Mark: Concerning Divorce [Mark 10:1-12]

Mark: Concerning Divorce []

Stand for the reading of the word of God []

Take the instruction manual and talk about what it is for. Read all instructions before using the… the instructions are there so we may know how to use the product rightly and safely. God gives us instructions as well for the same purpose…so we might live properly and safely. When it comes to marriage God has given us specific instructions on His design for it so we might use it properly and safely.

Today’s text is obviously about a subject that is very very sensitive…divorce. Few issues have caused more grief, soul searching, and study of the bible more than divorce. To be honest, I’d rather skip this section and move on to the next, but when you preach verse by verse through an entire book you’re forced to tackle the tough issues. I’ve wrestled with this text all week, prayed, lost sleep, because of the delicate nature of this topic. Recent studies show that the divorce rate is just as high in the church as it is in the world, so we can’t talk about divorce as if it something that just happens out there somewhere, because the reality is it’s right here in our midst, people have been hurt, lives have been affected and devastated by divorce.

So this morning my goal is to be careful not to hurt anyone, because I know how far reaching this subject is. But my goal is also to be biblical and not emotional, to emphasize prevention and precaution rather than reaction. So we will tread through this text verse by verse with some application sprinkled in throughout. Follow along in your bulletin.

Teaching the multitude again []

Verse 1, Mark uses more description than usual here, the significance of the movement from Judea and Jerusalem is a critical point in the ministry of Jesus. He came from Capernaum, or the boundaries of around Jerusalem and is headed to Jerusalem. From this point on in Mark’s gospel the focus is on Jesus heading to Jerusalem. Why do I even bother to bring this point up in our study? What does this have to do with the subject of divorce??? Everything! Why is Jesus headed to Jerusalem? To die on the cross for sinful humanity, so this is significant, that even in the midst of a hot topic…the cross is always in view, there’s forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ for all our sins. It’s subtle but it’s in view right from the onset. it’s important we get that.

Notice as Jesus approaches this area crowds gather again and what’s Jesus do? He does what he always does, he teaches them, what does he teach them? The bible, People need to be taught the bible! This hasn’t changed! Trouble in your marriage…you need the bible, can’t get along with your parents…you need the bible, struggling with your job…you need the bible, facing a difficult decision in your life…you need the bible. If you pay close attention to the life and ministry of Jesus, it wasn’t primarily about healings and miracles, he did those things, but they were always in light of teaching the bible. Jesus ministry was a teaching ministry, and I can’t help but think a lot of the problems we face as a society and as the church in the world could be avoided if we would focus more on the right teaching of the bible as opposed to looking for the exception clauses, i.e. what can I get away with or what is allowed? The bible is the authority, we all have our opinions and I appreciate them, but the bible is the final authority and if your opinion doesn’t line up with what the bible says…you’re wrong! We will see this come to light in this next couple of verses as the Pharisees opinion on the matter of divorce will be shredded by Jesus’ authority.

Exchange with the Pharisees about divorce []

read verses 2-4 again. While this question is a legitimate question, we’re not surprised that the intent of the question was not legitimate. The Pharisees saw an opportunity to trap Jesus and get Him in trouble. The context of this question was in Herod Antipas’ jurisdiction and if you recall what happened to John the Baptist when he stood opposed to Herod’s adulterous union? He was killed. The Pharisees perhaps see what they think as an opportunity to get Jesus out of the picture, but it doesn’t work out to well for them.

Regardless the intent of the question, it still was a source of debate among the rabbis themselves. In Jesus day their were basically two schools of rabbis..

one was the more conservative view the school of Shammai which held a very strict view of divorce and remarriage who said divorce was only permissible on the grounds of adultery [sexual immorality]. The other view

two was the more liberal school of Hillel tended to allow divorce for just about any reason and granted remarriage. In that view if the woman burnt the toast, it was grounds for divorce. The Pharisees of Jesus day tended to follow this teaching of Hillel because they wanted divorce made easy. There was the major problem. The Pharisees wanted to talk about divorce but Jesus wanted to talk about marriage.

Jesus asks a probing question that should have resolved the issue and any controversy: “what did Moses command you?” The answer given by the Pharisees was scriptural but not what Jesus was looking for. The Pharisees gave their answer drawn from , the two schools of rabbis got their very different views from this same passage. The problem was the Pharisees were viewing this text as an exception clause, i.e. I can get away with this, but the context of the verse is for the purpose of freeing the woman to remarry without being guilty of adultery.[take scripture out of context and you can make and exception clause for just about anything]. In Jewish life women didn’t have the same freedom men did, yet God’s law made accommodation for women in that culture.

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees []

Jesus responds to the heart of the matter. Notice Jesus’ focus is on the biblical teaching not the rabbinical opinion. Jesus does three things in His response…He (1) explained the reason for the Mosaic provision, (2) took the issue back to the beginning and quoted Scripture, (3)stated the permanent principle to be observed. In essence, Jesus said that the Mosaic provision for divorce was a concession to the sinful breaking of a marriage, not an approval of doing so.

1. The reason for Moses’ permission [v.5] was because of the hardness of their hearts. The Greek “Hardness of heart” is [sklerokardia] describes people whose minds are difficult to penetrate, self-willed, even stubborn. Such a person in this condition is unable to receive the truth and responsible for being in that condition. The hardness of heart is sinfulness, and provision for divorce was a provision for sinful situations not in accord with the will of God for marriage.

