(1) Background of the question in v.2
10:2 Then some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
24:1 If a man marries a woman and she does not please him because he has found something offensive in her, then he may draw up a divorce document, give it to her, and evict her from his house.
There was a debate among the religious leader about the meaning of the phrase, " something offensive." Can a man divorce his wife just because she burned the toast (A causal explanation)? Or only when she committed adultery (A serious explanation)? But Jesus dismissed their question in v.5
10:5 But Jesus said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your hard hearts.10:6 But from the beginning of creation...
(PNTC) Deut 24:1–3, he argues, is not a pretext for divorce but an attempt to limit its worst consequences for women
(2) (You can skip) Extra reading about the intention of Deuteronomy 24:1
If a man found something indecent, the certificate of divorce he wrote was apparently given to the woman for her protection under the law. If after being divorced she remarried and then her second husband divorced her or died, her first husband was not permitted to remarry her since she had been defiled. The word translated “defiled” was also used to describe a man who had committed adultery (Lev. 18:20). So the use of this word to describe a woman who had been divorced and remarried to the same man suggests that divorce was viewed in a negative light even though Moses permitted it. A remarriage to her former husband would be tantamount to a legal adultery and therefore detestable to the LORD (see comments on “detestable” and “detested,” Deut. 23:18). The purpose of this law seems to be to prevent frivolous divorce, and to present divorce itself in a disparaging light.
(3) The difference between the Pharisees and Jesus
The intention of the Pharisees to question Jesus was not due their concern about the explanation of Scriptures, but due to the fact that they wanted to test him v.2. Second, when they read Deut 24:1 their conclusion was that "Moses permitted...divorce" v.4. However, Jesus knew why it was written, it was for those who have a hard heart and determined to go against the will of God v.5-6.
Reflection: What is our attitude when we read Scriptures? Do we just try to find fault and accuse God? Or do we just find something to support what we do and not thinking what is the intention of the text?
(4) The purpose of marriage v.6-9
The repeated words: (1) God made them v.6, God has joined together v.9; (2) one flesh v.8a, v.8b, no longer two v.8a.
In other words the fact that husband and wife are one flesh were designed by God and mediated by God. No one should separate them. I read a book lately which author described the husband and wife are like glued together with a permanent glue. Divorce is like someone who tried to pull them apart. The cleavages will be any nice clean surfaces, but 2 rugged surfaces.
10:10 In the house once again, the disciples asked him about this. 10:11 So he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 10:12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
(BKC) Divorce violates God’s Creation ordinance, but does not dissolve it... But remarriage, though permitted under Rabbinic law, was here forbidden by Jesus ...God’s desire for a “broken” marriage is forgiveness and reconciliation (cf. Hosea 1–3; 1 Cor. 7:10–11).
(BKC) Divorce violates God’s Creation ordinance, but does not dissolve it... But remarriage, though permitted under Rabbinic law, was here forbidden by Jesus ...God’s desire for a “broken” marriage is forgiveness and reconciliation (cf. Hosea 1–3; 1 Cor. 7:10–11).
Reflection: Divorce was not between 2 persons, but 3. God has the original planner for marriage. Do we want to honor God? "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” How shall we grow our marriage and keep ourselves together?
Audrey
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