Corinthians 7:27–28). Remarriage establishes a new marriage covenant. Scripture makes it clear that spouses who sinfully break their marriage covenant to marry another commit adultery.
In Matthew 5:32, Jesus answered this question directly – anyone who marries a divorced person also commits adultery. Unless your partner dies, the Bible is against remarriage. 1 Corinthians 7:39 - A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.
In evaluating the Scriptural texts in regard to marriage, divorce, and remarriage the Bible points to the marriage bond as ending only in death, not merely being severed by legal divorce, thereby prohibiting remarriage following divorce no matter the circumstance (Matthew 19:6, Romans 7:1-3, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11,39).
The 7-7-7 rule is a structured method for couples to regularly reconnect, involving a date night every 7 days, a weekend getaway every 7 weeks, and a kid-free vacation every 7 months.
U.S. law is set up so that people who divorce and remarry after getting a green card through marriage are expected to wait at least five years after they got their permanent residence before petitioning for a new spouse to receive the same benefit.
The four behaviors that predict over 90% of divorces, known as Dr. John Gottman's "Four Horsemen," are Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling, which erode connection, respect, and safety, leading to relationship breakdown. These destructive communication patterns, if persistent, signal that a marriage is likely to end, with contempt being the most damaging.
“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”9 Here, the phrase “and marries another” raises the issue of remarriage. Jesus states that divorcing a mate on the grounds of immorality frees the offended mate to remarry without committing adultery.
Biblical abandonment is typically discerned with much input from church elders. Essentially, it is when an unbelieving spouse initiates a divorce against a believing spouse.
Impacts of Remarriage
When either spouse remarries, it could affect child support and spousal support. A second marriage resulting in blended families can also affect other factors, including time-sharing and estate planning.
The Bible affirms that widows and widowers can remarry after the death of their spouse (Rom 7:3; 1 Cor 7:39; Gen 25:1; Deut 25:5–10). Scripture says much less, however, about remarriage after divorce while a spouse still lives.
There may be a desire to re-establish a sense of normalcy quickly – even if it means rushing headlong into another marriage. Men tend to remarry within one to three years following a divorce, although older men with a stable financial history may remarry even faster.
Unfortunately, the Bible only directly addresses two reasons for divorce: adultery and a certain kind of abandonment, which we will discuss.