Almost daily, various exceptions face us. An exception is an exclusion that one must meet in order to qualify for a given thing.
- A basketball player must shoot the basketball through the hoop in order to add points to the team's score. The condition that must be met in order to score points is: except the ball goes through the hoop, points are not scored. We can understand this.
- In a second illustration: we know that except one buys a ticket for the basketball game, he cannot enter the arena to watch the game. We all agree that this means that only those who buy tickets may enter the arena to watch the game. We also understand this, do we not?
The Bible contains numerous easily understood exceptions similar to the above examples. Consider the following passages:
Amos 3:3 - "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Two people who do not agree cannot walk or work together. Both parties must cooperate and agree.
Matthew 5:20 - "For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." In their own eyes, and in the eyes of the people, the scribes and Pharisees were models of righteousness. Hence, Jesus used the stated exception to set a higher standard.
Matthew 18:3 - "And said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." In a sense, the Lord's disciples were behaving like children (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:11). Jesus taught them that in order to be His disciples, they must turn from their selfish pride and humble themselves, as children are humble in spirit and dependent on their parents.
Luke 13:3 - "I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." The meaning of Jesus' statement is clear. Those who do not repent will perish spiritually (cf. Acts 17:30).
John 3:2 - "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." Nicodemus correctly concluded that the miracles Jesus performed confirmed that God was with His son.
John 3:3 - "... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, one must, in a spiritual sense, be born again.
John 3:5 - "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." The new birth involves two elements--the water and the spirit. Thus, those who have not been born of the two elements mentioned by Jesus cannot enter God's kingdom.
Undoubtedly, most brethren understand and agree on the force of the word except in these passages. In these passages, the word except carries with it the idea of, "if and only if." But there's one other passage I'd like to consider:
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." Does not the word except in this passage have the same meaning and force as it does in the previously mentioned passages? If not, why not?
In attempting to avoid the force of the word except in this passage, many of our own brethren have made countless dodges and excuses. Some attempt to justify divorce for any and every cause. Others say, "We can't know for sure what the truth is on divorce and remarriage." I know one preacher who was asked the following questions:
- Do you believe God's law on marriage is universal? In other words, does it apply to believers and unbelievers?
- Do you believe one put away for the cause of fornication may scripturally remarry?
- Do you believe repentance demands that those who are in an unscriptural marriage separate?
- Do you believe 1 Corinthians 7:15 constitutes authority for one who is deserted by an unbeliever to remarry?
He responded by saying, "I don't know whether to envy or pity those who are so sure of themselves on this subject...I don't want to appear rude, but I won't be answering your specific questions."
I wonder, then, how this brother can be so sure about water baptism. How would he answer the question: "What must I do to be saved?" John 3:1-5 deals with the new birth, but the text does not contain the word baptism. Can this brother be certain that being "born of the water and the spirit" involves water baptism? Is he so confident that he uses this passage as a proof text to affirm to those of the denominational persuasion that water baptism is for the remission of sins? Should we "envy or pity those who are so sure of themselves" regarding the meaning of the word except in Amos 3:3; Matthew 5:20; Matthew 18:3; Luke 13:3; and John 3:2,3,5? Yet, when faced with the obvious truth about Matthew 19:9, many seemingly can't (or maybe they don't want to) understand that fornication is the only scriptural cause for the innocent mate to put away the guilty mate. I find it strange that they can understand, and we can agree on, the meaning and force of the word except in other passages, but not when it comes to Matthew 19:9.
During the past few years, I have been amazed at the mess many brethren have made of trying to understand this simple word. Could it be that the problem does not lie with their understanding of the word but in their acceptance of the person to whom it may apply? (KMG)