Why does God say He hates divorce?

In Malachi 2:10-16, God confronts His people for breaking faith in their marriages. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains why marriage matters so deeply to God — and what He means when He says He hates divorce.

God charges His people with “treachery” — being unfaithful both by marrying those who worshiped false gods and by betraying “the wife of your youth.” Dr. Holt explains that marriage is a covenant God Himself designed, and that it pictures Christ’s faithful love for His church. That is why breaking it grieves God so deeply, and why He refuses the worship of those who betray their spouses. Yet the chapter ends in hope: Christ loves His people with a faithfulness that never fails.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why does God take marriage so seriously? Because marriage is a covenant He designed, and it pictures Christ’s faithful love for His church. Breaking it is no small thing to God.

2. What does it mean that God “hates divorce”? It means He hates the betrayal and broken faith that tear apart what He joined together. He grieves the harm done to husbands, wives, and families.

3. Is there hope for those affected by broken marriages? Yes. The chapter points to Christ, whose faithful love never fails, and who offers forgiveness and healing to all who turn to Him.

“‘For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.’” — Malachi 2:16 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.