Marriage & Divorce, Part 1: Get Back to the Bible | Mark 10:1–12

Having completed His public ministry in northern Israel, Jesus moves southward.  Crowds again begin to gather around Him, so, “according to His custom, He once more began to teach them” (v. 1).  However, the Pharisees, ready to stop Him, asked Him a question they hope will test Him (v. 2).

Their question was one of hot debate between two rabbinical schools; one said that divorce is always permittable, while the other said that divorce is only permittable in cases of adultery.  To complicate matters, Herod Antipas, ruler of this area, had left his wife to steal and marry his brother’s wife—and John the Baptist was killed for pointing it out (6:16–29).  Could the Pharisees make Jesus suffer the same fate?

His response demonstrates key principles in biblical interpretation.  It models how to understand a contentious topic we may be wrestling with in our own souls.  It calls us to follow the Word of God.

First, note what Scripture commands.  Jesus’s question to them in v. 3 is important—does God through Moses ever command someone to get a divorce?  The Pharisees answer with Deuteronomy 24:1–4, where Moses permitted divorce because the husband “found some indecency in her” (Dt 24:1).  Their school focused on the word “indecency,” contriving all manner of divorceable scenarios, including the wife burning dinner!  However, this doesn’t command it, and Jesus explains that Moses only allowed divorce because of sinfulness.

Second, note all that Scripture teaches.  Moving the discussion from the debatable word, Jesus places it in the greater context of God’s teaching on marriage.  He quotes from Genesis 1:27 and 2:24, demonstrating that marriages were meant to last.  There should be a “leaving and cleaving,” a unity in marriage signifying the start of a new family. 


If God clearly says, “I hate divorce” (Mal 2:16), then Deuteronomy 24:1–4 cannot mean that God permits divorce for any reason.  He isn’t going to contradict Himself, so our interpretations should fit within God’s clear revelation.  Since God is the author of marriage, no man should consider leaving his wife (v. 9). 

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