Marriage and divorce according to Jesus-Part 1
Matthew 19:4-6 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one.” NIV Bible
Extra Reading: Matthew1-12
John the Baptist had been put in prison and killed, at least in part, because of his public opinions on marriage and divorce. Divorce was a hot topic of debate among the Shammai and Hillel schools of the Pharisees. The Pharisees hoped to trap Jesus by getting Him to choose sides in a theological controversy and incriminate himself in the process (v.3). The debate focused on Moses’ words about divorce recorded in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Jesus’ answer began with the words “haven’t you read,” implying that they had not truly read their own Scriptures with any understanding. They had certainly read the words many times, but they were unable to understand what the words meant. In His answer to them, Jesus referred them back to Genesis, the beginning. Jesus was referring to Moses’ words in Genesis about the ideal state of creation and particularly of marriage. Jesus focused on God’s ideal in creating male and female. The man and woman had been created complementary to each other. God’s plan was that in marriage the husband and wife become one flesh, an intimate closeness that cannot be separated. The wife is not property to be disposed of but a person created in God’s image.
Husband and wife are no longer two, but one flesh, describing an indissoluble union. The Pharisees regarded Deuteronomy 24:1 as a proof text for divorce. But Jesus focused on marriage rather than divorce. He pointed out that God intended marriage to be a covenant-a permanent promise of love and faithfulness. The Pharisees regarded divorce as a legal issue rather than a spiritual one-marriage and divorce were merely transactions similar to buying and selling land (with women being treated as property). But Jesus condemned this attitude, clarifying God’s original intention-that marriage bring unity that no one should separate.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to keep marriage as a sacred union. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Rev. Samuel N. Modise
Matthew 19:4-6 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one.” NIV Bible
Extra Reading: Matthew1-12
John the Baptist had been put in prison and killed, at least in part, because of his public opinions on marriage and divorce. Divorce was a hot topic of debate among the Shammai and Hillel schools of the Pharisees. The Pharisees hoped to trap Jesus by getting Him to choose sides in a theological controversy and incriminate himself in the process (v.3). The debate focused on Moses’ words about divorce recorded in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Jesus’ answer began with the words “haven’t you read,” implying that they had not truly read their own Scriptures with any understanding. They had certainly read the words many times, but they were unable to understand what the words meant. In His answer to them, Jesus referred them back to Genesis, the beginning. Jesus was referring to Moses’ words in Genesis about the ideal state of creation and particularly of marriage. Jesus focused on God’s ideal in creating male and female. The man and woman had been created complementary to each other. God’s plan was that in marriage the husband and wife become one flesh, an intimate closeness that cannot be separated. The wife is not property to be disposed of but a person created in God’s image.
Husband and wife are no longer two, but one flesh, describing an indissoluble union. The Pharisees regarded Deuteronomy 24:1 as a proof text for divorce. But Jesus focused on marriage rather than divorce. He pointed out that God intended marriage to be a covenant-a permanent promise of love and faithfulness. The Pharisees regarded divorce as a legal issue rather than a spiritual one-marriage and divorce were merely transactions similar to buying and selling land (with women being treated as property). But Jesus condemned this attitude, clarifying God’s original intention-that marriage bring unity that no one should separate.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to keep marriage as a sacred union. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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