Mark Lesson #14

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RETURN TO SYLLABUB
MARK 10:1-31
LESSON #14
MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND THE LAW

• MEMORY VERSE: MARK 10:15
• FROM DECAPOLIS JESUS IS MAKING HIS WAY TOWARD JERUSALEM ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE JORDAN. THE PHARISEES ARE FOLLOWING HIM.
• THE PHARISEES BRING US A VERY CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. IT IS EVEN MORE CONTROVERSIAL TODAY THAN IT WAS THEN.
• IN BIBLICAL TIMES THERE WAS A DIVISION IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY REGARDING MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
• HOWEVER, THE PHARISEES ARE NOT LOOKING FOR TRUTH, THEY SIMPLY WANT TO TRAP HIM.
• BACKGROUND ON MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE AMONG THE JEWS:
• IN THEORY NO NATION HAD A HIGHER IDEAL OF MARRIAGE THAN THE JEWS.
• ALL MEN WERE EXPECTED TO MARRY AND HAVE CHILDREN.
• THE ONLY EXCEPTION WAS TO STUDY THE LAW.
• DIVORCE WAS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE GOD HATED IT. (MAL 2:16)
• DESPITE THE IDEAL, THE PRACTICE FELL FAR SHORT BECAUSE:
• WOMEN WERE CONSIDERED PROPERTY AND HAD NO RIGHTS.
• A MAN COULD DIVORCE A WOMAN FOR ANY CAUSE, EVEN AGAINST HER WILL.
• READ DEU 24:1-4
• ACCORDING TO MOSES, THE ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR DIVORCE WAS “UNCLEANNESS”. UNCLEANNESS WAS INTERPRETED IN TWO WAYS:
• THE SHAMMAI SCHOOL’S INTERPRETATION:
• UNCLEANNESS = ADULTERY
• THE HILLEL SCHOOL’S INTERPRETATION:
• UNCLEANNESS = ANYTHING THE MAN DECIDED WAS UNCLEAN INCLUDING SPOILING DINNER, AN UNCOVERED HEAD, TALKING TO MEN, QUARRELING, ETC.
• THE HILLEL SCHOOL HAD THE GREATER INFLUENCE AND ACCEPTANCE AMONG THE PEOPLE.
• A WOMAN COULD NEVER DIVORCE A MAN.
• THE PROCESS OF DIVORCE WAS EXTREMELY SIMPLE. HE ONLY HAD TO WRITE DOWN, “I DIVORCE YOU”, GIVE IT TO HER IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO WITNESSES, AND SEND HER OUT OF THE HOUSE.
• UNDER JEWISH LAW, DIVORCE WAS COMPULSORY FOR ONLY TWO REASONS: ADULTERY OR STERILITY.
• THEREFORE, INSANITY, INCOMPATIBILITY, DESERTION, FINANCIAL STRESS, OR ABUSE WERE NEVER CAUSES FOR DIVORCE.
• BACKGROUND ON MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE AMONG THE GREEKS:
• MARRIAGE AMONG THE GREEKS WAS NOT VALUED.
• THEY HAD A LOW VIEW OF WOMEN.
• MEN DEMANDED WOMEN LIVE A LIFE OF EXCLUSION FROM SOCIAL LIFE AND LIVE A LIFE OF MORAL PURITY WHILE THEY LIVED A LIFE OF IMMORAL LICENSE.
• SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS FOR MEN OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE CARRIED NO STIGMA AND BECAME ACCEPTED AND EXPECTED.
• DIVORCE REQUIRED NO LEGAL PROCESS. HE ONLY HAD TO SAY TO HER, “I DIVORCE YOU”, IN FRONT OF 2 WITNESSES AND SEND HER AWAY.
• BACKGROUND ON MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE AMONG THE ROMANS:
• ORIGINALLY ROMAN RELIGION AND SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED ON THE HOME. IN THE FIRST 500 YEARS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, THERE WAS NOT ONE DIVORCE. WHEN THE ROMANS CONQUERED THE GREEKS, GREEK IMMORALITY INFILTRATED THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND DIVORCE BECAME COMMON.
• READ MAR 10:1-12 MARRIAGE
• THE QUESTION: “IS IT LAWFUL FOR A MAN TO PUT AWAY (DIVORCE) HIS WIFE?”
• IF JESUS ANSWERED, NO, TO THIS QUESTION, HE WOULD BE IN CONFLICT WITH MOSES AND KING HEROD. REMEMBER THAT HEROD HAD JOHN THE BAPTIST KILLED FOR OBJECTING TO HEROD’S ADULTEROUS MARRIAGE TO HIS BROTHER’S WIFE.
• IF JESUS ANSWERED, YES, TO THIS QUESTION, THE PHARISEES WOULD ACCUSE HIM OF BEING TOO LENIENT IN HIS TEACHING AND TAKING SIDES WITH THE HILLEL SCHOOL.
• JESUS TURNS THE CONVERSATION FROM A DISCUSSION ON DIVORCE TO A DISCUSSION ON MARRIAGE.
