If a Wife Was a Divorcee and Lied to a Brother About It and They Wedded, Is That Marriage Binding on the Brother?
Direct Answer
No—if her first husband was still living when they wed, that union is not a marriage before God and is not binding on the brother. If her former husband had already died, then she was free to marry and the marriage is binding despite her lie.
Scriptural Explanation
- The Bible says a wife is “bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth,” and is loosed only by death (Romans 7:2–3; 1 Corinthians 7:39).
- Jesus said, “Whosoever shall marry her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery” (Luke 16:18; see also Mark 10:11–12). So a civil divorce does not dissolve the first covenant while the spouse lives.
- The “exception” of Matthew 19:9 concerns fornication discovered before the marriage covenant (as with Joseph and Mary, Matthew 1:18–20), not a license to dissolve a true marriage and remarry.
- Fraud or lying does not create or dissolve a marriage. The only decisive question is whether a prior, living covenant still bound her (Romans 7:2–3).
Simple Clarifying Logic
- If her former husband was alive, she was still bound to him; therefore the later wedding did not form a lawful marriage. That means:
- The union should be treated as invalid from the start (annulment).
- The brother is not bound and must cease the conjugal relationship.
- After separation and repentance, he is free to marry “only in the Lord,” because no true marriage ever existed.
- If her former husband had died before this wedding, she was free to marry; the present marriage is valid and lifelong. The lie was sin and must be confessed, but it does not dissolve a valid covenant.
Apply the steps
- Was it valid from inception? Only if the former husband was already dead.
- Does it remain binding? Yes, if valid; no, if invalid.
- Separation permitted? Required if invalid; not permitted if valid (though temporary separation without remarriage can occur for grave necessity, 1 Corinthians 7:10–11).
- Annulment? Yes, if a prior living spouse still bound her; no, if she was a widow.
- Remarriage? The brother may marry in the Lord if annulment applies; if the marriage is valid, neither party may remarry while both live (Romans 7:2–3).
One clear conclusion
- If her first husband is alive, the “marriage” is not binding and should be treated as no marriage at all.
- If her first husband is dead, the marriage is binding for life.
If you can confirm whether her former husband is living, I can state the final binding status immediately.
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