Mark 10:1-12

Jesus Teaches about Marriage and Divorce - Unpardonable Sin?

 

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.'

 

5 'It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,' 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 no man separate.'

 

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.'"

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Marriage and divorce according to Christ

Marriage and divorce according to the Bible may be a bit confusing to us but Jesus made God's ultimate will for marriage permanence perfectly clear in these passages.

 

One point I'd like to make is that, in the time of Moses and in the time of Jesus, many entered into a ''marriage of convenience" and these situations led to marriage and divorce being considered almost the same as business transactions in order to satisfy the needs of a particular situation (Solomon is a good example of this (1 Kings 11).

 

Women were considered property by the men of the day and so Jesus was reiterating that God's intent was that a man and woman enter into marriage with the intentions of making it work.

 

In today's world things are not all that different. I once heard a humorous saying that; "Any two fools can get themselves married." This is so true and has a 50% divorce rate to back it up!

 

Couples are quick to enter into marriage, many times barely knowing one another, and are also quick to end their marriage at the smallest sign of a problem.

 

These quick marriages and divorces lead to bad feelings as well as broken homes for children during the marriage and after the divorce is finalized.

 

There are some cases (especially when abuse is involved) where divorce may be the only way out for a spouse but, if we enter into marriage slowly and with the intent of that marriage being permanent, then there is a little less chance of that marriage ending in divorce.

 

Marriage is a partnership. A man may be stronger physically and this is all the reason not to abuse that strength. Woman is the "weaker vessel" says The Bible and men have to appreciate that fact and not take advantage of her physically or emotionally,

 

Yes, any two fools can get themselves married but I absolutely admire and congratulate a couple who has made it work for 10, 20, 30 or even 60 years!

 

Unpardonable Sin

 

Is divorce and remarriage the unpardonable sin? In one word, no. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the rejection of God. All others were paid for by Jesus dying on the cross and rising on the third day.

 

Love your husband or wife, listen to their wants and needs, work through problems and ask God for guidance when you pray.

 

Love in Christ

- Bob

Mark 9:14-29 - Christ and the Demon Possessed Boy