Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”  “What did Moses command you?” he replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 
(Mark 10: 2-4)

 Mark 10: 2-16 

Life can be full of awkward, complicated and delicate situations that raise rather tricky questions. This week, we look at the perplexing and frustrating question of divorce, which ravishes our world and society as much today as it did in Jesus’ day. That is why the Pharisees put a tough question to Jesus – they thought they would catch him out. 

The Pharisees knew that God’s Law distinctly taught that marriage was a permanent bond between a man and his wife and that the ‘breaking apart’ of such a union was a sin. Yet, divorce perplexed lawgivers who felt forced into granting legal permission for a husband and wife to part. (’Divorce’ means to ‘legally dissolve marriage’ or ‘to separate or dissociate (something) from something else, typically with an undesirable effect’).

We will look at how Jesus answered them tomorrow, but let us first focus on the Pharisees. They wanted to ‘test’ Jesus and trap him into going against God’s law and agreeing with their ‘solution’ to marital disharmony. 

How often have you dared to ask Jesus ‘testing’ questions? Not to trap him but to ask his ‘permission’ for something which our consciences warn us is breaking God’s Law. I know I have, and I was hoping to bring Jesus around to my way of thinking! So often, these types of questions have been about quarrels and disagreements with others and the ‘challenges’ they have given me. 

Jesus welcomes us to ask these tricky and tough relationship questions because it allows us to enter the heart of his law, his heart. We are given an opportunity to wrestle with questions about love and forgiveness, allowing him to guide our hearts and actions as we begin to understand God’s profound love for us. 

Think back on some of the challenging relationship questions you have asked Jesus in the past. Or ones you are wrestling with today. Perhaps they are serious ‘divorce’ issues or other relationship disagreements.

How has Jesus helped you find peace in your heart by drawing you into his heart of love? Into the heart of God’s Law?
 

Reflections by Reggie Venter

Holy Lord,
the God of love and the giver of life.
Thank you that I can turn to you with
perplexing and confusing relationship issues.
Help me to understand your heart of love
and guide me to resolutions 
that are good for me and acceptable to you.  
Amen

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