"SAVING FOR THE CAUSE OF FORNICATION," ‪#‎ EXPLAINED‬. There are those who say that adultery committed by one of the partners in a marriage union can result to scriptural divorce and remarriage. This understanding comes from the misinterpretation of the following scriptures: ‪#‎ Matthew‬5:32 "But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." #Matthew 19:9 "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." The issue here that can cause divorce is fornication and not adultery. Unfortunately some Bible translations replace the word fornication with marital unchastity or marital unfaithfulness.Many stumble by these renderings. Fornication is a sin which is committed by someone who has not yet entered into the marriage union. The following scripture will give understanding of the above scriptures: #Matthew 1:18-20 18 "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." In this scripture Mary was called the wife of Joseph, when they were still in betrothal relationship and the marriage union had not yet been contracted. When Joseph thought that Mary had become pregnant through fornication he made up his mind to put her away and would have done so, except that God stopped him and gave him a clear explanation concerning Mary's pregnancy. Among the Jews the betrothal stage of marriage was binding on the partners and they were not to separate from each other, but must enter into the marriage union in the appropriate time. Jesus in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 above showed that fornication by either of the partners in betrothal relationship can break the betrothal bond and the other party could be free to marry another. This is in consonant with the uniform revelation of the New Testament on this subject. No Scripture stands alone. Among Christ's followers, we must note that when two believers are in bond to marry each other and one of them backslides from the faith, such marriage proposal must discontinue. The other partner has become an unbeliever and can no more be married, to keep to the standard of the Scripture. If the backslider repents and gets restored and the believer still feels persuaded to continue with the marriage proposal, it is acceptable. He or she is not marrying a sinner but a believer. Let us consider that scripture again. #Matthew 19:9 "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso married her which is put away doth commit adultery."