[Ex-Wretch]

Separating because of an adulterous spouse is because forgiveness is not forthcoming from the abused spouse. Even so, if they put the offending party away (divorce) given the permission you note, you still miss the other question, namely: Where is the Lord's permission/blessing to remarry someone other than his/her original spouse? Point being ... HE NEVER GAVE APPROVAL, PERMISSION OR BLESSING. Why? BECAUSE IT WOULD BE ADULTERY! If the couple reconcile or if one spouse dies. Those are the only allowances provided. All else is not blessed by Him.

[FormerLib]

HE NEVER GAVE APPROVAL, PERMISSION OR BLESSING.

No, you miss the point. Jesus is not discussing this with people for whom this idea is a blank slate. Jewish practice at the time allowed for remarriage after divorce. Now Jesus is saying that divorce is only acceptable for a very narrow set of circumstances and he does not even mention remarriage. That suggests that he is not modifying the practice concerning remarriage after divorce, only that he is restricting divorce.

[ladyinred]

Separating because of an adulterous spouse is because forgiveness is not forthcoming from the abused spouse

I divorced an unfaithful husband who was also beating me. Are you saying God expected me to stay married to him and just forgive him? Am I understanding what you mean?

[OMalley]

**Separating because of an adulterous spouse is because forgiveness is not forthcoming from the abused spouse**

i had a simular situation here to ladyinred, im curious that you only see it as the fault of the one cheated on, when infact many the adultrous spouses leave for the mistress/lover, not because one is unwilling to forgive.