What is the meaning of Mark 10:5? But Jesus told them • Jesus responds directly to the Pharisees who were “testing Him” (Mark 10:2). • His opening words place Him in the position of ultimate authority, correcting their misused appeal to Moses (cf. Matthew 19:4, 8). • The contrast between the temporary concessions of the law and the eternal standard of Christ reveals the fullness of grace and truth that “came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). • Christ’s reply reminds listeners that whenever Scripture is cited, it must be interpreted through the lens of God’s unchanging intent rather than human loopholes. Moses wrote this commandment for you • Jesus refers to Deuteronomy 24:1, where Moses permits a certificate of divorce. • While Moses was God’s chosen mediator (Exodus 34:27; John 5:46), the certificate was never meant to endorse divorce as God’s ideal. • The phrase “for you” underscores personal accountability: the provision addressed Israel’s specific situation, not God’s creative design for marriage first revealed in Genesis 2:24. • By citing Moses, Jesus shows that Scripture harmonizes—Moses’ concession and Genesis’ creation mandate both point back to the same God, yet highlight different aspects of His dealings with fallen humanity. because of your hardness of heart • “Hardness of heart” signals a stubborn resistance to God’s ways (Psalm 95:8; Hebrews 3:7–8). • Divorce was allowed as a protective measure against greater injustices that a calloused spouse might inflict (cf. Mark 3:5, where Jesus grieves over hardness). • The concession exposes sin; it never excuses it. God’s ultimate remedy is a new heart: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). • Practical implications: – Human laws may regulate sin, but only regeneration eradicates it (Romans 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). – Followers of Christ are called to pursue the original standard—lifelong, covenantal marriage—rather than settling for permissible but substandard options. summary Mark 10:5 shows Jesus asserting His authority over Mosaic concessions, revealing that divorce was never God’s ideal but a temporary allowance granted because people’s hearts were hardened by sin. The verse calls believers to embrace God’s original design for marriage and to seek transformed hearts that gladly submit to His perfect will. |
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