…Pharisees came…and tested Him [Jesus] by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “…a man shall…hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh…What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19:3-12
Scripture, often, depicts the Pharisees as “testing” Jesus and this event is no different. They waited to “invoke” Moses giving in to their ancestors’ sinful desire to divorce in marriage. But first, Jesus responds to their “test” by explaining what God had ordained in Genesis 1 & 2, that God made man, male and female, and that the two were to be equals in their marriage relationship, not superior and inferior. The two were to become one in their union with each other and God viewed their relationship to one another as one in the relationship. In the Garden of Eden, it was a beautiful union of man and woman into the world they would have dominion over and bear children to multiply the presence of humans in the world. Unfortunately, Satan’s temptations of Eve and Adam resulted in the “Heaven on Earth” God had established to become corrupted and the curses God made upon His humans and His creation caused great difficulties for Adam and Eve, and all humanity since. But, God, has not changed what He decreed in Genesis 1 & 2. Though Moses allowed the Israelites to divorce, he did so because of the Israelites “hardness” of their hearts. Jesus emphasizes this in His response to the Pharisees. He, then, tells the Pharisees, and the crowd who heard Him, divorce is only to be granted in cases of sexual immorality and, if someone divorces a spouse for any other reason and marries another, it is an act of adultery. In our society today, it is far too easy for a husband and wife to obtain a divorce. Even so called Christian marriages have a divorce rate nearly the same as pagan people. Christians must not use the excuse of this fallen world being the reason to disobey God’s commands. Marriage is a basic foundation for a stable society. Yet, we seem to be dismantling society with ever quickening speed. It is clear Satan is behind such societal changes for he seeks to destroy all things God has established for humans to live Godly lives. While this world will become worse in all areas of life, God has appointed a day and a Man when all things will be as He created it and evil, demons and humans, will be judged by our Savior and Lord Jesus! Source: S C Ball March 9, 2023
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