Be Committed

Matthew 5:31-32 “It has been said, ‘anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulterous; and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”
 
DIVORCE is a personal, difficult subject. Among the Jews in Jesus’ time, some believed a man could divorce his wife for nearly any reason that displeased him. Others believed only adultery was cause for divorce. These two points of view were based on Moses’ teaching in Deuteronomy 24:1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce… “Displeasing” was interpreted as anything from adultery to the general attitude of a husband’s dislike for his wife. It is our nature to define God’s Word from our point-of-view. Here then, Jesus defines divorce from God’s point of view. Does his response seem too restrictive? What is a Christian to do?
   Jesus’ point is to underscore the primacy of marriage. He has called marriages to an accountability of the covenant promise between husband and wife. Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. He rejected the casual divorce for any “displeasing” reason. Just as in the Beatitudes, Jesus announced the Kingdom of God is not as the world. A married couple’s primary purpose is to safeguard their marriage.
      Some of you have divorced because you’ve been subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Some of you have struggled to keep your marriage, but your spouse sinned and left your marriage. Is there a place for a godly marriage in your life?
   Remember “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Jesus was speaking against the casual, unrepentant heart, forbidding the easy divorce and casual remarriage. With a view on God’s truth, trusting his redemptive power, one may certainly enter into a godly marriage with a desire to hold fast to God’s covenant promise.
   For those of you who are married, keep in mind Jesus’ entire teachings to live a pure life. Strive with prayer for each other, avoid sexual temptation and develop clear communication to each other’s needs. And remember: kiss passionately at least 30 seconds a day (Really. It’s a proven way of keeping up the desire!). God formed the marriage as the first and primary image of our relationship with God. Fight for your union. Keep your union clean. Enjoy your union.
 
Jesus Teaches: Be true to God, and you will be true to your spouse.