How does Matthew 19:7 challenge our understanding of marriage's sanctity and permanence? Setting the Scene Matthew 19 records Jesus’ journey from Galilee to Judea. Religious leaders test Him on divorce. Verse 7 captures their challenge and opens a window into the heart of God concerning marriage. “They said to Him, ‘Why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?’” The Pharisees’ Question • The Pharisees treat Deuteronomy 24:1–4 as a command, hoping to trap Jesus. • Their wording frames divorce as normal and permissible. • By appealing to Moses, they assume authority is on their side, yet they overlook Genesis 2:24, God’s original blueprint. Marriage as God’s Design • Genesis 2:24—“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” • Jesus cites this in Matthew 19:5–6, insisting, “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” • Marriage is a divine act, not merely a human agreement. Divorce as Concession, Not Command • Matthew 19:8—“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.” • Jesus clarifies that the certificate of divorce was a reluctant allowance, protecting vulnerable spouses in a fallen world. • Malachi 2:16—“For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel.” • Scripture’s literal testimony: divorce violates the intent of one-flesh unity. Sanctity and Permanence Highlighted • By questioning Jesus, the Pharisees unintentionally affirm marriage’s gravity; if it were merely civil, they would not consult Moses. • Jesus roots marriage in creation, lifting it above cultural convenience. • The certificate of divorce exposes human hardness; its existence underscores the holiness of the union it disrupts. • Jesus’ teaching restores the Eden pattern, calling believers to covenant fidelity. Covenant, Not Contract • Ephesians 5:31-33 presents marriage as a living parable of Christ and the Church—unbreakable, sacrificial, loving. • 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 instructs husbands and wives to remain together; separation is a departure from God’s ideal, not a preferred option. • Treating marriage as covenant elevates commitment beyond convenience, reflecting God’s steadfast love. Implications for Believers Today • Celebrate marriage as God’s purposeful creation, not a cultural tradition. • Resist casual attitudes toward divorce; see it as a concession, never a goal. • Foster hearts softened by grace through repentance, forgiveness, and mutual submission, preventing “hardness of heart.” • Offer compassionate support to couples in crisis, aiming for restoration rather than dissolution. • Uphold biblical marriage publicly and privately, bearing witness to Christ’s unbreakable covenant with His people. |
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