How does Mark 10:3 challenge us to understand God's law versus human tradition? Setting the Scene Mark 10 opens with Pharisees testing Jesus about divorce. In verse 3, Jesus responds: “What did Moses command you?” (Mark 10:3) Listening to Jesus’ Question • Jesus turns the debate back to Scripture, not rabbinic opinion. • By asking about Moses, He directs them to the written Word, the very law given by God, not later interpretive layers. • The question itself exposes whether their position is grounded in divine command or human custom. God’s Law: Unchanging Foundation • Scripture originates with God (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, its authority is absolute. • Moses had permitted divorce with conditions (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), yet Jesus clarifies in the next verses that this concession was because of hardness of heart, not God’s ideal (Mark 10:5-9). • The Lord’s appeal to “from the beginning of creation” (Mark 10:6) shows God’s design predates Mosaic accommodation. • God’s law reflects His character—holy, just, unchanging (Psalm 19:7-9; Malachi 3:6). Human Tradition: Shifting Sand • Over centuries, rabbinic schools had expanded divorce grounds far beyond Deuteronomy, reducing marriage to a contract of convenience. • Traditions, when untethered from Scripture, quickly morph into self-serving loopholes (Matthew 15:3, 9). • Jesus exposes that even a biblically rooted allowance can be distorted when the heart seeks loopholes instead of obedience. Practical Takeaways • Whenever questions arise—about marriage, ethics, worship, anything—start where Jesus starts: “What does Scripture say?” • Distinguish between concessions God permits and ideals He designs; aim for His original intent, not minimal compliance. • Hold every church or cultural tradition to the measuring rod of God’s Word; keep what aligns, discard what conflicts (Acts 17:11). • Let the permanence of God’s revelation anchor your convictions, even when human voices grow loud or popular customs shift. Scripture Connections • Deuteronomy 24:1-4—Moses’ regulation referenced by Jesus. • Genesis 2:24—God’s original design for marriage, quoted in Mark 10:7-8. • Psalm 119:89—“Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.” • Matthew 15:3—Jesus confronting tradition that nullifies God’s command. • Colossians 2:8—warning against being taken captive by human tradition rather than Christ. Mark 10:3 confronts every generation with a choice: anchor life in the clear, enduring voice of God or drift with the ever-changing currents of human tradition. |
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