Read or quote Mark 10
Mark 10 begins with Jesus teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage. It was a difficult teaching then, and it is a difficult teaching now. Most people want to marry. No one who knows God gets married with the intent of ending the marriage with divorce.
Today we will look at this and my prayer is that God’s word and will may be established in all our hearts and minds as we consider it in our worship this morning.
What is your position on divorce and remarriage? This has been a divisive issue among God’s people for a long time. It was a test issue even in the days of Jesus.
The Pharisees found a legal loophole for divorce. Jesus amazingly enough tells them that Moses only permitted divorce because of the hardness of your hearts. God’s intent for marriage is for keeps. In marriage, 1+1=1 and division is not a divine decision but a hard hearted human one. Notice also that in Mark’s gospel, Jesus doesn’t give an escape clause for divorce and remarriage allowing for an innocent party to remarry as in Matthew’s gospel. And when Mark wrote this Matthew wasn’t written yet.
Jesus teaching on this subject seemed so strict to the disciples that in Matthew 19:10, The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry."
A careful look at 1 Corinthians 7 indicates that Paul agrees with the disciples on this. Just look at verses 1, 7, 8, 9, 28, 32, 35, 38, and 40. Paul openly says that single life over married life is a good choice. Personally, I would argue that marriage is the best choice for me, (I think my wife, Jenny, would agree), as it is for most of us here. But, marriage, whether it is comfortable or very difficult is still a permanent relationship. Jesus makes that clear.
What’s the point? Marriage is serious business. It was instituted by God himself even before there was sin in the world. Marriage was here before the law was given or the church was founded. Marriage was designed by God for one man and one woman for as long as they both shall live. Only later, divorce was permitted in the law of Moses because of sin and the hardness of human hearts. Deuteronomy 24:1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house,
2 "when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife,
3 "if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife,
4 "then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
5 "When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.
Even though divorce was permitted, it represents a failed covenant relationship. And the man was the one who had the legal permission to write the certificate of divorce. Interestingly, the woman who is divorced may marry another man. But if he divorces her or dies, she can not return to her former husband. This, God’s law says, “is an abomination before the LORD.”
God also had a higher standard for the spiritual leaders of the people. The priests were not allowed to marry a divorced woman. Leviticus 21: 13 ’And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
14 ’A widow or a divorced woman or a defiled woman or a harlot; these he shall not marry; but he shall take a virgin of his own people as wife.
15 ’Nor shall he profane his posterity among his people, for I the LORD sanctify him.’"
But look at what the scripture says about a priest’s daughter: Levit. 22:13 ’But if the priest’s daughter is a widow or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food; but no outsider shall eat it.
We see that divorce was probably practiced when there was no adultery involved, because adultery would have been a capital offence. Yet it seems that even that was rarely practiced.
God’s word reveals that among Israel there were many social and marital problems.
Later, God’s word says: Mal. 2: 13 And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; Because He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
16 "For the LORD God of Israel says, “I hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously."
When we read Mark 10 and listen to Jesus, we hear a very clear teaching. Listen again to his words: verses 5-12.
Breaking a marriage and then joining in marriage with someone else Jesus calls adultery. So what are we to call it?
We live in a time when half of all marriages in this country are divided in divorce courts.
Many if not most of those who divorce remarry again. I have close relatives and many friends who have divorced and either simply chosen to live with someone without marriage or have remarried. Jesus calls this adultery. What are you and I supposed to call it?
Let me say this and be as clear and loving as I know how. If you, or those you know and love are suffering from divorce, and have remarried after a divorce, know this: God loves you and Jesus died on the cross for us all. Knowing God’s word of truth about yourself and your condition is important because the truth of Jesus words can set you free. Jesus said that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. This case is no exception. So what are you supposed to do in this condition and situation?
What does Jesus say? What did he say to the woman at the well in John 4 and the woman caught in adultery in John 8? These are the only examples we have of what Jesus did and said when he personally encountered two cases: one, who had been married five times and was then living with a man who was not her husband, and one, caught in the act of adultery.
Jesus came here not to condemn us but to set us free from our sins. This freedom comes when we hear, heed and abide in his word. He can and will give this freedom to all who trust and obey his teachings. So what are they?
Matthew 5:31-32, 19:2-9, Mark 10:2-12, and Luke 16:18 are all the teachings of Jesus we have from the gospels on the subject. They all make it plain that divorce and remarriage are sin with one exception: when one of the mates is sexually unfaithful, the other can divorce and remarry without guilt. Also, Romans 7 and particularly 1 Corinthians 7, have information about divorce and remarriage.
