“Jesus does not enjoin his disciples to marry, but he does sanctify marriage according to the law by affirming its indissolubility and by prohibiting the innocent party from remarrying when the guilty partner has broken the marriage by adultery. This prohibition liberates marriage from selfish, evil desire, and consecrates it to the service of love, which is possible only in a life of discipleship. Jesus does not depreciate the body and its natural instincts, but he does condemn unbelief which is so often latent in its desires. So far then from abolishing marriage, he sets it on a firmer basis and sanctifies it through faith. The disciple’s exclusive adherence to Christ therefore extends even to his married life. Christian marriage is marked by discipline and self-denial. There is of course a difference between the Christian and the bourgeois conception of marriage, but Christianity does not therefore depreciate marriage, it sanctifies it (p. 149; emphasis mine).”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship trans. K. V. Munchen (New York: Collier Books, 1963).
shane lems
sunnyside wa
The Reformed Reader Blog 
“Jesus does not enjoin his disciples to marry, but he does sanctify marriage according to the law by affirming its indissolubility and by prohibiting the innocent party from remarrying when the guilty partner has broken the marriage by adultery.”
Does the Lord punish the innocent in this prohibition?
LikeLike
I stumbled there too, Brad. I only included the first sentence there for context’s sake and I highlighted the part that I most appreciated (hence the title of the post). I’m with the Westminster Standards on this issue, but if someone who is more “Bonhoefferian” than I has something to add, they may comment. Or, Brad, you may elaborate if you wish.
shane
LikeLike
I know that one doesn’t always agree with everything in a quote that he posts. I understood the point you were trying to make, no worries.
I was just a little disappointed in Bonhoeffer’s point of view and asked the question to highlight his extremity. I do believe that’s a logical conclusion one can deduce from his point of view.
… No further comment… =)
LikeLike