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Let's begin this study by looking at the definition of two words that are very important to this topic: “evidence” and “prejudice.”
Evidence is: "that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof" (Dictionary.com).
"the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid" (Web)
"A thing or things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment" (The Free Dictionary).
Evidence should be our sole criteria for making judgments pertaining to biblical issues. The word "prejudice" means to "pre-judge" and this is what we do if/when we make judgments or draw conclusions without first honestly evaluating evidence.
Prejudice is - "An opinion formed beforehand, esp an unfavorable one based on inadequate facts" (World English Dictionary).
With the above defined words in mind let us now look closely at the following basic facts and comments that we might draw a true an accurate conclusion pertaining to the question, “Who may marry?”:
1. Jesus said a woman that is "put away," which is only part of the divorce process, will commit adultery if she marries another. We must accept what Jesus said rather than what is assumed and asserted to be true by men who purport to be scholars (1 Cor. 4:6). Some scholars claim that apoluo is "used of divorce." The one text noted as evidence is Matthew 1:19 where the couple obviously were not yet married (Matt. 1:19), thus it is apparent that using this as a reason to define apoluo as legal divorce is not warranted.
Divorce is defined in Deut. 24:1, 2; Jer. 3:8:14 to include a certificate to be given to the woman so she may marry another. Good hermeneutics, when applied, will not allow for the idea that apoluo was used by Jesus to indicate any more than the common meaning of the word.
2. Jesus promised not to change the Law (any part of it) before "all is fulfilled" (Matt. 5:17-19). The Law (Deut. 24:1, 2) allowed the divorced woman to "go be another man's wife." Thus, he could not have said a divorced person commits adultery if he/she marries because this would make him a liar--a consequence that true friends of Jesus cannot accept. The Law allowed the woman to "go be another man's wife" and the man could have multiple wives.
3. If Jesus taught that a divorced person commits adultery in a subsequent marriage he obviously did it during the time of the Mosaic dispensation since his comments were directed to the Jews while the Mosaic Law was in effect. Yet, Jesus' enemies, who sought to destroy him, did not charge him with teaching contrary to the Law regarding divorce. This must be given great consideration when seeking to determine what the Bible teaches regarding the question "who may marry?" Some insist that this kind of argument proves nothing. Yet Paul used such logic to prove that he was not, as some charged, teaching the Law. He said, "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased" (Gal.. 5:11).
4. If Jesus taught that a divorced person commits adultery in a subsequent marriage then Moses taught what God did not want. It is argued that Jesus changed the Law of Moses because Moses merely allowed divorced woman to marry because of the hardness of men's heart. But is that really an argument that the divorce law was temporary? Have men changed?
5. If Jesus taught that a divorced person commits adultery in a subsequent marriage then why do preachers today apply the teaching to both woman and men contrary to the context thy use to support their teaching (Matt. 19:9)? This text simply does not say a man will commit adultery if he marries another. Jesus explained that the man commits adultery “against her” (the woman he sends away rather than with the woman in a new marriage, according to Mark 10:11). Since it is an indisputable fact that the man could have more than one wife he was never forbidden to have a spouse or to take another, whether he divorced a current wife or just sent her away. The sin the man committed, explained in Marks account, was not the sin of divorce, though that is not being justified by Jesus, but the sin of NOT following God's Law for divorcing, which placed a hardship on the woman.
6. If Jesus taught that a divorced person commits adultery in a subsequent marriage then God is not fair and just since such teaching would punish innocent persons who were divorced against their will with celibacy. Not only is God just, he teaches us to be just (Prov. 17:15, 26; Lev 19:26; Deut 16:20).
7. If Jesus taught that a divorced person commits adultery in a subsequent marriage we then are confronted with clear teaching of Paul that we must either ignore or accept the lame explanations that are merely a twisting or perversion of the texts (1 Tim. 4:1-3. 1 Cor. 7:1,2; 8,9; 27, 28, 36).
8. If Jesus taught that the divorced, who are then "unmarried," (see 1 Cor. 7:8, 9) may not marry then why would Paul command Christians to "let them marry"? Could it be that the answer was given in 1 Cor. 7:1, 2—so that individuals (both men and women might "avoid fornication"?
9. If Jesus taught that a divorced person commits adultery in a subsequent marriage then why would Paul speak of the "loosed" (death and divorce is all that looses) as being able to marry without sin (1 Cor. 7:27, 28)?
10. If Jesus taught that a divorced person commits adultery in a subsequent marriage why did God make it very clear that his divorce of Israel according to the Law (which teaches by example, Deut. 24:1, 2; Jer. 3:8,14), freed Israel to marry another (Romans 7:4)?
Conclusion
The gist of Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 7 is clear: marriage, when needed, because of sexual needs, must not be forbidden. Yet, regardless of the biblical evidence against it, this is exactly what is being done in many churches (see 1 Tim. 4:1-3) by men who purport to be strongly against following the teaching of men but who agonizingly practice human tradition that destroys souls, churches and discourage s and stifles evangelistic efforts. Paul uses such language as "if they cannot contain let them marry." And to the "loosed" (divorced or widowed) he says "if thou marry thou hast not sinned."
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