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Jesus left His home region (Galilee) & headed toward Judea, to lay down His life in Jerusalem for the sins of the world (Jn 1:29).

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason? The Pharisees are hoping to find a crack in the theology of Jesus and turn others against Him. They had been plotting how they might kill Jesus (Mt 12:14), and this is one of several times they came to test & trap Him (Mt 16:1), as they believed He was sent by the devil (Mt 9:34; 12:14).         They probably knew that Jesus would likely take the conservative route (like John the Baptist who called Herod an adulterer (Lk 3:19) - costing him his life. 

The answer to the question about divorce was hotly debated at the time because of a term that is found in Deuteronomy (written by the prophet Moses, 1400 years earlier).

In Jesus’ day there was a long standing controversy over what something displeasing or indecent meant. The Mishnah (collection of oral and written traditions including rabbinical teachings relevant to the time of Jesus), mentions at least 3 differing views on marriage & divorce.

• Rabbi Hillel taught displeasing meant one could divorce a wife for spoiling a meal. 
• Rabbi Aquiba said a man could divorce his wife if he found someone prettier than her. 
• The more conservative Rabbi Shammai said divorce was only an option because of the act of adultery.

Jesus points the Pharisees to the Scriptures, asking: “Haven’t you read” about God creating 2 genders - male and female, so that the two will become one (physically, emotionally, and spiritually)? The sex act was invented and intended for marriage between 1 man and 1 woman - where two become one flesh during the course of their 1 lifetime. Therefore - Jesus concludes - what God has joined together, let no one separate.

The New Testament teaches that Jesus is God the Son, who created all things (Jn 1:3 & Col 1:16) - includes people & marriage. 

While the Old Testament punishment for adultery was death by stoning (Deut 22:22), ending the marriage & allowing the living spouse to remarry, stoning adulterers was not the practice of the Jews of Jesus’ day, under Roman occupation. In the case of sexual immorality when the offending spouse still lives, Jesus says the offended spouse could remarry. 

The man who divorces his wife without Biblical grounds and marries another commits adultery. How could that be? If God doesn’t recognize the previous marriage as being over, then intimacy with another is sexually immoral and that person commits ADULTERY- even if their ‘marriage’ is recognized by civil authorities.

• Beyond ADULTERY, Paul mentions ABANDONMENT as an acceptable reason for divorce & remarriage (1 Cor 7:15), and many think that Jesus would certainly allow divorce & remarriage in the case of ABUSE of a spouse.
• But rather than finding loopholes so people can find a way out of their marriages, Jesus is reminding people that     God invented & intended Marriage to Unite one man and one woman until death.

Jesus is not focused on why a person might get out of marriage, but why a person should stay IN marriage. The first reaction for the follower of Jesus should always be attempting to RESTORE RELATIONSHIP, just as God does with us, when we have sinned against Him.

Marriage is NOT a relationship to be taken lightly. God invented & intended Marriage to Unite one man and one woman until death. 

Evidently, even the disciples of Jesus struggled with His answer. Just like us, their culture had infected their views.

The disciples of Jesus are so blown away by Jesus’ expectation of marriage that they conclude, “Then maybe…it is better not to marry.” And surprisingly, Jesus agrees. If people are going to dismiss God’s intention for marriage and leave when things get tough, then maybe some folks should never get married. 

• Those born as eunuchs are those with person born with misshapen private parts.
• Those made a eunuch by others were castrated by another (e.g. men who protected royal women). 
• Those who choose to live like eunuchs are people who choose not to marry & to abstain from sexual activity throughout their lives for the sake of furthering the kingdom work - like John the Baptist, the apostle Paul, and Jesus Himself.

If you’re not a eunuch and don’t desire to live like one, then you should accept this - accept what Jesus - God is skin - is saying about His invention & intention for marriage. That…God invented & intended Marriage to Unite one man and one woman until death.

Marriage is more than just about a man, a woman, & their family. There is a MYSTERY OF MARRIAGE:

Marriage is a living example to the faithfulness of Jesus & His followers

Our marriages are to be living examples to the faithfulness of Jesus & His church/followers to one another! 

Denny Burk 

"Our marriages were always meant to be about this other marriage (Eph. 5 - the mystery of Christ and the Church)...Our marriages are supposed to be saying something about the gospel...marriages are supposed to be these little dramas of redemption put on display for the world.”

Jesus will be faithful to us; the only question is…will WE be faithful to Him?

Marriage is a living example to the faithfulness of Jesus & His followers

The 2 become 1 - the husband and wife are UNITED and…Jesus & His Church are UNITED, and what God has joined together, let no one separate. We must beware anything & anyone who would get in the way of those relationships. 

Paul is afraid that the BRIDE of Christ (His Church/followers) could be seduced by another lover other than JESUS. If you’re a follower of Jesus, you must beware false teachings/teachers attempting to lead you astray, and keep kindling the fire of sincere and pure devotion to Christ Jesus.

What is your devotion to your spouse showing your family/friends/community about the significance of marriage? 

What is your devotion to JESUS showing your family/friends/community about the importance of knowing & following Jesus? 

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

1. Whose marriage do you most admire? Why?
2. What ingredients make for a happy marriage?
3. What factors tend to undermine a marriage and make a couple more susceptible to divorce?
4. Read Matthew 19:3 & Deut 24:1. Why was there a debate over whether a man could divorce his wife for any reason? What were some of the views during Jesus’ day? (Look back in your notes.)
5. Read Matthew 19:4-6, Gen 1:27 & 2:24. Where does Jesus go to answer the question? What does this tell you about how Jesus viewed the authority of the Scriptures versus rabbinical traditions? According to Jesus, is there ever an option for same-sex marriages? Explain your answer based on what Jesus says.
6. Read John 1:1-3 & Colossians 1:16. Why should the words of Jesus regarding marriage & divorce carry such weight?
7. Read Matthew 19:7-9. If you were approached by a friend who wanted out of their marriage, what kind of questions could you ask to see if they have Biblical grounds to divorce? Even if they have Biblical grounds for divorce, why should you encourage restoration before seeking divorce? 
8. Read Matthew 19:10-12. Did it surprise you to hear that the disciples of Jesus were blown away by the high standard Jesus expected from marriages? What can we do to make sure we follow the teachings of Jesus rather than what our culture teaches? In what ways is singleness a great advantage?
9. Read Ephesians 5:24-33. Spend time talking about how married couples should honor one another AND how marriage is a living example to the faithfulness of Jesus & His followers.
10. Read 2 Corinthians 11:2-3. What are some deceptions we must beware among our culture?
11. What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching & what does God want YOU to do with what we studied today? 
12. Share prayer needs and pray for one another.