Word@Work 113 - Mark 10:10-12
Published: Tue, 04/29/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 10:10-12 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (NIV)
The crowd heard Jesus' teaching about divorce: it clearly stirred the disciples too. They asked Him about the implications of marriage breakdown (presumably including remarriage). His answer did not depend on situational ethics but creation design. Remarriage after divorce, He says here, is adultery. And to make the point equal for both parties, this applied to the woman who divorced her husband too. Although that was not allowed by Jewish law, it was permitted in the Roman occupation.
For the disciples this was not an academic point. John the Baptist had denounced Herodias for doing just that, so that she could marry her husband's brother (Mark 6:17-18) - you will remember that her hatred led to John's execution. If they were to preach this teaching from Jesus, what might happen to them? It remains a challenge for Biblical preachers today too. Jesus was not just spraying the embryo apostles with impossible regulations for the future church. He was setting high standards - standards based on what God had already said and done.
Indeed, all of real church life is based on what God has done - creation, incarnation, atonement, ascension and Holy Spirit filling ... and what He has said He will do - Second Coming, judgement, heaven and hell, the new heavens and new earth. So why do we dilute the practical teaching of Jesus? When we replace the work of God by our own bright (and even passionate) ideas, the cracks will show for a very long time. Grace certainly exists to cover our past but was never intended to facilitate ungodliness in our future (Rom 6:1-4). Grace squandered, is as foolish as throwing gold into the sea.
Prayer: Gracious God. All that I am and have depends upon You, Your Word, Your bounty, Your mercy and Your love. Please pull me back from the pagan carelessness which treats holy things with distain and Your Word with scorn. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The crowd heard Jesus' teaching about divorce: it clearly stirred the disciples too. They asked Him about the implications of marriage breakdown (presumably including remarriage). His answer did not depend on situational ethics but creation design. Remarriage after divorce, He says here, is adultery. And to make the point equal for both parties, this applied to the woman who divorced her husband too. Although that was not allowed by Jewish law, it was permitted in the Roman occupation.
For the disciples this was not an academic point. John the Baptist had denounced Herodias for doing just that, so that she could marry her husband's brother (Mark 6:17-18) - you will remember that her hatred led to John's execution. If they were to preach this teaching from Jesus, what might happen to them? It remains a challenge for Biblical preachers today too. Jesus was not just spraying the embryo apostles with impossible regulations for the future church. He was setting high standards - standards based on what God had already said and done.
Indeed, all of real church life is based on what God has done - creation, incarnation, atonement, ascension and Holy Spirit filling ... and what He has said He will do - Second Coming, judgement, heaven and hell, the new heavens and new earth. So why do we dilute the practical teaching of Jesus? When we replace the work of God by our own bright (and even passionate) ideas, the cracks will show for a very long time. Grace certainly exists to cover our past but was never intended to facilitate ungodliness in our future (Rom 6:1-4). Grace squandered, is as foolish as throwing gold into the sea.
Prayer: Gracious God. All that I am and have depends upon You, Your Word, Your bounty, Your mercy and Your love. Please pull me back from the pagan carelessness which treats holy things with distain and Your Word with scorn. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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