Paul asks "Are you bound to a wife?" (1Co 7:27). In Greek, "bound" means to bind or tie. It is the tie that binds. The NIV translates "Are you married?" Then he asks "Are you released from a wife?" (:27). "Released" means destroyed or dissolved. The NIV tranlates "Are you unmarried?" Paul says for others to "remain even as I" (1Co 7:8) which is the Greek word "agamois." He probably isn't referring to himself as a widower. The Greek lexicon says "agamois" means unmarried or single. Therefore, it may mean never married, once married, or widowed.

If you are not bound to a husband then you are eligible. "If you do marry, you have not sinned" (1Co 7:28). Maybe you are still bound if the exception clause in Matthew 19:8 doesn't apply in your situation? What criteria are used to determine whether you are bound or not? What does the context tell us? Paul begins with "now concerning virgins" (1Co 7:25). But when he asks "are you married?" (:27 NIV) it doesn't apply to a virgin anymore. Then it asks "Are you released from a wife?" This widens the scope. Hypothetically that would mean that the person could either be a virgin or not. But that would be too fine a distinction. It is likely that unmarried means that the person isn't currently married. Two mutually exclusive situations are involved. Otherwise why would verse 28 ask both "if you marry" and "if a virgin marries?"

Therefore Jesus' reference to adultery (Mt 5:32) is figurative because, if it was literal, then there would be sin. So if someone criticizes you for believing otherwise, "'Woe to you lawyers as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers'" (Lk 11:46).