31. "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 adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Other passages of Scripture also address marriage. It is a wonderful plan of God. The Sermon on the Mount tells us how things were from the beginning of creation before the fall. The perfect man married the perfect woman and the plan was to live happily ever after. This picture without sin is wonderful, but when sin entered the world the plan was broken. What was meant to be beautiful results in conflict of body, soul, and spirit.
In this sermon Jesus contrasts what was the situation with the plan that could have been. It is a sermon to citizens of God's Kingdom. Frankly, it doesn't mean much to the non-Christian. They are lost and they might have the best of marriages, but it is only good for this life. It doesn’t make any difference how much love and romance they experience, without Jesus to save them they are lost and going to hell. Look to Jesus, repent of sin and self. Call on Him to save you and He will.
This sermon is a call for Christians to live a life that is impossible. Divorce is never desired and for the Christian it is never inevitable. Reconciliation is always possible, even if there has been adultery. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of reconciliation.
God forgave Israel for her adultery with foreign gods. Jesus is more concerned that our attitudes. Seek love and forgiveness. When the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts and in our marriages, we should be able to do so by God's grace as His disciples and cannot be done living under the law. Any Christian marriage where both are willing to humble themselves before God in repentance and faith should work on the relationship and be willing to do whatever is necessary to make it work for Jesus’ sake and in Jesus’ power.
Willingness on the part of one isn't enough. I have seen people fight for a marriage with no cooperation on the part of another. It takes two to make a relationship, but it must start with one saying, “God, I give you this marriage and my commitment to either be forgiven or transformed with your power.” As one aptly asks, “If you are a peacemaker, poor in spirit, merciful, how can you cast out your spouse?” The call is for a new heart and a new commitment between husbands and wives.
What happens to us when we lust? What happens to us when we are angry? What happens to us if we divorce? We come to the cross of Christ, confess our sin, repent of it, and seek God's power that it will not be repeated. Then we do what we can to make sure it doesn't.
Let Christ have control over you and your marriage. Realize that we serve as models to a world that needs to see love demonstrated by Christ in us. Let Him love your mate through you and watch what He does. That is the call to Christ followers and to kingdom people.
Application: Jesus certainly caught the attention of the masses, but also the disciples. Does He have your attention?
Prayer: Lord, I look to You to teach me to love my mate and all in my life through You.
