"Saving for the Cause of Fornication": Understanding Matthew 5:32
In short
In Matthew 5:32 Jesus says that a man who divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery, "saving for the cause of fornication." The Greek word is porneia. Readings divide: many Protestant churches see this exception clause as permitting divorce after sexual unfaithfulness, while churches that hold marriage indissoluble, including the Catholic Church, read it far more narrowly.
What the full article will cover
- What does Matthew 5:32 say?
- What does porneia mean in the exception clause?
- How do Protestant churches apply the exception?
- How does Catholic teaching read the verse?
- How does Matthew 19:9 compare?
Frequently asked questions
- Is fornication grounds for divorce in the Bible?
- Why does the KJV say fornication instead of adultery here?
- Does Mark's Gospel include the same exception?
Sources
- biblegateway.com — https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A32&version=KJV;NIV;ESV
- blueletterbible.org — https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4202/kjv/tr/0-1/
General information, not legal or religious advice.