(3) How was the Pharisees' question a test for
Jesus? The Pharisees, being "experts" in Jewish law, tried to catch
Jesus on a disputed point of the law. The law in dispute was Deut. 24:14. Those from the
school of "Hillel" interpreted the law to permit divorce for any reason, such as
the wife accidentally burning food on the stove. Those from the school of
"Shammaj" interpreted the law to permit divorce only in cases of adultery. The
Pharisees asked the question in a way that would make Jesus offend one of the groups with
whatever answer He would give. if Jesus would answer yes, the school of
"Shamtnai" could accuse Him of being a pimp. if Jesus would answer no, the
school of "Hillel" could accuse Him of adding to God's law.
(4-6) Instead of answering yes or no, why does Jesus say "the two will hecome
one flesh"? Jesus gives His answer, siding with the school of
"Shammai," but He appeals not to a technicality of the law of Moses, but to
God's original design for marriage.
Jesus goes on to describe such a perfect marriage: male and female vfrgins marry, and establish a new home. They live so intimately and harmoniously that they are "one flesh." They no longer live as two people with separate dreams and separate lifestyles, doing "my own thing." Rather, they are transformed into one person.
God's ideal for marriage flies in the face of everyone, even the "religious ~ants." Everyone thinks up an excuse for their marital problems. Men beat their wives and claim it's because of "pressure at work." Women divorce men because "he verbally abuses me." Young people have sex before marriage saying, "we were going to get married anyways." The list is endless. Jesus, on the other hand, wants us to stop deluding ourselves, and face up to the fact: that our marriages (even our dating life), because of our sinfulness, are far from God's original design. We will never experience the mystery of becoming "one flesh" until we recognize how far we are from it.
(8) What did Jesus mean that "your hearts were
hard," and why was that a reason for divorce? God gave "certificates of
divorce" during the days of Moses (around 1800 BC) because it was a way to keep curb
the rampant marital infidelity that the Israelites were prone to. Then in verse 9, Jesus
again stcers the Pharisees attention away from this one point of the law, to God's
original design -- that divorce and remarriage fall short of God's perfection.
(9) What do the words "except for marital unfaithfulness" mean?
That a partner's adultery is the only lawful grounds for divorce.
(11) What did Jesus mean by His answer to the disciples' question of celibacy?
He means that celibacy is not for all, only the few to whom God has given such a gift. if
one has such a gift, he/she should use it in order to serve God with undivided devotion.
See 1 Cor 7:32-
35.
But most of us are called to marry. It is to the marrying-ldnd that Jesus explains God's ideal for marriage. By recognizing how far we are from that ideal, we realize how much we necd Christ's salvation in our marriage and dating life.
Insights
The world is far from God's original design for marriage.
In the perfect marriage, God mysteriously unites a man and a woman to live so harmoniously and intimately that they become one person.
Christ's gift of salvation includes not only eternal life, but also marital harmony.
The Bottom Line
Look to Jesus Christ for your mamage.
Only Christ can truly heal a marriage. First, He removes sin, the main cause for marital breakdown. He suffered and died on the cross in our place, to take away our punishment, guilt, and far-away-ness from God. For us who believe and confess our sins, He forgives our sin, and impresses us with this act of love. We become so moved by Christ's love, that we want to change and gratefully live for Him.
Second, He sends His Holy Spirit to give believers the strength and power we need to follow God's ways and come closer to God's design for marriage.
Third, Jesus gives us an example to follow. Just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, a husband must love his wife and give himself up for her. See Ephesians 5:25.
Fourth, Jesus answers prayer. See 1 John 5:14.
Key Memory Verse
"For this reason a man will leave his father
and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." (Gen. 2:24)