Why did Moses allow a "certificate of divorce" in Mark 10:4? Setting the Scene • The Pharisees approach Jesus with the question, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (Mark 10:2). • They cite Moses: “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away” (Mark 10:4). • Jesus immediately points them back to God’s original intent for marriage (Mark 10:5-9). Looking Back to Moses Deuteronomy 24:1-4 lays out the certificate of divorce. Key details: • A husband finding “something indecent” in his wife could “write her a certificate of divorce, place it in her hand, and send her away from his house” (Deuteronomy 24:1). • If she remarried and the second marriage ended, the first husband was forbidden to take her back (Deuteronomy 24:3-4). • The law regulated an already-existing practice; it did not endorse or encourage it. Why Was the Certificate Allowed? Jesus gives the core explanation: “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this law” (Mark 10:5). What “hardness of heart” meant and why a certificate was granted: • Protection for vulnerable wives – In the ancient Near East, a woman dismissed without documentation had no legal standing or means of support. – The certificate proved she was free to remarry, shielding her from accusations of adultery and providing a measure of social security. • Limiting hasty or abusive divorces – Requiring a written, witnessed document slowed the process and made the husband think twice. – It curbed impulsive expulsions based on trivial complaints. • Exposing sin for what it was – The law publicly labeled the action as a moral failure rooted in hard hearts, not in God’s design. – By regulating the practice, Moses highlighted its unfaithfulness and the need for repentance. • Preserving societal order – Clear guidelines in a fallen world restrained chaos and maintained Israel’s communal integrity. – Similar to other civil regulations (e.g., laws on slavery, warfare), the provision managed sin without endorsing it. God’s Original Design Remains Unchanged Jesus redirects attention to Genesis: • “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female’” (Mark 10:6). • “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Mark 10:7-8). • “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mark 10:9). Other supporting passages: • Malachi 2:15-16—God declares, “I hate divorce,” underscoring His covenant intent. • Matthew 19:8—Parallel account: “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard, but it was not this way from the beginning.” • Ephesians 5:31-32—Marriage reflects Christ’s union with the church. Key Takeaways • The certificate of divorce was a concession, not a command. • It arose because of human sinfulness, not divine preference. • It safeguarded women, restrained abuse, and exposed the hardness of human hearts. • Jesus calls believers back to God’s original, lifelong plan for marriage—one man, one woman, one covenant, for life. |
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