Proper 22 Series B

Proper 22 Series B
Genesis 2:18–25
Hebrews 2:1–13 (14–18)
Mark 10:2–16

Marriage Is a Sign that Manifests the Gospel of Christ and His Church

Humanity is created in the image and likeness of God. “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). For the Lord Himself is a perfect communion of three Persons — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — in one God. Therefore, “the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs,” which “he made into a woman” and brought “to the man” (Genesis 2:21–22). It is for this reason that “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:7). 

This great mystery of holy marriage signifies Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, and His Bride, the Church. Divorce and all manner of adultery contradict and undermine this sign, and in doing so, they confess a false Christ and a false gospel. “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:9). In truth, Christ Jesus has atoned for all such sins, and He has perfected marriage in Himself “through suffering,” that He might bring “many sons to glory” in His resurrection. (Hebrews 2:8–10).   

Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight.

O Spirit of the Father, Breath on them from above, So searching in Your pureness, So tender in Your love That, guarded by Your presence And kept from strife and sin, Their hearts may heed Your guidance And know You dwell within. (LSB 858;3)

Mark 10:2-16

The key to Mark 10 is that God accepts us by grace through faith in Jesus not through obedience or status. Just as children receive love they do not earn. 

Jesus teaches that God wants men and women in marriage to be exclusively committed to each other for life. Attempts to alter or get around God's good intentions bring condemnation, not greater liberty. Thoughtfully and prayerfully embrace God's ways. What He establishes is for our good and stems from His love and grace.

Mark 10:2 

Καὶ [b]ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν εἰ ἔξεστιν ἀνδρὶ γυναῖκα ἀπολῦσαι, πειράζοντες αὐτόν.

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

And coming to him, the Pharisees asked is it lawful for a man to loose...divorce his wife...they did this to test him. 

Mark 10:3

ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Τί ὑμῖν ἐνετείλατο Μωϋσῆς;

He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”

What did Moses command?  Asking a Law question they get a LAW answer...they did not recognize Jesus so Jesus gives them the authority they recognize.

Mark 10:4  

οἱ δὲ εἶπαν• [c]Ἐπέτρεψεν Μωϋσῆς βιβλίον ἀποστασίου γράψαι καὶ ἀπολῦσαι. 

They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”

They said, Moses allowed a bible of diverse And to send her away. Deut. 24:1-3 see Jeremiah 3:1; Hosea; 

Mark 10:5 

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Πρὸς τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν ἔγραψεν ὑμῖν τὴν ἐντολὴν ταύτην• 

 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

It was because your heart was hard that Moses wrote you this law. The Law was written for our hardness of heart. 

Mark 10:6 

ἀπὸ δὲ ἀρχῆς κτίσεως ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν [e]αὐτούς• 

 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’

from the beginning of creation (pre Fall) God created them male and female.  first words spoken of man from Scripture..."she completes me..."

Mark 10:7 

ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα [f]καὶ προσκολληθήσεταιπρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, 

 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one. God is doing the joining..hence the words of 11 and 12...

Some manuscripts omit and hold fast to his wife

Mark 10:8

καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν• ὥστε οὐκέτι εἰσὶν δύο ἀλλὰ μία σάρξ• 

and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.

Mark 10:9

ὃ οὖν ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν ἄνθρωπος μὴ χωριζέτω.  

What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Therefore that which God has joined together let not man separate. Nothing can destroy what God has commanded. It is what it is...don't mess with it...

Mark 10:10

Καὶ [g]εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν πάλιν οἱ μαθηταὶ [h]περὶ τούτου [i]ἐπηρώτων αὐτόν. 

And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.

Mark 10:11

καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς• Ὃς [j]ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται ἐπ’ αὐτήν,

 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,

Mark 10:12

καὶ ἐὰν [k]αὐτὴ ἀπολύσασα τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς γαμήσῃ ἄλλον μοιχᾶται. 

and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Into the house again, they ask Him..whoever sends away cuts loose his wife and marries another and if she cuts loose her man...they commit adultery. 

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Let the Children Come to Me

What ties these two texts together is who we are in Christ, we bring children to Jesus. These are separate sermons. It is the text in the baptismal rite.  Children are helpless...they bring nothing...what better place than for an adult baptism. Do not prevent...

Mark 10:13

Καὶ προσέφερον αὐτῷ παιδία ἵνα [l]αὐτῶν ἅψηται• οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ [m]ἐπετίμησαν αὐτοῖς.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

Mark 10:14

δὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἠγανάκτησεν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Ἄφετε τὰ παιδία ἔρχεσθαι πρός με, μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά, τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ.

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:15

ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὃς [n]ἂν μὴ δέξηται τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ ὡς παιδίον, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς αὐτήν.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  

Mark 10:16

καὶ ἐναγκαλισάμενος αὐτὰ [o]κατευλόγει τιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας ἐπ’ αὐτά.

And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

 Christ’s Touch (A Baptism Hymn, Sung to LSB 873)

Some brought children for your touch.

Your men did not understand;

They thought children were of such

Should not waste the Master’s hand.

Yet in Baptism you now bless

Every child with your caress.

 

Lord a leper you did cure

As he felt your holy hand.

He was cleansed, made wholly pure;

In your temple He could stand.

So you touched my body Lord,

Cleansing me by watery word.

 

Yes the deaf, the mute, the blind,

Many sick, the bent, the dead…

Felt your touch and they did find

Ails were gone of every dread.

Ailed with sin may we each see,

Baptized…cured, you have touched me!

 

By your cross you took our dross:

Sin’s impurities, death’s doom.

Now you’ve marked us with that cross,

Joined us to your empty tomb.

Stamped as your gold coins we live,

Cross embossed for you to give.

Daniel J. Brege,

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked SBLGNT are from the The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software