But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

Mark 10:1-12

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. Mark 10:6-9

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:1-12.  Excerpts from the sixth and final section - the Conclusion - from the commentary provided for this text:

• "Dogmatism and certainty are not appropriate in an area where good and godly students who affirm the infallibility and inerrancy of the Bible hold differing views. Still, there are some things we can affirm based on Jesus’ words in Mark[.]"  These things include: (1) Marriage is a gift and work of God that receives its meaning and significance from Him. (2) God’s design for marriage is exclusively heterosexual and unique among all human relationships (10:6-7). (3) God’s plan from the beginning is that marriage would be permanent (10:9).  (4) Jesus acknowledges that because we live in a fallen world and have hard hearts, divorce will occur (10:3-4). However, no divorce is ever necessary, though it may be occasionally permissible to those whose divorce is on biblical grounds. (5) To divorce one’s mate (without a biblical cause?) and remarry another is to commit the sin of adultery (10:11-12)." 
•  The commentary also offers the following: (1) Where the sin of adultery and/or divorce has taken place, forgiveness is possible and available to those who repent and confess their sin (1 John 1:9). (2) If we are in an unbiblical marriage, we should not attempt to get out of it. Seek forgiveness for the sin of adultery, and then work hard to glorify God and be a blessing to the mate with whom you are married. (3) In the church we should emphasize the value and dignity of marriage while eliminating the shame and stigma of the divorced. We “mingle the call to obedience with the tears of compassion” (Storms, “Divorce and Remarriage”).  (4) We should acknowledge that divorce is a sin that is far more hurtful and destructive than many other sins.  (5) “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” No minister should perform a wedding without requiring extensive premarital counseling and the signing of a premarital wedding covenant."

The only words I can share on this subject: thank You God for my marriage to Lisa!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves. You also created marriage and my marriage to Lisa.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor my marriage.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

Mark 10:1-12

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. Mark 10:6-9

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:1-12.  Excerpts from the fourth and fifth section - titled "The Teaching of Paul on Divorce (1 Corinthians 7)" and "A Summation of Evangelical Positions on Divorce and Remarriage (After Sexually Consummated Marriage)" - from the commentary provided for this text:

• "In 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, Paul says that a husband and a wife who are both Christians are not to divorce, but if they do, they are not to remarry. In verses 12-16, Paul addresses the problem of a saved spouse who is married to an unsaved spouse. If the unsaved party departs, the saved party is “not bound” in such cases. “Not bound” can mean: (1) free to divorce, (2) free to divorce and remarry, or (3) free to separate but not allowed to divorce and remarry." 
• "As a result of the above survey, several biblical positions on the subject of divorce are possible today: (1) Divorce is never permitted for any reason. (2) Divorce is permitted for adultery only, but remarriage is not allowed. (3) Divorce is permitted for adultery and desertion of an unbelieving spouse, but remarriage is not permitted. (4) Divorce is permitted for adultery or desertion of an unbelieving spouse, and remarriage to a believer is granted to the innocent party. (Those who believe the Bible allows for remarriage do so on the grounds of the exception clause in Matthew and the logic that if God grants divorce to the innocent party, by His grace He would also grant permission to remarry.) (5) Divorce is permitted in the case of an incestuous marriage. (6) Divorce is permitted in the case of the divorce taking place prior to one’s conversion and there is no possibility (2 Corinthians 5:17 as the basis for this position)."

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves and guides.  You are the source of all wisdom that is good, perfect, and righteous.  Thank You for my salvation, for my marriage, and for Your Word.  I am not deserving of such blessings nor my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Mark 10:1-12

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:2-9

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:1-12.  Excerpts from the third section - titled "Four Major Views on Divorce and Remarriage." - from the commentary provided for this text:

• Per the commentary the four major views on divorce and marriage are Patristic (Church Fathers), Protestant-Evangelical, Betrothal, and Unlawful Marriage View. 
• Patristic: Based on Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:9-10 "Divorce is allowed for adultery only. No remarriage is allowed. Those holding this view note the lack of any expressed statement for remarriage, and the nearness of the early church fathers to the apostles." 
• Protestant-Evangelical: "Divorce is allowed for adultery and desertion by an unbelieving spouse with no possibility of reconciliation. Remarriage to a believer is permissible for the innocent party."  
• Betrothal: "Jewish betrothal was a legal contract that could only be broken by divorce or death. It was more than an engagement but not a sexually consummated marriage. This view better explains the disciples’ reaction. Divorce is allowed only for unfaithfulness during the betrothal period. If adultery was committed after the marriage, then divorce was not allowed for any reason." 
• Unlawful Marriage: "This view takes “sexual immorality” in the exception clause to refer to incestuous marriages. Divorce is allowed for those marriages within the prohibited degrees of kinship in Leviticus 18:6-18. Remarriage is usually not allowed, though there seem to be some differences of opinion. However, the technical meaning of “incest” given to “sexual immorality” does not fit the total context of the passage."

