Mark 10:1-12

I need God too!
Mark 10:1-12

Is divorce a new issue?  Not really.  It has been an issue of debate for a long time — since recorded history!  In today’s passage, Jesus was asked about divorce, and in His response, He did not mince words. . .

Wow, this is a tough passage.  It’s a touchy subject because it deals with divorce.  It was a touchy subject in Jesus’ time too.  The Pharisees who asked Jesus the question about divorce did so for a reason — they were sharply divided on this issue.  Some Pharisees allowed divorce for any reason, others did not allow divorce for any reason.  Rather than say “you are right and you are wrong” to the Pharisees, Jesus asked what the Bible said.  They replied that Moses allowed divorce.  Jesus answered by saying that the law of Moses was put in place because the people had hard hearts and did not always respond in love.  Jesus went on to state that God’s original plan was that a man and a woman should be joined in marriage and become one; never separating.  This implied a monogamous relationship, which was also an issue in Jesus’ day — The Pharisees were sharply divided on the subject of monogamy versus polygamy as well!  In any event, God’s perfect plan of a lifelong monogamous marriage in love went awry with the fall of Adam and Eve.

In this passage of scripture and in Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus mentions that divorce causes people to commit adultery (except in the case of divorce for the reason of unchastity because, well, the unchaste person has already committed adultery).  This was as harsh a statement by today’s standards as it was in Jesus’ time, but Jesus also understood that without perfect love for God and others, this marriage thing was going to be difficult.  Nothing has changed either in our relationship with God or with our spouses in 2000 years.  We need that grace and forgiveness that Jesus gave us when He died for us as much as ever (grace that extends to those who have divorced as well).  We need God in our marriage relationships – He is that perfect love that we lack, and He is often the glue that keeps our marriages (or any other relationships) together.  My suggestion is that if you are married, or thinking about it, start to pray together as a couple regularly and see where God takes you.  If God is first in your life, the rest of your relationships, especially marriage, will work much better.