How does Mark 10:5 reveal God's intention for marriage from the beginning? Setting the Scene Mark 10:5: “But Jesus told them, ‘Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart.’ ” Why a Concession Was Needed • Divorce legislation in Deuteronomy 24:1–4 existed as damage-control for a fallen world, not as an ideal • “Hardness of heart” exposes the human refusal to yield to God’s design • The concession protected vulnerable spouses from even worse mistreatment Tracing the Divine Blueprint • Jesus immediately reaches back to Genesis 1:27 and 2:24 (see Mark 10:6-8) – One man, one woman, united by God – A lifelong, “one-flesh” covenant, not a contract that can be ended at whim • Marriage predates the Fall, revealing it as part of God’s good creation order • Because it is God-made (Mark 10:9), human beings lack authority to dissolve it at will Key Insights from “Hardness of Heart” • Divorce was never God’s first choice; sin necessitated regulation • The phrase underscores humanity’s deep need for transformed hearts (Ezekiel 36:26) • Jesus’ citation confronts religious leaders who treated the concession as the standard rather than the exception Confirming Passages • Matthew 19:8 gives the same explanation: “Because of your hardness of heart…” • Malachi 2:15-16—God’s hatred of divorce ties back to His purpose of “godly offspring” and covenant faithfulness • Ephesians 5:31-32—marriage illustrates Christ’s union with the church, reinforcing its permanence Practical Takeaways • Hold marriage in honor as a divine institution, not merely a social contract • Pursue heart-level change through the gospel so that hardness does not erode covenant love • View any marital struggles in light of God’s original plan, seeking reconciliation whenever possible In Summary Mark 10:5 exposes divorce as a temporary concession to human sin and highlights that God’s true intention from the beginning is a lifelong, covenantal union reflecting His own faithful character. |
    |