Text: Mark 10:1-12
Jesus Christ was in an area controlled by Herod Antipas who had imprisoned John the Baptist because of his views on marriage and divorce. At the time, there were two schools of thought concerning divorce namely: (i) To allow divorce for any reason, or, (ii) Allow divorce on grounds of adultery only (Matt. 19:3). Pharisees thought Jesus Christ would give one of the reasons and the other party would be against Him, causing the kind of murderous wrath that had been, earlier, meted out to John to befall on Him, too. However, Jesus Christ told them that divorce was Scriptural (what Scripture says about divorce) and not rabbinical teaching (Rabbinical interpretation, namely misapplying Deut.24 to allow any reason for divorce v.3). Divorce had no place in the original God’s plan for marriage (v.6).
Jesus Christ made four quotations from the Scripture as to why marriage should not be violated: (i) God created two humans, a male and female, and not a group of males and females to choose to be together for convenience; (ii) Male and female to “be joined”, meaning to be “glued” together, depicting the strength of togetherness in marriage; (iii) In marriage, a couple is “one flesh”, depicting an
invisible union; (iv) Marriage witnessed by God should not be broken (v.9). The only exception that Jesus allowed for a couple to divorce was when a spouse committed prolonged and unrepentant adultery (Matt.5:32; 19:9); Paul also
allowed divorce if an unbelieving partner decides to walk away from marriage (1 Cor.7:15). Divorce is awkward; it is sinful for it tears apart a holy union; therefore, it should not be permitted.
Meditate on verse 9. What is God teaching you in this verse?
Our heavenly Father and Creator of all things, we acknowledge that all marriages are made by You in heaven; and so I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, for love, harmony and unity in marriages in Uganda and the world over. I pray for tolerance among couples and against divorce in this nation, and all nations. Amen.