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Surrounded by plenty in this country we lose sight of the really important things. We live in such a throw-away society that we think having things is more important than having relationships, and in a time when people’s word means nothing and where promises are broken with little or no thought we seem unable to trust anyone or anything.
So Jesus addresses this issue in the first half of Mark chapter 10. He does so by looking at three areas: broken relationships, broken trust, and broken priorities.
We begin with the Pharisees once again trying to trip Jesus up by pointing out a seeming contradiction in the Law.
1 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.
2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied.
4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away."
Jesus is a Master at this - of course. But look what He does. First He points these men right back to the Word of God. That is always always the best way to avoid useless arguments over someone’s interpretation or idea of what God is like.
The Pharisees thought Jesus was referring to:
Deut 24:1:1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house.
A couple of things here:
1. This law was actually a beginning of trying to handle things that were already going on in a way that protects the woman. Women were marginalized in that society and what this law did was make the husband have to think twice before just shoving the woman out on her own - a situation that could have meant life or death for the woman. Now he’d have to give an official document.
2. Divorce is inevitable - whether for abuse, either emotional or physical, or for infidelity. But as we will see, it is not God’s desire, but a way to have order in a fallen world.
3. Notice that Jesus asked about Moses’ command - while the Pharisees talked about Moses permitted action. Jesus was not actually thinking about Deuteronomy but Genesis when he spoke.
5 "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,"
What was happening was that men had found all kinds of loopholes to the Deuteronomy statute. There are tales of men finding their wives cooking indecent and divorcing them. As Jesus said, it was men’s hard hearts that led to this statute - one to protect the woman from being victimized.
What happened is that they practiced serial monogamy. Technically they were married to one person at a time - but whenever they grew tired of one wife they divorced her and married another - and so on.
Jesus replied. 6 "But at the beginning of creation God ’made them male and female.’ 7’For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
This comes from Genesis 1:27 and 2:24.
Jesus is saying - "your focus should not be on what you can get away with and still be legal - your focus should be on preserving what God created unless the damage or danger is too great."
Divorce is wrong, because it severs a union God created. But it is permitted - Jesus talked of infidelity in Matthew 5 and 19. Paul talks of divorce if an unbelieving spouse leaves (1 Cor 7:15). In that section of 1st Corinthians there is also the suggestion that abuse is also where divorce is permitted.
But here’s the overall principal: Just because a relationship is broken doesn’t mean it should be severed. Often at the real core of marital problems other than those mentioned here is that one or both spouses have stopped 1-giving themselves to the other, and 2- stopped giving the marriage to God.
In Ephesians chapter 5, Paul talks about the self-giving nature of marital love. Too often it is harbored resentment or unforgiveness - or downright selfishness that leads to marital strife. Husbands - be a servant leader in your marriage. And wives - respect your husbands and build them up instead of tearing them down.
Secondly - do you pray for your marriage?
Eccl 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
This might not seem like a marriage verse - but it applies. Two people together can survive what one cannot - and if those two covenant to put the Lord first in the marriage, wrapping everything around Him and constantly seeking inner strength through prayer - the marriage can not only be saved but shine!
One note here - homosexual marriage has been in the news a lot. Multnomah County here in Oregon started permitting gay marriage in March of 2004. Without condemning the people involved I should be clear about what the Bible says: 1) homosexuality is a sinful contradiction of God’s character and is expressly forbidden in Scripture [Leviticus 18, 20] and 2) marriage is between a man and a woman only. (see above in verse 6)
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
Pretty strong words. That’s how important marriage is to the Lord. Remember too, that Ephesians 5 makes marriage a picture of the union between Christ and the church - so a good marriage is also a good witness for Jesus.
Again: being married means being a servant to your spouse. Often this is what we refuse to do and why divorce happens - not always. And I believe God knows when divorce is the only option. But so often we either marry an unbeliever (a recipe for trouble) or we are unwilling to let go of ourselves and our needs and it builds over time until there is no relationship left.
We don’t notice it here, but Jesus is making a rather radical statement - that the man and woman are equal. Next Jesus makes a radical statement about children - another marginalized group in that time.
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Children were to be seen and not heard in that society. Parents would bring their kids to a rabbi for him to bless them - but Jesus’ disciples apparently thought their Master was above such pettiness.
