Exodus 7:8-24
2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6
March 24, 2010
Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" "What did Moses command you?" he replied. They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6
March 24, 2010
Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" "What did Moses command you?" he replied. They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. - Mark 10:1-16
Jesus teaches the disciples concerning divorce and blesses children. This section deals with two accounts; marriage/divorce and Jesus’ love of children. In regard to marriage and divorce Mark has Jesu take the position that neither husband nor wife should get a divorce. For the Pharisees divorce is a legal matter; for Jesus, it is a divine matter – not what is legal but what is right. Jesus points out to the Pharisees that the legal right to get a divorce was due to a human’s sinfulness, but this was contrary to god’s intention that marriage is permanent. To substantiate this Jesu refers twice to the creation account.
Jesus receives children for marriage and children go together. Jesus urges that children should be brought to Him and teaches that one should receive the kingdom of God as a child in terms of openness and receptivity.
To enter the kingdom of God is not to be a child nor to be childish. A person enters the kingdom “like” a child. There is an innocence, openness, and a receptivity on the part of a child that a person wanting to enter the kingdom of God must have. A child is ready to believe and trust what an adult says. Children eagerly believe myths such as Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy. They readily obey without questioning.
O God, whose almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy and pity, grant us the fullness of Your grace that we may be partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH Collect for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost Lutheran Book of Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House St. Louis
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