One further comment on what is happening in Mark’s gospel that Matthew also records.
1. The Pharisees question to Jesus was a test.
2. They only mention divorce and the legality of it.
3. Jesus points them to Moses.
4. They go to the place that allows divorce in Deut. 24.
5. Jesus clarifies that Moses actually gave this permission because of the hardness of their hearts, but this was never God’s intent for marriage.
6. Then Jesus goes back to creation and God’s original intent for a man and woman in marriage. The two shall become one flesh. What God has joined together, let man not separate!
***7. Now the disciples ask Jesus about this and Jesus does something interesting…
Jesus adds remarriage to the mix! This is not just about divorce, it is about divorcing in order to marry someone else! Jesus makes it clear that you can’t do that without committing adultery.
Why does Jesus include remarriage in his comments? It is clear from Deut. 24 that once a remarriage takes place, no reconciliation is permissible. The hope of restoring the original marriage is over. As long as neither of the divorced people remarry, there is hope for reconciliation. After that, there is none. Jesus calls this act of divorce and remarriage adultery. Perhaps those who are in this unauthorized marriage remain in the state of adultery, or perhaps they may repent and still remain married. The debate rages.
Divorce not only divides marriages and destroys families, it also divides churches. There are differing positions about what God’s word teaches concerning this. Therefore many books have been written dealing with this. When God doesn’t expressly speak, there are plenty of those who will step up and speak for Him. I pray that I don’t do that here. I’ve read many debates and books that put forth scriptural arguments and even charts about divorce and remarriage and what to tell those who are divorced and remarried must do now.
Some have counseled breaking up second or third (or more) marriages and have told men and women to go back to their first husband or wife. It is argued from Jesus words that, “what God has joined together, let not man separate” means that a person who divorces and remarries is actually neither divorced nor remarried, but simply living in adultery with someone who is not their husband or wife. But Jesus’ own words are these: “Whoever DIVORCES his wife and MARRIES another, commits adultery against her, and if a woman DIVORCES her husband and MARRIES another, she commits adultery.” God’s law in Deuteronomy 24 forbids returning to a previous husband once the divorced wife marries again. Jesus nowhere taught that a second or third marriage should be broken by another divorce. It is clear that God wants marriages to last a lifetime. Someone said to me, “If it were impossible for divorced men or women to remarry, but they had to either stay single or return to their original marriage, we wouldn’t have all this mess.”
Notice carefully, that Jesus uses the words, “divorce and marries another.” Those who do that, says Jesus, commit adultery. Jesus did not tell them to go back to their first marriage partner. In fact, Jesus did not comment on what to do to correct this situation. Other passages tell us that when we sin we must repent. What this entails with remarriage is neither commented on nor clear. We tend to try to fix things. In fixing this, many have suggested doing things that God has elsewhere forbidden.
My personal response is to let each one work out his or her own salvation with fear and trembling before God. I know that scripture says that and elder or deacon must be the husband of but one wife. I do not believe this is about polygamy, but divorce and remarriage. If that is so, there were some among them at times who were divorced and remarried and would not qualify for leadership in the Lord’s church.
Some say that Matthew 19:9 is the key verse, indicating that a person can divorce and remarry if their mate cheated on them first. Others point out that Mark and Luke offer no exclusion and that any divorce and remarriage is unauthorized. One person argues that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are all dealing with Old Testament times and regulations and in fact Jesus is quoting Genesis and Deuteronomy, so that none of the teachings of Jesus on marriage, divorce and remarriage apply to the New Testament church. But we must read the instructions that began after Jesus’ own death, burial and resurrection. (I disagree. Jesus said in Matthew 28 that we were to go, baptize and teach others to obey all that he commanded. If his commands do not apply, then what does this verse mean? No, Jesus teachings in the gospels are also for the church.)
In Mark 10 there is another passage that may be helpful for us here. Listen to what Jesus says about the rich:
How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. He repeats this and adds that 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. Wow!
The disciples were amazed and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus replied, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible.”
I’m glad Jesus said this. I need these words. They show me that the standard of reaching heaven is higher than I can ever reach, but God has made it possible. I know that he did this through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for all our sins. Jesus words will judge us and his works will also save us.
Come to him and find in him eternal life.
God has a place in the kingdom for all who humble themselves before him and seek him in obedient faith.
