But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery.
All Commentaries on Matthew 5:32 Go To Matthew 5
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Serm. in Mont., i, 14: By interposing this delay in the mode of putting away, the lawgiver showed as clearly as it could be shown to hard hearts, that hehated strife and disagreement. The Lord then so confirms this backwardness in the Law, as to except only one case, “the cause of fornication;” every other inconvenience which may have place, He bids us bear with patience inconsideration of the plighted troth of wedlock.
Yea, more, He declares the man who marries her who is put away an adulterer.
Retract., i, 19, 6: Yet I would not have the reader think this disputation ofours sufficient in a matter so arduous; for not every sin is spiritual fornication, nor does God destroy every sinner, for He hears His saints daily crying to Him, “Forgive us our debts;” but every man who goes a whoring and forsakes Him, him He destroys. Whether this be the fornication for which divorce is allowed is a most knotty question - for it is no question at all that it is allowed for the fornication by carnal sin.
lib. 83, Quaest. q. ult.: If any affirm that the only fornication for which the Lord allows divorce is that of carnal sin, he may see that the Lord has spoken of believing husbands and wives, forbidding either to leave the other except for fornication.
Serm. in Mont., i, 16: Not only does He permit to put away a wife who commits fornication, but whoso puts away a wife by whom he is driven to commit fornication, puts her away for the cause of fornication, both for his own sake and hers.
de Fid. et Op. 16: He also rightly puts away his wife to whom she shall say, I will not be your wife unless you get me money by robbery; or should require anyother crime to be done by him. If the husband here be truly penitent, he will cut off the limb that offends him.
