DAY #69: March 10, 2009 - Mark 10:1-16

Once again, we see that the Pharisees hoped to trap Jesus by getting him to choose sides in a theological controversy and incriminate himself in the process. They came with a hot topic: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?”

If Jesus supported divorce, he would be upholding the Pharisees’ procedures; they doubted that Jesus would do that. If Jesus chose sides in the controversy, some members of the crowd would dislike his position, for some may have used the law to their advantage to divorce their wives. Or, if he spoke against divorce altogether, he would appear to be speaking against Moses’ law (which allowed divorce).

Jesus removed any possible condemnation of laxity about divorce or ignorance of God’s law. He asked, “What did Moses say about divorce?” Jesus was referring to Moses’ writing in Deuteronomy 24:1-4; but Jesus’ response reveals that he was referring to Moses’ words in Genesis about the ideal state of creation and particularly of marriage.

Moses permitted divorce, recognizing its presence and giving instructions on how it should be carried out. Because sinful human nature made divorce inevitable, Moses instituted laws to help its victims. In Moses’ day, as well as in Jesus’ day, the practice of marriage fell far short of God’s intention. Jesus said that Moses gave this law only because of the people’s hard-hearted wickedness; in other words, they were completely insensitive to God’s will for marriage. Many refused to follow through with their marriages as God had intended, so God allowed divorce as a concession to their sinfulness.

God’s plan was that in marriage the husband and wife are united into one, an intimate closeness that cannot be separated. The wife is not property to be disposed of, but an equally created person. Jesus was drawing a distinction: God’s creation of marriage and his absolute command that it be a permanent union versus the human injunction written hundreds of years later tolerating divorce because of people’s sinfulness.

The Pharisees saw divorce as a legal issue rather than a spiritual one, regarding marriage and divorce as transactions similar to buying and selling land (with women being treated as property). But Jesus condemned this attitude, clarifying God’s original intention—that marriage bring oneness that no one should separate, especially not the husband by simply writing a “letter.”

Jesus recognized Moses’ law, but held up God’s ideal for marriage and told his followers to live by that ideal. Jesus also was saying to the self-righteous Pharisees who had hoped to trick him with the question, “True followers of God will hold his ideals above any laws—and especially those laws written as a concession to hard-heartedness and sin.”

Mark continued his theme of the disciples’ misunderstanding of Jesus’ teaching. Once they were again in privacy in the house, the disciples asked Jesus what he had meant in his answer to the Pharisees’ question. Jesus had clearly explained that divorce dissolved a divinely formed union. These people were divorcing in order to get remarried. The rabbis’ interpretation of Moses’ law permitted remarriage after divorce, but Jesus said that was committing adultery.

Jesus then added, “And if a woman divorces her husband and remarries, she commits adultery.” These were earth-shaking words to Jewish ears. In Jewish society, only men had the right to divorce. God created marriage to be a sacred, permanent union and partnership between husband and wife. When both husband and wife enter this union with that understanding and commitment, they can provide security for each other, a stable home for their children, and strength to weather any of life’s storms or stresses.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I am reminded once again of the sacredness of marriage. I am blown away today by the ease in which some move in and out of marriage. On the other hand, I know about the pain and sorrow and heartbreak that is associated for many when a marriage dissolves. Lord, protect the families at COV. Protect each marriage. Give each of us a heart to be quick to forgive and quick to resolve our differences. Give each of us a desire to invest in our spouses and build our spouses.

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)

Lord, teach couples Your ways and Your principle and Your precepts. Teach couples about how NOT to give the enemy any kind of foothold in their lives our marriage. Teach couples about keeping short accounts with You and each other.