In the biblical narrative, marriage is more than a contract—it’s a sacred covenant, a reflection of God’s unbreakable bond with His people. From Genesis 2:24, where two become “one flesh,” to Ephesians 5:25-32, where it mirrors Christ’s love for the church, Scripture paints marriage as a holy, lifelong union. Yet, life is messy, and sin complicates even the most sacred things. Divorce happens. Remarriage follows. And sometimes, a new marriage emerges from the ashes of infidelity, like when a woman cheats on her husband, divorces him, and marries her adulterous partner. It’s a union born from a lie, rooted in betrayal. So, how could God bless that? Let’s explore what the Bible says about marriage, divorce, and the possibility of redemption in such a scenario.

Marriage and Divorce: God’s Design and Exceptions

God’s ideal is clear: “What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:6). Divorce grieves Him—Malachi 2:16 declares He “hates” it, not because He’s harsh, but because it shatters a covenant meant to endure. Yet, Scripture isn’t silent on human failure. Jesus and Paul outline two situations where divorce is permitted:

1. Adultery Breaks the Covenant
   In Matthew 5:32 and 19:9, Jesus allows divorce “except for sexual immorality” (porneia). Adultery betrays the exclusive bond of marriage, giving the innocent spouse a way out. It’s not a command to divorce—just an acknowledgment that unfaithfulness can fracture the covenant beyond repair.
2. Abandonment by an Unbeliever
   Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7:15, adds another exception: if a non-believing spouse deserts a believer, “let it be so.” The believer isn’t “enslaved” to the marriage, freed to live in peace. This addresses mixed-faith marriages torn apart by irreconcilable differences.

In both cases, the innocent party isn’t sinning by divorcing. But what happens when the guilty party—the adulterer—moves on to marry their partner in sin?

When Adulterers Marry: A Shaky Foundation

Picture this: a woman cheats, leaves her husband, and weds the man she was unfaithful with. This isn’t the wronged spouse remarrying—it’s the offenders building something new. Biblically, this raises red flags.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:9 are stark: “Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” If her original divorce lacked biblical grounds (e.g., her husband wasn’t unfaithful or didn’t abandon her), the remarriage is labeled adulterous, especially with the affair partner. Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18 echo this without exception, suggesting remarriage after an unjustified divorce keeps the sin alive. Paul reinforces marriage’s permanence in Romans 7:2-3: a woman marrying another while her husband lives is an adulteress.

This new union starts with a double whammy—adultery in the affair and, arguably, adultery in the remarriage. It’s a foundation of deceit and covenant-breaking, far from the purity God envisions (Hebrews 13:4). Proverbs 6:32-33 warn that adultery brings ruin, not blessing. So, can God smile on this?

Blessing or Redemption?

Here’s where it gets complex. Scripture doesn’t show God blessing marriages born in unrepentant sin. Take David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12): their union began with adultery and murder, and God judged it—their first child died, and David’s house faced turmoil. Only after repentance (Psalm 51) did blessing emerge, with Solomon’s birth. The initial act wasn’t blessed; God’s grace worked through their transformation.

For our hypothetical couple, the outlook is similar:

• Sinful Roots: A marriage built on cheating contradicts God’s design. It’s not a “holy union” by origin—Ephesians 5:27 calls marriage a “radiant” reflection, not a stained one.
• No Automatic Blessing: God doesn’t rubber-stamp sin. Without repentance, the union stands under judgment, not favor.
• Grace’s Possibility: Yet, God’s mercy is vast. If the couple repents—owning their sin, seeking forgiveness, and pursuing holiness—He can redeem even this. Romans 8:28 promises that God works all things for good for those who love Him. The marriage might become a vessel of His grace, but that’s not the same as blessing its shaky start.

Wrestling with the Tension

Theologians differ here. Some, like John Piper, argue remarriage after an unbiblical divorce is ongoing adultery, especially while the first spouse lives—repentance might mean dissolving it. Others see it as a one-time sin, forgivable with a fresh commitment. Practically, churches often lean toward grace, accepting such marriages if the couple seeks God moving forward.

Think of David again: God didn’t undo his marriage to Bathsheba, but consequences lingered. Redemption doesn’t erase the past—it reclaims it. For two adulterers who marry, blessing hinges on their response to God, not the act that launched them.

Final Thoughts

A marriage born from adultery—cheating, divorce, and remarriage—sits on an unholy foundation. Biblically, it’s not a union God blesses at its inception; it defies His covenant vision. But God’s not done with sinners. If repentance turns their hearts, He can weave good from the wreckage—not because the start was right, but because His grace is bigger than our failures. The question isn’t just “Can He bless it?” but “Will they let Him redeem it?” That’s where the story shifts from judgment to hope.

What do you think—does grace outweigh origins, or does the foundation matter most?