Mark 10:1-12 Marriage and Divorce

Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church

From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text

Jesus’ Ministry Travels

Pray

Introduction

A little over half-way through Jesus ministry

First part was Him establishing His identity for God’s people

Now He is focused on the work He must do at the Cross

Mark 10:1–12 ESV

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Mark 10:1 ESV

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

Jesus’ patience and perseverance as a teacher

Jesus was always about His Father’s business: preaching, teaching, working to do good to souls

Never wasted an opportunity - never had a “down day”

He was always working no matter where He was

Jesus knew the hearts of all men, though

Knew that most of His hearers were hardened and unbelieving

Most of His words fell on the ground and were ignored - most of His work was in vain

He knew this, yet continued to work

This is a tendency of everyone who tries to do good to others, whatever their job

Ministers, missionaries, teachers of all kinds, caregivers of all sorts, witnessing Christians

We must all remember Christ’s example and determine to do the same

We can’t give up teaching because we see no good done

We can’t relax our efforts because we aren't seeing results

We need to work steadily and remember that duty is ours, but the results are God’s

We need to be planters and well as harvesters

The honest employer pays his workers for their work, not the results - the crops they grow - our Master in heaven will deal with us the same way

He knows success is not in their hands

He knows they cannot change hearts

He will reward us according to our work

Matt. 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

The dignity and importance of marriage

Mark 10:3-12 “He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.””

The majority of our text today is on the subject of marriage and divorce

The opinions of most Jews on the subject were pretty low (like today?)

They didn’t recognize the permanence of marriage as an institution

Allowed divorce for trivial reasons and it was common

Didn’t understand the duties of husbands toward wives and wives toward husbands

To correct this, Jesus sets a high and holy standard of principles

Mark 10:6 “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’”

The solemn words at the marriage of Adam and Eve: Mark 10:7-8 “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.”

Mark 10:9 “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.””

In reply to His disciples - He states that divorce, followed by re-marriage, except in the case of cheating, breaks the seventh commandment (Adultery) (that would be divorce on trivial grounds)

This is an important judgement and we cannot over rate its importance

It is helpful that we have such a clear statement on this subject

Marriage has been the foundation of our society

Morality of a people, happiness of families are all tied to this whole question of the law of marriage

Our experience here in the US an Europe shows the wisdom of our Lord’s direction in this matter in a most striking way

Polygamy, “gay” marriage, “living together”, trivial divorce, not only promote immorality, but are the sources of great unhappiness and depression

The closer our laws about marriage are to the law of Christ, the higher is the moral tone of our nation and community

All who are married, or who are considering marriage, need to consider carefully Jesus teachings

Of all our relations, none should be regarded with such reverence, none undertaken so cautiously as the relations between husband and wife

No where is such earthly happiness found, if the couple enter in the marriage with good biblical counsel and in the fear of God

No where can we find such misery, when the couple marries without biblical counsel, or for the wrong reasons, and without thinking it through

There is no step in life where we benefit more, than if we marry in the Lord.

There is no step in life that does so much harm, than if people bind together for lust, passion, or worldly motives

Neh. 13:26 “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.”

Bringing it home

Unfortunately, it is very important to emphasize these truths to people

It is a sad fact that few steps in life are taken with so much levity, self-will and forgetfulness of God as marriage (or co-habitation)

Few are the couples who think of inviting Christ to their wedding (“gay” marriage)(co-habitation)

Unhappy marriages, and ungodly unions are one of the greatest causes of misery and sorrow in our world

People find out too late that they have made a mistake, and are miserable the rest of their days (or divorce)

Three important rules for marriage - and not co-habitation

Marry only in the Lord, after prayer

Don’t expect too much from your spouse - marriage is a union between two sinners, not angels

Strive to help one another to grow in grace and holiness - more holiness equals more happiness

Ephesians 5:25 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

The Gospel

Hebrews 10:31 ESV

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Prayers

Questions