It is clear that God's view of marriage must be considered based on text from both the Old and New Testament, starting with Genesis.  The text in Mark - vv10:1-12 - is also clear that Jesus pointed the Pharisees to Moses and how God did not change His view on marriage but understood how there would be those who had hardened hearts and how these hearts would twist God's view on marriage to shape their desires vs God.  In all of this discussion, it is absolutely clear that God intends for marriage to be for a lifetime and divorce is not condoned.  See also my previous post. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You pour out Your mercies in an inexhaustible supply and fountain of grace.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation, nor the mercies or grace You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Mark 10:1-12

And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” Mark 10:11-12

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:1-12.  Excerpts from the second section - titled "Some Basic Observations About Divorce and Remarriage from a Survey of Scripture" - from the commentary provided for this text:

• "One man joined to one woman for a lifetime is God’s perfect will for every marriage (Genesis 2:18-25)."
• "God hates divorce (Malachi 2:13-16). God’s desire is that troubled marriages would always be reconciled. Divorce is never commanded or desired by God. Separation is sometimes wise (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)." 
• The commentary's author (Danny Akin) shares his view that "[he] believes divorce may be biblically permissible in the cases of sexual immorality, desertion by an unbeliever, or if the divorce was preconversion (2 Corinthians 5:17)."  
• "Where reconciliation is not possible, permission to remarry in the Lord may be allowed (though it is not expressly stated)."  
• "Divorce and remarriage are not sanctioned for reasons other than sexual immorality or desertion by an unbeliever. Some counter that it would be better to remarry than to commit sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 7:9) or to be unduly burdened and oppressed in a single state (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). However, God commends a single status (1 Corinthians 7)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, save and blesses through the institution of marriage.  Thank You for saving me and for bringing Lisa and myself together and for the unity and love we share.  I am not deserving of any of this.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Mark 10:1-12

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. Mark 10:2-5

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:1-12.  Excerpts from the commentary's main idea, introduction, and the first section from the commentary provided for this text:

• The main idea for this text: "[m]arriage is a sacred covenant that ideally is dissolved only by death."
• "[S]tudy [of marriage] demands our most careful and humble efforts. It is treacherous territory." 
• "Two competing rabbinic schools of thought were present in Jesus’ day: (1) The more conservative school followed Rabbi Shammai and said the only ground for divorce was adultery (sexual immorality). (2) The more liberal school followed Rabbi Hillel and said divorce could be granted for 'any indecency.'"
• "The Pharisees in that day, for the most part, followed Rabbi Hillel, made divorce easy and wanted it to stay that way. So they come to Jesus “to test Him” (v. 2). Jesus was, therefore, thrust into a debate like many of us are today. The Pharisees wanted to talk about divorce, but Jesus wanted to talk about marriage and God’s divine blueprint." 
• Key Biblical texts on divorce and remarriage per the commentary: Genesis 2:18-25, Romans 7:1-3, Ephesians 5:21-33, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:1, 8-9, Ezra 10:2-3, 10-12, Malachi 2:13-16, Matthew 19:3-12, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 7:8-16, 39-40.  
• "Marriage is a good gift from a great God to be enjoyed. Sex is a part of this good gift. God’s design is one man, for one woman, for a lifetime (unless separated by death; Romans 7:1-3). Marriage is the joining of two bodies, two wills, two minds, and two sets of God-given emotions."  
• Marriage is sacred because it reflects the spiritual union of Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:21-33). As Jesus would never divorce His bride, a spouse should never divorce his or her mate." 
• "Though the Bible never condones divorce, it does recognize the reality of divorce (see also Isaiah 50:1; Jeremiah 3:1,8-9). The allowance of a divorce certificate provides regulations and is a concession for the protection and welfare of an innocent victim. Remarriage to one’s former spouse after marrying another is strictly forbidden."  
• "[Ezra 10:2-3, 10-12] appears to be a unique situation. (Nowhere does God give a direct command to divorce. The text may be recording their activity but not affirming it.) Some believe polygamy was an issue, though the text does not say this. In the best light this is an exceptional act eliminating the greater of two evils: defilement through mixed marriages, which led to idolatry." 
• "Malachi wrote during the time of Ezra. God hates divorce. It is never His perfect will. (Is this perhaps a counter to the activity recorded in Ezra?)" 
• "Desertion by an unbelieving spouse permits divorce and, it seems, grants permission for remarriage (some believe the summation of verses 1 Corinthians 7:39-40 rules out remarriage)." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You also created marriage and provided my marriage - thank You God for my salvation and for my marriage!  I am not deserving of either but You save and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking?Godly offspring.