Now don’t misunderstand Jesus here, while it may sound like Jesus is discrediting Moses here, I don’t think so, after all the accommodation was given to Moses by God. I think Jesus is clear here, while any divorce, regardless the circumstance, is a violation of God’s initial purpose for marriage. God still accommodates the sinful state of man. It’s not an approval of, but a concession to the sinfulness of mankind. God’s mercy is on display here.

2. God’s will from the beginning [v.6-8] Jesus contrasts Moses’ provision with the original intent of God. Jesus quotes from &2 expressing God’s original intention for marriage. Three ideas are involved.

a. first, the man ‘leaves’ his parents, implies the breaking of the parent-child relationship, though not canceling it, by implication the woman does the same thing, leaves, not to sever ties, but too establish a new home.

b. two, the husband ‘cleaves’ to the wife, by implication, the wife cleaves to the husband as well. This means adheres to, joins together inseparably to. a life long commitment and union is the idea behind cleaves.

c. third, the two therefore become ‘one flesh’ the commitment that husband and wife make and are joined together in a lifetime union joined by God. One flesh indicates the husband and wife are no longer independent of each other but one.

3. the permanent principle [v.9] Jesus emphasizes the permanent institution of marriage. Jesus makes the point that the marriage is joined by God. God instituted marriage, it’s His idea, that means it is practiced according to His design. That is one man, one woman, for a lifetime. While man seeks to break marriage, Jesus word’s implies man cannot break what God has established without being guilty.

application: today divorce is not the only issue seeking to destroy marriage. The word of God is very clear God’s design for marriage has been the same from the beginning and man cannot change that. No matter what society says or how popular culture makes alternative lifestyles…God’s plan for marriage is and always will be one man, one woman, one lifetime. This is God’s original intent for marriage, you cannot break it or change it without being guilty, it’s not my opinion, it’s God’s word!

Further teaching to the disciples []

After the public teaching of Jesus, he once again takes his disciples into a more private setting and teachings them further. The Pharisees have disappeared from the scene: Jesus’ standard was so absolute, so different from theirs, that they no doubt left in disgust. He hadn’t played into their hands. So the disciples ask again about the subject, apparently they found this word difficult as well. Jesus explanation given by Mark expressed the basic and permanent principle involved. He stated it twice, once for the husband and once for the wife. For either to divorce the other and marry another is to commit adultery against the partner. Adultery is after all, unfaithfulness to one’s spouse, to whom the commitment of permanent unions has been made. The principle is clear and universal, stated by Jesus without exceptions.

Now the bible addresses the grounds for divorce and remarriage, due to death of a spouse, desertion of a spouse, unfaithfulness of a spouse, those issues we don’t have time to go into, you’ll have to search the scripture for yourself for more clarification. My focus is here in Mark and the words of Jesus, and what He is trying to get through to the disciples and to us as well.

Here’s the summation of Jesus’ words here. Jesus knew and was trying to relay, that the stability of society, the security of the family, and enjoyment of relationships within a marriage was directly tied to the institution of marriage being upheld according to God’s design. When that institution is overturned and when the Creator’s clear statement and instructions are rejected there are ramifications that follow.

So where do we go from here? I want to make a few points by way of application here.

one thing we need to do is sit, reflect, and ponder upon the words of Jesus. Don’t automatically go looking for other verses to justify our view or thinking on the matter. Jesus is not mincing words here, so listen to what he has to say. After all we want to be biblical, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure right. So if there is any way we can rest on and learn from the clear teaching of Jesus then perhaps we can prevent or help lesson the divorce rate in the church for future generations. everyone who has been involved in or gone through a divorce, or had parents who divorced knows, it’s one of the most hurtful things in our society. As the church we need to do all we can to help prevent this devastating thing. and one way to do that...

We need to talk about it. It does no one any good to avoid the topic of divorce because it’s painful. While the bible is clear that marriage is a gift and work of God and its meaning and significance is found in Him. And while it’s designed by God to be exclusively heterosexual and permanent, Jesus knows that in a fallen world divorce will occur. So we cannot avoid the issue as the body of Christ.

Where the sin of adultery has happened or when divorce has occured, forgiveness is possible and available to all those who repent and confess their sin to Christ. , “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If you have not run to Christ for forgiveness, run to Him this morning, right now and ask for His forgiveness, He is available to you.

If you’re in an unbiblical marriage or having trouble in your marriage don’t seek to get out of it…seek forgiveness of your sin and work hard to glorify God and be a blessing to your spouse.

As the church we should emphasize the value and dignity of marriage while eliminating the shame and stigma of the divorced. If the church is not the most loving and caring people in the world then we’ve missed totally the words of Jesus for us.

One message can’t address all the issues of divorce, but the word of God is not silent on it. Search the scripture for yourself. There is hope, there is joy, there is restoration in the word of God. Run to Christ!

Run to the open arms of Christ, who longs to forgive, restore, and put back together the pieces of you that have fallen apart. I’ve tried to be as graceful as possible this morning concerning this very very hurtful topic that has affected so many people. The most graceful thing and best advice I know to give you is in the simple phrase I’ve already said several times… Run to Christ for forgiveness!