Jesus
speaks to the Pharisees: v.1-9
-
This is not a fair question – the Pharisees “tested him” by
attacking him on 2 sides
→ #1 There are 2 main
schools of thought on what is an acceptable reason for divorce (see
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary on Matthew 5:31). Any answer
Jesus gives them will upset someone... at least that is what they
want.
→ #2 A well-known &
powerful leader of their day (Herod Antipas) has entered a
questionable marriage with his brother's wife. This is the same Herod
that had John the Baptist imprisoned and eventually killed because of
John's disapproval of their marriage (Mark 6:14-29).
-
Jesus takes His answer to the very place everyone is expecting →
the Law of Moses
This
group of Jews love to discuss the Law of Moses & they know it
very well
Jesus
plainly replies it was because of hard hearts that divorce was ever
allowed.
Jesus'
answer quickly takes an unexpected turn – He appeals to a time
before the Law...
-
Instead of the 'what if's' Jesus focuses on the 'what is' → God
established marriage
What
was God's original plan for marriage?
This
is at the heart of Jesus' defense & it is what truly matters
Isn't
this what we should each strive to find & achieve?
-
The trap was about divorce, but Jesus chooses to teach instead about
marriage...
God
intended from the beginning for a man to leave his parents & be
united to his wife. The 2 were supposed to become 1 flesh! There is
no hint of a possibility of divorce within God's plan. If you enter
marriage already looking for a way out, then why would you be
surprised if it ended in divorce?
Jesus
speaks to His disciples: v.10-12
-
The disciples asked Jesus later about what He had said.
Sometimes,
even a trap can be good & open an opportunity to teach truth.
-
Here in private – Jesus responds even harsher about divorce...
Adultery
almost always will follow a divorce. This is just one of the many
problems with seeking to dissolve a marriage. While divorce is a hard
road to travel down, Jesus shows there can still be hope when He
spoke to the woman at the well from John 4 who already had 5 husbands
and was currently living with a man.
-
Jesus clearly states that adultery could be committed against the
husband OR the wife
This
would have been a revolutionary teaching for many of His disciples
Jesus
effectively elevated the place of women – there is neither male or
female in Christ!
Jesus
speaks about children: v.13-16
-
the first command given to the Adam & Eve was to be fruitful &
multiply (Gen. 1:28)
It
seems fitting that after Mark records Jesus' teaching about marriage
that he would focus on Jesus' teaching about children.
-
We must learn to accept God's kingdom like a child would accept it –
humbly & in full faith of everything the Father tells us about it
Contrast
this type of faith to that of the Pharisees from v.2
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