Mark 10:1-12
"Marriage Matters"
V.1 “into the region of Judea” - Herod’s hangout
John, Herod and Herodias
V.2 A trap for Jesus
V.3 Jesus, “Let’s look at what the Scriptures teach.”
V.4-5 On what grounds was divorce acceptable?
1. School of Shammai- Only for a wife’s marital unfaithfulness
Matt 19:8 Jesus replied, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.
Ex: Joseph with Mary
Matt 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
2. School of Hillel- For any reason the man wanted
•Childlessness
•Burning or spoiling a meal
•Or the husband finding another woman more beautiful
Matt 19:3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?
No Fault Divorce?
V.5 “hearts were hard”
Deut 24:1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, 2 and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, 3 and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, 4 then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Divorce was an accommodation in order to bring order into a society that had disregarded God’s will.
V.6 “at the beginning of creation God made them male and female.”
God recognizes this but some states do not
V.7-8 “for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife...”
The two become one
“united”- proskollao (pros-kol-lah'-o); to glue to, (figuratively) to adhere:
Illus: Glued paper. Can separate but not without damaging the paper.
Who unites or glues the two together?
V.9 “Therefore, what God has joined together let man not separate.”
“Until death do us part.”
V.10 Make it simple Jesus
V.11-12 In Jewish culture a man could divorce his wife but a wife could not divorce her husband.
In Greek and Roman culture it was not only permissible but common
See 1 Cor. 7:10
Are there any conditions?
1. Matt 19:8 Jesus replied, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.
2. Desertion (1 Cor. 7:15)
Take the time before you say, “I do.”
Top Five Reasons Newlyweds Divorce
5. Trouble with the ___________.
4. Difference of opinion about having _____________.
3. A_________________ spouse.
2. ____________________ problems.
1. _________________.
Mal 2:16 I hate divorce, says the LORD God