Is It a Sin to Remarry After Divorce?

If you are divorced and wondering whether you may marry again, you are asking a real question, and you are welcome here. You are welcome to come to Christ exactly as you are, with your history and your questions. Many sincere Christians have wrestled with this, and they have not all reached the same answer. This article lays out the main views fairly, with the passages each side reads, and it does not tell you which one to take. It also says plainly what the whole church has always taught: God designed marriage to last for life, and divorce is always a grief.

If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out right now. In the United States and Canada call or text 988. In the United Kingdom and Ireland call Samaritans on 116 123. In Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Anywhere else, visit findahelpline.com or call your local emergency number.

What does the Bible actually say about divorce and remarriage?

Jesus spoke about this directly. When the Pharisees asked whether a man could divorce his wife for any reason, He pointed back to Genesis and to God’s design:

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. — Matthew 19:6 (BSB)

The passages that follow are the ones Christians read when they disagree about remarriage. In Matthew 19:9, Jesus speaks of a man who divorces his wife and marries another, and Matthew records an exception clause about sexual immorality. Matthew 5:32 says something similar. Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18 state the rule without listing an exception. Paul adds another situation in 1 Corinthians 7:15: if an unbelieving spouse leaves, the believer is not bound.

Christians agree these verses matter and that marriage is not to be treated lightly. They differ on how the exception clauses should be read, and that difference shapes the views below.

What are the main views Christians hold?

Christians who take these passages seriously have reached different conclusions. Each view below is held by sincere believers who love Scripture; they read the same texts differently.

View 1: Remarriage is permitted only after a divorce for sexual immorality or desertion by an unbeliever. This reading takes the exception clause in Matthew 19:9 as a real exception, and Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7:15 as a second one. Under this view, a person divorced for those reasons may marry again without sin. A person divorced for other reasons, such as incompatibility or drifting apart, is generally urged to remain unmarried or seek reconciliation, following Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11.

View 2: Remarriage is permitted in a wider range of hard cases. Many pastors and teachers hold that the exception clauses point to a principle, not a short list. They note that Jesus was addressing men who discarded wives on trivial pretexts, and that Scripture consistently sides with the vulnerable party. They also point to passages like 1 Corinthians 7:15 and to the reality of abuse, abandonment, and long-term adultery. Under this view, a person who has been sinned against in a serious way may marry again, and the church should show mercy rather than add a burden.

View 3: Remarriage after any divorce is not permitted while the first spouse lives. This is the strictest historic reading, held by some Christians in every century. It takes Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18 at face value, with no exceptions, and reads Romans 7:2-3 as teaching that marriage binds for life. Under this view, a divorced person may be reconciled to the first spouse or remain unmarried, but not remarry. Those who hold this view often do so out of reverence for Jesus’ words, not harshness.

A related question is whether a person who remarries after a divorce that did not meet the strict criteria is living in ongoing sin. Some say yes; others say the new marriage is a real marriage and should be honored, not undone. Faithful Christians differ here too.

What do all sides agree on?

Even where they disagree, Christians who take the Bible seriously agree on several things.

• Marriage is God’s good design, and He intends it to be a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman.
• Divorce is never God’s ideal. Malachi 2:16 records God saying He hates divorce, and the Bible treats it as a grief, not a neutral event.
• Adultery is sin, and so is abandoning a spouse without cause.
• God’s grace is not earned. Ephesians 2:8-9 says salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, so no divorced person is outside God’s mercy.
• Forgiveness is real. 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.
• The church should be a place of honesty and healing, not shame.

Does God forgive adultery and remarriage?

Yes. This is not a close question in Scripture. Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and that includes every person reading this. The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, and no category of sin is beyond His reach. If you have sinned in your marriage, in your divorce, or in a remarriage, the same gospel that saves anyone saves you. Repentance is turning to Christ, not earning your way back.

That said, forgiveness and wisdom are not the same thing. A person can be fully forgiven and still need to think carefully about what faithfulness looks like from here. That is why this question is best worked out with a pastor, in person, who knows your situation, and with much prayer. A pastor can help you read the passages, weigh your circumstances, and seek God’s will without pressure or shame.

What if I was the one who was left, or the one who sinned?

The Bible speaks tenderly to those who have been wronged. Psalm 34:18 says the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. If your spouse left you, betrayed you, or divorced you against your will, you did not choose that. Many Christians in that position are encouraged that they are free to marry again, especially if the departure fits 1 Corinthians 7:15. Others counsel waiting, praying, and seeking reconciliation where it is safe and possible. No one is required to remain in danger. If you are unsafe, please contact local emergency services and the crisis lines above.

If you were the one who sinned, the path is confession, honesty, and receiving grace. God does not despise a contrite heart. He also gives wisdom for the next step, which may include remaining unmarried for a season, or, in many Christian readings, marrying again with a clear conscience. 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God provides a way forward in every temptation.

How should I decide what to do?

No article can decide this for you. But here is a path many Christians have found helpful.

First, read the passages for yourself. Matthew 19:3-9, Matthew 5:32, Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 7:10-15, and Romans 7:2-3 are the core texts. Ask what each one says in its own context.

Second, pray honestly. Tell God what you want and what you fear. Ask for wisdom, and trust that He gives it.

Third, talk with a pastor or a mature believer who knows you. Bring your whole story. Ask them to help you weigh the views above without pressure.

Fourth, consider the fruit. A marriage that honors Christ will be marked by faithfulness, love, and a clear conscience. If you cannot marry with a clear conscience before God, that is worth listening to. If you can, that is also worth listening to.

Finally, remember that your standing before God does not rest on getting this perfectly right. It rests on Christ. The same Savior who welcomed the woman at the well welcomes you.

If you are in crisis, please reach out again: in the United States and Canada call or text 988; in the United Kingdom and Ireland call Samaritans on 116 123; in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14; anywhere else visit findahelpline.com or call your local emergency number.

Take this question to Scripture, to prayer, and to a local church. You do not have to carry it alone.

Common questions

Is remarriage a sin if my divorce was not for adultery?

Many Christians would say yes, based on Matthew 19:9 and Mark 10:11-12. Others would say no, pointing to God’s mercy and to the wider principle behind the exception clauses. Faithful Christians differ, and the question is best worked out with a pastor who knows your situation.

Can I be forgiven for divorcing my spouse?

Yes. 1 John 1:9 promises forgiveness to everyone who confesses. No sin, including divorce, is beyond the blood of Christ. Forgiveness does not always remove consequences, but it does restore your standing before God.

Does 1 Corinthians 7:15 allow remarriage if an unbelieving spouse leaves?

Many Christians read it that way, since Paul says the believer is not bound in such a case. Others read it as permission to let the spouse go, without speaking directly to remarriage. Both readings are held by serious Bible readers.

What if I am already remarried and now I am worried?

Bring your worry to God and to a pastor. Many Christians would say your current marriage is a real marriage to be honored and lived faithfully, not undone. Others would counsel differently. Either way, God’s grace meets you where you are.