November 7, 2021
Evening Service

Jesus continued His transparent teaching this morning as He taught very clearly on the expectations for those who choose to follow Him must be able to forgive those who have wronged them.  As we follow Jesus, our goal is to become like Him treating others as He treated them; imitating Him and walking in His footsteps. He had compassion on those who were hurting and also sought forgiveness for those who did not deserve it.  Luke records Jesus demonstrating this.

Luke 23:33-34 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  (34)  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

            Jesus, upon the cross, has mercy upon those who are carrying out His unjust execution asking His Father to forgive these unknowing participants in the event that changed the world.  We are to imitate Him and have our eyes on others even when we find ourselves in times of hardship.  We have no excuse not to forgive.  Tonight Jesus continues His final journey towards Jerusalem turning south from Galilee to the region of Judea.  Here He again encounters the Pharisees who again seek to trip Him up in His words.

 

Mat 19:1-3 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.  (2)  And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.  (3)  The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"

            Remember that it was not too long ago that John the Baptist was arrested and eventually killed in part for his stance on marriage.  He had confronted Herod that it was wrong for him to marry his brother Philip’s wife and that had landed him in prison.  It was Herod’s wife that then instructed her daughter who pleased the king to ask for John’s head on a platter.  The Pharisees hoped that they could also stir up some trouble for Jesus with His stance on marriage as well.  The Jews had a divided view of divorce and the interpretation of Deut. 24:1-4.  One group felt a man could divorce his wife for any reason while others believed it was justified only by unfaithfulness.  They felt either way someone would be mad.  Jesus, in His wisdom, answers them with an explanation more about marriage than divorce.

 

Mat 19:4-6 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,' (5) and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'?  (6)  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate."

            The Lord reveals to us the original intention of marriage was to be between one man and one woman.  Any fellowship of the Lord’s church who condone “same sex marriage” are not teaching the truth.  This is an area that many of the churches in our society have “conformed” to the pressure of the world and support this despite the clear message that it is not of God’s design.  They will be held accountable for this error and the damage it has done.  Secondly, Jesus confirms that the marriage relationship supersedes the parental relationship.  A couple once married, are to go and create their own lives together; leaving father and mother behind.  Many marriages fail because one of them holds on too tightly to a parental relationship and don’t allow their spouse to supply their needs.  A couple joined in marriage loses their individual identity and become “one flesh.”  He stresses that this divinely ordained union should not be broken by human act or decree.  This answer excites the Pharisees as they feel they have caught Jesus contradicting the teachings of Moses.  They quickly fire a follow up question.

 

Mat 19:7-8 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"  (8)  He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

            Jesus quickly replies that Moses did this, not because it was God’s design, but it was allowed because of the backslidden position the nation of Israel found itself in at the time.  A man could use any reason to give his wife a certificate of divorce; she may have simply burned beans and ends up divorced.  Malaki wrote this about God’s view of divorce in his OT prophecy and it has not changed with the culture of man.

 

Mal 2:16 "For the LORD God of Israel says That He 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."

            Jesus now with His full authority sets the record straight for how divorce will be handled by His followers.

 

Mat 19:9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

            The single reason for divorce is infidelity within the marriage vows.  Each party swore before God to be faithful to one another and the breaking of that vow is a justification for divorce.  The offended partner is then freed from their vow and allowed to marry another.  Remember the lesson this morning however on forgiveness.  Infidelity does not mean divorce has to occur, God would rather see repentance and forgiveness win out in this situation.  If divorce comes for any other reason, the parties are to remain celibate because to remarry would be considered committing adultery.

            Marriage is so important because it was created to mirror the relationship between Christ and His church.  This is explained very well in Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. 

 

Eph. 5:28-32 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  (29)  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.  (30)  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.  (31)  "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH."  (32)  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

            If the church takes marriage between a man and a woman lightly, it shows the same view for the marriage between Christ and His Bride, the church.  The message is clear here that we must teach that marriage is for life and should never be taken lightly.  Today couples get married (if they do) and agree that if they become weary of one another they simply will divorce and move on in search of their version of happiness.  This too is not a view that the church can support.  Our relationship with Christ is not something that we can switch on and off as we feel like it either.  It is a commitment for life surrendering our will to His.

            This discussion triggers the disciples to ask Jesus about the wisdom of getting married in the first place.

 

Mat 19:10-12 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry."  (11)  But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: (12) For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."

            Jesus states that each of us are unique in our needs and the path we are called to walk.  Some have no need for the intimate relationship of marriage from birth and other develop it through life experiences.  Some even choose to remain single in order to better serve the Lord.  Paul explains this well in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 7.  Each of us are created differently, and need to be true to what God is calling us to be whether to be married or single.   Our focus either way is to be on the Lord first and foremost. 

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for opening our eyes to Your perfect will.  Give us the courage and faith to walk the path You have designed for each of us.