Why does Jesus ask, "What did Moses command you?" in Mark 10:3? “What did Moses command you?” — Analytical Overview of Mark 10:3 Immediate Literary Context The question appears during a test posed by Pharisees: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (Mark 10:2). Jesus replies, “What did Moses command you?” (Mark 10:3). By directing them to Mosaic revelation (principally Deuteronomy 24:1-4), Jesus establishes Scripture—not rabbinic tradition—as the court of appeal. Historical-Covenantal Background 1. Mosaic legislation on divorce acknowledged human sin (“hardness of heart,” v. 5) while protecting the vulnerable wife from summary dismissal. 2. First-century debates (House of Shammai: adultery-only; House of Hillel: any displeasure) made the Pharisees’ trap politically volatile (cf. Josephus, Ant. 4.253). Jesus refuses partisan alignment; instead He reinstates Genesis 1-2 as the foundational charter of marriage. Jesus’ Pedagogical Method As elsewhere (Luke 10:26; Matthew 22:31), Jesus employs a counter-question to redirect discussion to divine revelation. The construction τί ὑμῖν ἐνετείλατο Μωϋσῆς (P45, 𝔓⁷⁵, ℵ) is imperatival, stressing personal responsibility to know and obey the Torah. Authority Hierarchy: Moses, Genesis, Messiah 1. Moses’ command is acknowledged, yet Jesus cites an earlier, creation-order text: “From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female’” (Mark 10:6; Genesis 1:27; 2:24). 2. Thus Scripture interprets Scripture; later concessions never annul original design. 3. The Messiah, as the incarnate Logos (John 1:14), speaks with greater authority than Moses (Hebrews 3:3-6). Hermeneutical Principle: Progressive Revelation Divorce permission was remedial, not prescriptive. Jesus’ appeal to Genesis exemplifies how earlier revelation (pre-Fall intent) governs later situational allowances. This aligns with the covenantal storyline climaxing in Christ, whose redemptive work restores relationships fractured by sin. Archaeological & Extra-Biblical Corroboration • Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (7th c. BC) display covenant formulae paralleling marital commitments. • Elephantine papyri (5th c. BC) record Jewish divorce practice mirroring Deuteronomy 24’s certificate requirement, affirming its antiquity and Mosaic provenance. • First-century Nazarite and Qumran marriage documents highlight debates Jesus addresses. Theological Implications for Salvation History Marriage typifies Christ’s union with the Church. Divorce distorts this gospel picture. Jesus’ question steers hearers to confront their sin, seek heart transformation, and anticipate the new-covenant empowerment promised by the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Matthew 19:11). Practical Application Believers must: • Elevate Scripture over cultural norms. • Read individual laws within the whole-Bible storyline. • Pursue marriages that proclaim the fidelity of the resurrected Christ. Conclusion Jesus asks, “What did Moses command you?” to summon His audience to the authority of written revelation, expose human hardness, and reassert God’s creational purpose—ultimately pointing to Himself as the consummate Bridegroom who fulfills the Law and restores shattered relationships through His death and resurrection. |
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