Interestingly, Jesus, it says, was "indignant." The Greek verb indicates that He was emotionally upset. This is the only place in the gospels where Jesus leveled anger at His disciples.
Jesus is saying that we should treat children with love and acceptance. And He used their attitude of trust and reliance as a picture of how we should approach God.
Kids are trusting by nature. Last time we talked about what happens to a person who purposefully causes a little one to stumble. Little people depend on big people for everything - food, shelter, safety - as a parent we would watch our kids like a hawk no matter where we were - to make sure they didn’t put their hand on a hot stove or wander out the front door.
Kids then look up to adults - and have this way of trusting that the adult will do what’s best for them - until they become teenagers, of course.
So the second principal is this: Make our trust in the Lord simple and complete. A child doesn’t understand why you need to hold hands with an adult before crossing the street - and sometimes we don’t understand why God is or isn’t doing something. But we need to realize that He is looking out for our best interests. Don’t try to second guess God, just trust.
Notice too that children have nothing on their own - everything they have is given to them. That’s totally the opposite of the guy we are about to meet.
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
On the surface this sounds like someone really eager to give his life to Jesus. But as often is the case, appearances can be deceiving. Along with Luke and Matthew, this person is described with three words: rich, young, and ruler. These represent three of the things almost everyone in the world aspires to and admires: wealth, youth, and power.
This guy had it all together - and he comes to Jesus looking for a pat on the back and an assurance of eternal life. Jesus immediately begins to point out how much this young man lacked.
18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone.
By this Jesus is making a pretty big point - if you want to call me good then you need to realize who I really am. He also turned the focus not on what this guy had or had done - but on the ultimate goodness and character of God.
19 You know the commandments: ’Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’"
Jesus doesn’t give all the Ten Commandments - but notice that He focuses on the ones that talk about relationships with each other. It shows that Jesus focused on the man’s actual lifestyle, not just his knowledge of the commandments.
20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
This is a pretty arrogant response - and if you really get down to it, it wasn’t true since Jesus revealed that hating your brother is the same as killing him in God’s eyes. But Jesus humors him to show that even if given the benefit of the doubt on those - there was a far more important thing that was keeping this man from eternal life - something holding him prisoner.
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Jesus was sincere in His love - and He sincerely wants people to come to eternal life.
1 Tim 2:3-4 God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
This man thought he could earn eternal life like an investment on the stock market. What he possessed had possessed him. What Jesus said revealed where the guys’ heart really was - in his money. It actually shows that he violated the very first commandment - one that Jesus did not mention - that "you shall have no other gods before me." This man’s god was his money.
Jesus said at another time - you cannot serve both God and money (Matt 6:24)
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
His wealth stood in the way of relationship and eternal life. What stands in your way? Is it the truth of the Bible, is it hypocritical Christians, is it your pride or your accomplishments?
The second question is: is it worth it? Back in chapter 8 Jesus said:
Mark 8:36-37 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
You can’t buy your way into heaven, but money can sure keep you out.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
And its true - self reliance keeps a lot of people from seeing their true poverty.
Rev 3:17-18 You say, ’I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those words to the church at Laodicea in the book of Revelation.
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
This was a common Jewish proverb - the camel was the biggest animal in Palestine - and the needle was a sewing needle (not the Needle Gate, which didn’t exist in Jesus’ day). The proud have a hard time humbling themselves.
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"
27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
The disciples were exasperated. They figured that if the rich, who were obviously successful, couldn’t be saved - then who could? In reality the answer is very simple - no one can be saved except God save them.
By that I mean - it is God’s gift of salvation that allows us into the kingdom. Our responsibility is to humble our lives and enter into that relationship He has prepared for everyone.
Peter, no doubt reacting to the unwillingness of the rich young ruler to obey Jesus and wondering about his own salvation - says:
28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"
29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
The verb used in Peter’s statement suggests a "once for all" act. They threw in their lot with Jesus - giving up secure careers. Coming to Jesus means giving up of everything. It doesn’t mean you have to immediately sell all your possessions - possessions may not be what is holding you back. But it does mean that you are now His, lock stock and barrel.
But Jesus says you will get back in return - now here’s where some folks misunderstand - Jesus I don’t believe is promising health wealth and happiness. I think He is promising spiritual riches beyond value - eternal mansions and eternal relationships.
And He finishes up by reminding us that those we think have it "all together" in this age will not have a Fast Pass to the head of the line in heaven.
