Try Marriage, Not Divorce Series

GOSPEL OF MARK: GOD’S SERVANT IN ACTION

TRY MARRIAGE, NOT DIVORCE

A. This past Friday was Valentine’s Day.

1. On the average, 20 billion dollars are spent on cards, flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and restaurants

during Valentines, just to show someone you LOVE them.

a. According to statistics gathered from the Jewelry industry worldwide, most couples get ENGAGED

during what is known as the PROPOSAL SEASON—from November to February.

b. And, according to that same STUDY, around 4 to 6 million of those ENGAGEMENTS occur on Valentine’s Day.

2. But, sadly, statistics also reveal that 40-50% of those same MARRIAGES will end in DIVORCE.

a. It’s just a little bit LESS than that among Christian MARRIAGES.

COMMENT:

When asked what led to their BREAK-UP, many divorced couples will tell you that they simply

“FELL out of LOVE for each other.”

b. I’m sure that nothing HURTS more than to HEAR the words from your HUSBAND or your WIFE, “I don’t love you anymore!”

B. DIVORCE is a difficult SUBJECT to ADDRESS, not merely because the issue is COMPLEX, but because

DIVORCE is so WIDESPREAD and PAINFUL.

1. This is one SUBJECT that I know AFFECTS nearly EVERYONE in every CHURCH.

a. Some of you have divorced PARENTS, divorced CHILDREN, or divorced SIBLINGS or

FRIENDS.

b. Some of you have PERSONALLY gone through DIVORCE, and some of you may even be

CONTEMPLATING it.

COMMENT:

I believe it is safe to say that NO ONE who been through DIVORCE or know a close FAMILY MEMBER or FRIEND who HAS, is left UNSCARRED by it. It affects one SPIRITUALLY,

PHYSICALLY, and EMOTIONALLY.

c. And, if there ae CHILDREN involved, the RAMIFICATION of their PARENTS getting DIVORCE can deeply AFFECT them even through ADULTHOOD.

2. That is why today’s LESSON is difficult for me to PREACH. Not because I SHY away from what the Bible says about our SINS and FAILINGS (YOU KNOW THAT), but because I know there are some

of you SITTING HERE this morning who have been deeply WOUNDED by DIVORCE.

COMMENT:

But God our Heavenly Father has placed these WORDS that His Son spoke in the GOSPELS, because there are valuable LESSONS with ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES for us to LEARN, and hopefully APPLY to our MARRIAGES.

C. Before we get into our TEXT, left me assure you that DIVORCE is not the UNFORGIVABLE SIN.

1. The Bible does describe certain DIVORCES as SIN, and the Prophet Malachi, in no uncertain terms, told the Jewish men who DIVORCED their Jewish wives so they could marry FOREIGN women, that “God hates divorce”- Malachi 2:16. (THAT HAS NOT CHANGED!)

2. Even so, one who has been DIVORCED (even for an unbiblical reason that we will get into) and has REMARRIED, if that person has truly REPENTED and sought God’s FORGIVENESS, he or she is

FORGIVEN by a MERCIFUL God.

C. Mark 10:1-12 (READ)

MESSAGE:

I. QUESTION ABOUT DIVORCE- vv. 1-4

A. “Some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’”- v. 2.

1. Let’s get clear as to what’s happening here. The only thing that the PHARISEES care about is to

DISCREDIT Jesus. They are setting a TRAP for Him.

a. The subject of “DIVORCE” in the first century was as CONTROVERSIAL as it is it today

among Christians.

COMMENT:

To the world, DIVORCE is no big deal. People MARRY and DIVORCE all the time—some, MULTIPLE times. In fact, some couples get MARRIED with the idea that “If it doesn’t

work out, we can always get a divorce.”

But to true FOLLOWERS of Christ, DIVORCE is not to be taken lightly. To Christians, DIVORCE should NEVER be the first RECOURSE to a TROUBLED marriage, even if one is

UNFAITHFUL to his or her SPOUSE. (More on that later.)

b. The PHARISEES are hoping to cause a DIVISION among Jesus’ FOLLOWERS over the

CONTROVERSIAL and SENSITIVE issue about DIVORCE.

2. Matthew’s Gospel brings out the CONTROVERSY more clearly.

a. In Matthew 19:3, the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any

and every reason?”

b. The basis of this question is found in the Law of Moses given to him by God some 1400 years before where Moses said that “DIVORCE could be granted on the grounds of INDECENCY

found in one’s wife”- Deuteronomy 24:1.

c. Centuries later this created a heated DEBATE among RABBIS—Teachers of the Law—as to

what did Moses mean by “INDECENT”?

3. They knew God’s DESIRE for MARRIAGE and not DIVORCE, but Moses’ EXCEPTION of “INDECENCY” created two SCHOOLS of THOUGHT that fueled the CONTROVERSY about

DIVORCE:

a. Rabbi Shammai taught that DIVORCE was permitted only in the event of IMMORALITY—

when one SPOUSE committed ADULTERY against the other.

b. Rabbi Hillel taught that DIVORCE was allowed for almost ANY REASON that the husband