7“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” (Matthew 19:7)
Thoughts: Moses permitted divorce. Deuteronomy 24:1 says: "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house," Malachi, who live post exile and the last prophet before John and Jesus said, "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously." (Mal. 2:16). Bad things happen to people and bad things happen to marriage, relationships and the church.
Divorce in those days was like abandonment. There was no settlement. The man could just walk away. It was even worst in other middle eastern cultures of that time. Jesus would not allow bad intent or the using of another person for a few months or years. Yet even in this passage Jesus allows divorce for infidelity. But he did not just allow divorce for anything and everything. God cares for human relationships.
Prayer: Lord, let me balance grace with truth with love and hope. Thank you that you do not abandon me but stick with me.
No comments:
Post a Comment