Crumbs 118

 

Crumbs 118

Marriage

Scripture Mark10:1-12New International Version 10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” and is part of the

Crumbs

Asked about divorce Jesus teaches us more about marriage. He makes four definitive observations. It involves a new household a new social unit. Mum and Dad are left behind and a new grouping is in town. Sex happens. God joins the couple to each other. The relationship is uniquely exclusive. The union is protected by law. To break it is a specific sin ,adultery . The pattern is laid out clearly and bluntly. Jesus teaches that in marriage a man and a woman commit themselves exclusively to each other. The origin of this union is God. Marriage is a relationship devised by God and sanctioned by Him. Sex is not merely allowed but expected within the protection that God gives. Divorce erodes this protection

Jesus elevates the very thought of sin to being equal to the sin itself. (Matt 5:28) Looking at Jesus’ moral teaching about various sins I discover that I am an incorrigible sinner living in a tribe of in corrible sinners. The need of the gospel of grace is thrust on me. Jesus hits the real problem when He explains that Moses allowed divorce because of our hearts.

I am appalled by the gap between our Lord’s moral teaching , and my life. We need divine grace. We need the cross. We need the Saviour’s love.

Questions

1. How should the teaching of Christ about marriage be applied today ?

2. How should this teaching inform the current debate about gender issues ?.

3. What should be our attitude to divorce?