Mark 10

This topic is profound and to preach in 20 minutes means not getting into every detail or exceptions but that is the point of the message. We shouldn't be living for the exceptions. These are rough notes, please excuse the mistakes.   

 Mark 10:1-12

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.

 

Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

 

“What did Moses command you?” he replied.

 

They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

 

“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, b 8and the two will become one flesh.’  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

 

When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Divorce

 

I want to begin by saying I’m not preaching this because I want to attack anyone. I questioned several times about doing it, but the problem is people have lots of thoughts about this subject but little Biblical understanding. Like slavery before the civil war, people used scripture to “prove” they were right without asking what God really wanted.

 

 

 

As Chapter 10 begins Jesus begins teaching but the Pharisees came to tested him.

 

Just like before the some of the Pharisees aren’t there to get a real answer they are looking to divide Jesus from the people.

 

There were two different schools of thought on the division in marriage.

 

Hillel- Your response to your spouse should be as to honor God.

                 Our suffering is a praise to God.

 

Schlomo – God wants us to have well-being, Don’t judge others,

                          Divorce is a medicine you can take to cure yourself.

 

No matter what Jesus said the Pharisees trusted that Jesus would offend at least half of the people.

 

Jesus answers the question with the question.

What does Moses command?

 

Moses did give a command for divorce. This was the equivalent of a divorce decree without the ability to remarry. It tried to bring rational thought to what is often an emotional situation.

 

Jesus is laying out that the reason God gave this is because of the hardness our hearts.

 

Hardness of heart isn’t always the one who decides to walk away, it is equally speaking of those who live in a way that breaks trust.

 

Jesus as he always does takes them to the heart of the problem.

 

God’s plan was for married couples to stay married.

 

Marriage God’s way

1.    One man and one woman

2.    Leave their parents

3.    Be united (what’s in the best interest of my spouse)

4.    Become one (not a joint venture)

5.    Don’t try and break it up. (anyone that includes wrong behavior in the relationship)

 

It’s not mine or hers, it’s ours.

 

The problem with the Pharisees was they were focusing not on how to keep people together but on the way to break people up. They weren’t asking how do we stay safe, but how close can I get to the edge without going into sin.

 

Hillel problem – Ignored the actions of breaking by one of the members.

          1 Corinthians 7 speaks of a believer staying in relationship with unbeliever if they will live peaceably.  

Schlomo – Focused on pleasing oneself.

 

When Jesus is alone with his disciples, he lays out that if someone gets a divorce and then takes someone else they are committing adultery.

 

Divorce isn’t adultery, its sleeping(sex) with someone later that is adultery.

Note: adultery is not an unpardonable sin.  

 

The problem with divorce is that it divides what is supposed to be joined. (Break plate/tear a paper plate)

 

What about the innocent party? This is where honest believers have disagreements.

1.    Stay as you are. (1 Cor. 7)

2.    If you burn with passion, it is better to marry (1 Cor. 7:9)

 

The problem is in the culture then and now is are we focusing on living in unity or on trying to divide?

 

The next story is the disciples trying to divide Jesus from children.

 

Our focus should be on keeping unity. Not just in our relationships but in the relationships of others.

 

Don’t go looking for a way out, don’t do something that requires a way out.

 

Bad things happen but focus not on cures but on staying healthy. In our marriages and if I could be so bold, in our churches.