It is my understanding that in the time of this teaching of Jesus (on divorce), people were literally leaving their wives left and right, which in that culture left them destitute, and without honor or means to live. (Uncool reasons people left their wives...Did she burn the toast? Did she wear that outfit you hate? Leave her! Lame stuff like that.) The Pharisees try to trap Jesus in his words by attempting to make him contradict the teachings of Moses found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, thereby framing the accusation that Jesus was a Mosaic law-breaker. Jesus doesn't take the bait, and basically tells the Pharisees that Moses only allowed for divorce because the people had such hardened hearts, but that God did not approve of divorce for ANY reason except for marital unfaithfulness. His answer was smart, because it acknowledged Moses' writings, but explained why Moses said what he said, then gave a compelling sketch of what GOD ACTUALLY is looking for from his people, which is to bring marriage to an even HIGHER lever of committment. Jesus clear teaching is that divorce is NOT permissable for any reason, except for ONE CIRCUMSTANCE which is marital unfaithfulness. That kind of eclipses the "I'm just not happy" and "irreconcilable differences" that Christians throw around. This is a tough issue, but Jesus took a firm stand on it, and we should consider it in the same way he did. When things get tough in marriage, or life in general, that is when people usually stop being a part of community, and drop out of Church fellowship; but that is exactly when they need it most! What can we do to be a blessing to the marriages in our Church, and encourage each other daily to love our Spouses as God loved the Church, and to submit and serve one another in unselfish love? Lets do that.
After the apostles react to Jesus firm teaching on marriage by saying "if that's how it is, I'd rather not marry thank you very much", in Matthew 19:11-12, Jesus basically says that if you can't accept his idea about divorce being un-acceptable, then you'd be better not to marry. This seems to be a firm teaching from Jesus that he is unwilling to waver on. 2 becoming 1 for life. Covenant.
It is my understanding that in the time of this teaching of Jesus (on divorce), people were literally leaving their wives left and right, which in that culture left them destitute, and without honor or means to live. (Uncool reasons people left their wives...Did she burn the toast? Did she wear that outfit you hate? Leave her! Lame stuff like that.) The Pharisees try to trap Jesus in his words by attempting to make him contradict the teachings of Moses found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, thereby framing the accusation that Jesus was a Mosaic law-breaker. Jesus doesn't take the bait, and basically tells the Pharisees that Moses only allowed for divorce because the people had such hardened hearts, but that God did not approve of divorce for ANY reason except for marital unfaithfulness. His answer was smart, because it acknowledged Moses' writings, but explained why Moses said what he said, then gave a compelling sketch of what GOD ACTUALLY is looking for from his people, which is to bring marriage to an even HIGHER lever of committment. Jesus clear teaching is that divorce is NOT permissable for any reason, except for ONE CIRCUMSTANCE which is marital unfaithfulness. That kind of eclipses the "I'm just not happy" and "irreconcilable differences" that Christians throw around. This is a tough issue, but Jesus took a firm stand on it, and we should consider it in the same way he did. When things get tough in marriage, or life in general, that is when people usually stop being a part of community, and drop out of Church fellowship; but that is exactly when they need it most! What can we do to be a blessing to the marriages in our Church, and encourage each other daily to love our Spouses as God loved the Church, and to submit and serve one another in unselfish love? Lets do that.
ReplyDeleteAfter the apostles react to Jesus firm teaching on marriage by saying "if that's how it is, I'd rather not marry thank you very much", in Matthew 19:11-12, Jesus basically says that if you can't accept his idea about divorce being un-acceptable, then you'd be better not to marry. This seems to be a firm teaching from Jesus that he is unwilling to waver on. 2 becoming 1 for life. Covenant.
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