Malachi 2:10-16

Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking?Godly offspring. Malachi 2:14-15

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book as my focus remains Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. Today my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Malachi 2:10-16.  Commentary outlines this text with the following divisions:

1. Covenant Infidelity Manifested by Israel’s Faithlessness to One Another (2:10): God first admonishes Israel for its poor treatment of one another - disobedience to the 2nd greatest commandment to love others (as God has loved us - John 13:34).
   
2. Covenant Infidelity Manifested by Israel’s Faithlessness to the Precepts of God (2:11-12): Next, God calls us Israel for their specific sins relating to their relationship with Him, including how "they have profaned the Lord through theft, murder, adultery, and deceit. Worst of all, they have chased after false gods—the ultimate betrayal of their covenantal relationship with Him.... They apparently ignored the precepts of God for personal profit and intermarried with pagan women after divorcing the wives of their youth. God strictly forbade these actions in the OT, but not because He discriminated against ethnic groups. The issue is not racial exclusivity. It is an issue of inclusivity and protection of His covenant people from idolatry (see also Deuteronomy 7:3)....The problem with marrying someone who is an unbeliever isn’t merely that they belong to a different religious organization. The problem with marrying an unbeliever is the different worldview through which they view all things. They perceive the world differently than a believer does. Christians have a certain system, a lens through which they view the world. An unbeliever does not look through that same lens."  We are reminded that God does not seek watered down obedience - or partial obedience.
   
3. Covenant Infidelity Manifested by Israel’s Faithlessness to Their Marriage Partners (2:13-14): We are referred to multiple texts on God's design for marriage, including Mark 10:6-9 (where Jesus refers to Genesis 2).  God clearly was disappointed in Israel towards the husbands who divorced their wives and married pagan women. We are reminded that the marriage covenant is reflection of the covenant between God and His children.  God hates divorce.
   
4. Covenant Renewal Begins with Faithfulness to the Covenant of Marriage (2:15-16): We are exhorted to follow the precepts of God - to make God the most important relationship then to love others as God loved us.  Through our vertical relationship to the Father we can maintain healthy horizontal relationships with others. See also this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com.
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who gives me the example of love and how You love me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking?Godly offspring.

Malachi 2:10-16

Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking?Godly offspring. Malachi 2:14-15

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book as my focus remains Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. Today my focus is an unassisted review of Malachi 2:10-16.  Here, God's message delivered through Malachi is directed towards God's people who have aligned themselves with those who worship foreign gods, and in particular the husbands who have been unfaithful to their wives, of course leading to offspring who are not trained in the ways of the Lord.  Vv10-12 describe Judah's faithlessness towards one another by marrying those who worship foreign gods.  Of course such deeds are prone to lead to adopting the worship of foreign gods, which then leads to faithlessness within the marriage and faithless children in such marriages.  VV14-15 share how God sought His people to be faithful to the marriage covenant He created (see also this post from DesiringGod.com).  V16a then describes how these marriages play out, more likely than not in divorce which the text describes as "cover[ing] garment[s] with violence."  V16b offers an antidote: "guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless."  We can of course guard ourselves in our spirit through practices of spiritual disciplines such as study of God's Word, prayer, worship, etc. Ephesians 6:10-20 also shares the "whole armor of God."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who guards my heart and Spirit - thank You Father God for providing Your Son, the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and so much more that offers not just salvation, but protection, refuge, direction, provision, etc.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.