Remember the Bible story about the woman who was caught in adultery and the Pharisees wanted to stone her but Jesus rained on their parade with His famous line, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?” And do you remember that Jesus didn’t condemn her and sent her on her way telling her to sin no more?

Have you ever thought about that woman’s husband? That poor guy was a victim of infidelity. Imagine the hurt and humiliation he suffered. Surely Jesus did not expect him to stay married to his betrayer. Maybe Jesus pulled that husband aside and said, “Your wife’s sins have been forgiven but she must still face the consequences of her bad choices. Divorce her if that seems right to you. I don’t condemn you. Be at peace.”

Be honest, you always just assumed that woman was restored to fellowship, right? Her husband welcomed her back with open arms. It never occurred to you that the adulteress’s husband might use Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 5 to kick her to the curb. Right?

One of the reasons you’ve ignored the adulteress’s husband may be that your head is full of bad teaching from irresponsible pastors who say stuff like:

“We should come along side the victims of infidelity and support them in whatever decisions they make. We should NOT be pressuring them to save the marriage when, in fact, many of these “saves” are not truly saves at all.”

This is a PASTOR saying we should NOT ‘pressure’ fellow Christians into keeping their vows. This is a PASTOR telling me I can treat my wife in whatever manner I see fit if she ever cheats on me. The church is compelled to support me in whatever decision I make.

See the problem? If not, you’re completely consumed by selfishness. Ask God to open your eyes. (If you’re angry at me for calling you selfish, that’s not coming from the Holy Spirit.)

If you see the problem, here’s the hard part. Apply the problem to your personal situation. Your circumstances are not unique. Your marriage is not special. I know it stings to hear this, but that’s the nature of truth. It hurts sometimes. Then it sets you free.

(Matthew 5:32) “But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”