THE PRINCIPLES FROM GOD'S LAW THROUGH MOSES STILL REMAIN. EXCEPT IN SOME CASES.
For instance, under the old covenant, a husband could divorce his wife for something "indecent on her part". (NWT). Other translations state this as: For "something shameful in her" (NEB); or, "found her immodest in some way" (Moffatt); or, "found some indecency in her". (RSV). (All from Deut 24:1). This indecency would not of course include adultery, for adultery under the old covenant carried the penalty of death. (Lev 20:10). Under Christ, indecency from a wife certainly includes the prolonged showing of disrespect to one's husband and/or to the husband's father, or to other members of his family. Bringing serious reproach upon them is another form of indecency.

CHRIST'S SACRIFICE ABOLISHED OBEDIENCE TO THE OLD LAW OUT OF FEAR OF PUNISHMENT AND THE ENMITY THE OLD LAW COVENANT CAUSED BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE.
Paul said of our Lord: "By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees". (Eph 2:15A NWT). The Mosaic Law given to the Jews consisted of rules and regulations, and cultivated only obedience out of their fear of its punishments. The old laws through Moses were not the very principles with which God intended to create a holy people. The Christ's sacrifice and death abolished the old covenant decrees and the enmity it was causing between Jews and Gentiles. The Mosaic Law was only a tutor leading to Christ. It is now the laws of The Spirit through The Christ which are to be obeyed, by one's obedience to holy principles in one's life; not out of our fear of physical pain and loss through the old Law covenant consisting of legal punishments for disobedience.

There are, however, indecencies that a husband does not have to tolerate from his wife. Indecency such as prolonged disrespect, whether to himself, to his father, or other members of his household, Our Lord's instructions through Paul can be applied in such cases (See 1 Cor 7:15), as neither a husband or a wife is expected to live under the servitude of indecency.

Under the Mosaic Law, the penalty for a wife's act of fornication was death (Lev 20:10). So what is stated in Deuteronomy 24:1 must be in regard to indecencies other than fornication, meriting a certificate of divorce. For it states: "…or in case the latter man who took her as his wife should die, the first owner of her who dismissed her will not be allowed to take her back again to become his wife after she has been defiled". (Deut 24:3B). This proves there are other indecencies meriting divorce, as she was already defiled by her first husband.

"In case a man takes a woman and does make her his possession as a wife, it must also occur that if she should find no favour in his eyes because he has found something indecent on her part, he must also write out a certificate of divorce for her and put it in her hand and dismiss her from his house. (For the reason that she was already defiled before becoming another man's). And she must go out of his house and go and become another man's." (From Deut 24:1-4 NWT). I must add that this last instruction does not apply under the new covenant by The Christ. Only if one's spouse dies can one remarry.

When shameful disrespect is exercised by a wife toward her husband, especially toward one who is a true servant of The Lord, and she carries it on over an extended period of time and disregards correction, then their marriage has already broken down through her indecency. This behaviour merits the punishment of sending her away, at least until she comes back to her senses. I would also add, that it is not a requirement for a woman to respect improper behaviour from a husband who treats her and/or their children with prolonged indecent behaviour. Therefore, under the law of Christ, she does not have to live with her husband under such servitude. (1 Cor 7:15).

SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF INDECENT AND HATEFUL BEHAVIOUR:
Disrespecting the position of one's husband or one's wife before God, insolence, exercising evil acts of a dispiriting nature by word and deed, derision, jealousy, and the showing of hatred by making scornful eyes, etc.

(Cont. on Next Page).

23/7/92A.