Mark 10:2-16
– God intends marriage to be lifelong. Sunday’s Gospel deals with two accounts:
marriage/divorce and Jesus’ love of children. In regard to marriage and
divorce, Mark has Jesus 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 pointed 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, Jesus refers twice to the creation account.
The Gospel continues with an account of Jesus receiving little children, for
marriage and children go together. Jesus urges that children should be brought
to Him and teaches that one should receive the
Flesh is more than the physical body or sex. A sexual union does not necessarily make two people one. They are momentarily joined together physically for the completion of a sexual act, but they are not necessarily one. “Flesh” goes beyond the body to the whole person; physical, mental, psychological and spiritual. N marriage there is to be a union of two personalities, and the sexual act is merely an expression of that oneness. Thus, sex apart from a spiritual union is meaningless and contrary to God’s will. Sex outside of marriage is therefore meaningless. The physical union is proper, right and meaningful only when two people of the opposite sex have union of heart and mind.
To enter the kingdom of God is not to be a child nnor to be childish. A person enters the kingdom “like a child.” There is an innocence, openness, and 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 and readily obey without question or doubt.[2]
A Prayer for Peace - O God, from whom all holy desires, all good
counsels, and all just works proceed, give to Your servants that peace which
the world simply cannot give that our hearts may be set to obey Your
commandments and also that we, being defended by You, may pass our time in rest
and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. [3]-October
1, 2021
[1] “Adam and Eve in Paradise” Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[3] Collect for Peace, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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