Mark 10:1-12
Divorce
10 Jesus
then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 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.’[a] 7 ‘For
this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,[b] 8 and
the two will become one flesh.’[c] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore
what God has joined together, let no one 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.”
The Bible tells
us that God hates divorce. Yet the world is quick to divorce, and there is not much difference between Christians and non-Christians. You would think that the Christian community would have a much lower divorce rate, but this shows you how much
Christians are influenced by the world. This is not a good sign. What most people don’t realize is how strong of a stance the Bible takes. It says that “if a man divorces his wife and marries woman commits adultery against
her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” Jesus is teaching that marriage is for life. If you file for divorce, then don’t re-marry. You may get a divorce, but the covenant with
God is still standing until death. Now, this should cause one to ponder. If you want to live a married life, then make the current marriage work. Instead of fighting against the marriage, start fighting for the marriage… especially
if you want to live a married life. There are some exceptions; however I am addressing only today’s passage.
I pray: O Lord, I pray for marriage to be taken seriously, that people will focus
on the commitment between husband, wife and God. Help us to stand up against worldliness and to turn our attention back to your Word. Lord, I don’t want people to have to struggle in their marriage, but ask you to bless their marriage and
that they love one another and enjoy their marriage commitment with each other. Amen.