Matthew 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12
Jesus has left Galilee and is traveling to Judea and beyond the Jordan River. (There's a whole geographical controversy surrounding these verses if you're interested in that kind of thing 🙋) He continues teaching and healing. The Pharisees are back to questioning and testing Jesus, trying to trap him into answering wrong. (Maybe Jesus was thinking of the Pharisees when he said there's a special punishment for those who set traps and stumbling blocks for others?) The Pharisees bring up marriage. Jesus starts at the beginning with creation-- God created male and female and joined the two as one in marriage. Jesus tells them that is the way it was originally intended and is not for any man or woman to deny that. The Pharisees bring up Deuteronomy 24, where Moses recorded the law given for divorce. Jesus tells them that since the Israelites had hardened their hearts to God's original plan, God made concession for divorce on a very limited basis. This conversation concerns the disciples, leading them to think it might be better to stay single! Jesus says that's not an across the board true statement. He says there are some who will remain unmarried due to choice, some due to choices made for them by others (some kingdoms required servants to be made eunuchs), and some choose not to marry to completely focus on kingdom work.
Can't you just imagine the smugness in the Pharisees' questions, as they are sure they've finally caught Jesus in something He won't know? (A single man traveling with a group of men doesn't make you think they might be marriage experts...) But Jesus is wise in everything! He doesn't fall for the trap; He just leads the Pharisees to think through what they already know. As usually happens, Jesus is able to take this discussion and turn it into a learning opportunity for His disciples.
I'm going to be perfectly honest and say I have dreaded these verses. I would never want to say anything that could be misconstrued as judgmental or haughty. I have friends and family who are divorced, and it's a painful road. I think we can all agree that it's not God's first choice, and it's not our first choice either. I would venture to guess no follower of Christ goes into marriage looking forward to the divorce. The Bible says what it says-- I believe Jesus answered the Pharisees truthfully according to the purpose of creation and according to the law. I also believe that Christ Jesus, our Savior, knows us and loves us and is gracious to us. He knows our personal struggles and defeated death to secure our most abundant life, both here and for eternity.
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