• JESUS ASKS A QUESTION IN RETURN: “WHAT DID MOSES COMMAND YOU?”
• WE HAVE ALREADY READ DEU 24:1-4 THAT INDICATES “UNCLEANNESS” AS AN ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR DIVORCE.
• BUT MOSES’ DECLARATION IN DEU 24 IS GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL, NOT HIS PERFECT WILL. WHAT IS GOD’S PERFECT WILL?
• JESUS SAYS THAT MOSES WROTE THIS PERMISSION PHRASE BECAUSE OF THE HARDNESS OF MAN’S HEART. (MAR 10:5)
• THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF MARRIAGE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN WAS TO BE A MODEL FOR ALL MANKIND.
• THE UNBREAKABLE BOND BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN WAS TO BE THE IDEAL PRINCIPLE.
• NOTICE THAT THE UNBREAKABLE BOND IS NOT A LAW BUT A PRINCIPLE. THE IDEAL PRINCIPLE IS GIVEN IN GEN 2:24-25 BEFORE ADAM AND EVE SINNED.
• MOSES’ PERMISSION FOR DIVORCE ON THE GROUNDS OF “UNCLEANNESS” WAS A CONCESSION BECAUSE OF MAN’S SINFUL HUMAN NATURE AFTER GEN 3.
• JESUS’ RESPONSE IN THE THREE GOSPELS:
• THE THREE GOSPELS HAVE A DIFFERENT WORDING:
• MATTHEW 19:9 = “I SAY TO YOU: WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE, EXCEPT FOR UNCHASTITITY, AND MARRIES ANOTHER COMMITS ADULTERY.”
• MARK 10:11-12 = “WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE AND MARRIES ANOTHER, COMMITS ADULTERY AGAINST HER; AND IF SHE DIVORCES HER HUSBAND AND MARRIES ANOTHER, SHE COMMITS ADULTERY.”
• LUKE 16:18 = “EVERYONE WHO DIVORCES HIS WIFE AND MARRIES ANOTHER COMMITS ADULTERY, AND HE WHO MARRIES A WOMAN DIVORCED FROM HER HUSBAND COMMITS ADULTERY.”
• NOTICE THAT MARK AND LUKE DO NOT MENTION MOSES’ PERMISSION TO DIVORCE FOR “UNCLEANNESS” BUT MAINTAIN THE HIGH IDEAL PRINCIPLE OF NO DIVORCE.
• MATTHEW PROBABLY MENTIONS MOSES’ PERMISSION FOR UNCLEANNESS BECAUSE HE IS WRITING TO THE JEWS.
• WHAT IS THE ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR DIVORCE ACCORDING TO JESUS?
• JESUS DOES NOT GIVE ANY ACCEPTABLE REASON. HE SIMPLY LIFTS UP THE ORIGINAL HIGH IDEAL.
• GOD’S HIGH IDEAL PRINCIPLE OF MARRIAGE WITH NO DIVORCE:
• THE JEWISH WORD FOR MARRIAGE IS kiddushin. IT MEANT SANCTIFICATION OR CONSECRATION. THE SAME WORD WAS USED TO DESCRIBE SOMETHING THAT WAS DEDICATED AND SURRENDERED COMPLETELY TO GOD FOR HIS EXCLUSIVE POSSESSION. THEREFORE, THE HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE TO BE COMPLETELY DEDICATED AND SURRENDERED TO EACH OTHER. THEY ARE TO BE THE EXCLUSIVE POSSESSION OF THE OTHER PERSON; SHARING ALL CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE TOGETHER.
• THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE IDEAL:
• MARRIAGE IS A SHARING OF ONE’S TOTAL LIFE AND INTERESTS. TOGETHERNESS IS THE BASIS OF MARRIAGE.
• THEREFORE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELFLESSNESS IS NECESSARY TO THE HIGH IDEAL. SELFISHNESS KILLS THE HIGH IDEAL.
• YOU MUST THINK MORE OF THE OTHER PERSON’S NEEDS AND DESIRES, THAN OF YOUR OWN.
• THE REALIZATION OF THE HIGH IDEAL:
• THE DISCIPLES ASK JESUS AGAIN IN PRIVATE ABOUT MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. (MAR 10:10-12)
• READ MAT 19:10-11
• IF MARRIAGE IS TO BE SO FINAL AND BINDING, WHO WOULD WANT TO GET MARRIED?
• THE DISCIPLES ASKED THIS QUESTION OF JESUS, BUT THE QUESTION IS ALSO A PRESENT-DAY QUESTION.
• IN THE 1960’S YOUNG PEOPLE BEGAN TO SAY THAT MARRIAGE WAS JUST A MEANINGLESS PIECE OF PAPER, SO COUPLES BEGAN TO LIVE TOGETHER. NOW THERE IS NO SOCIAL STIGMA FOR PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO LIVE TOGETHER WITHOUT GETTING MARRIED.
• HOWEVER, BECAUSE THERE ARE FINANCIAL BREAKS FOR THOSE WHO ARE MARRIED, PEOPLE NOW SAY THAT MARRIAGE IS NOT A SOCIAL OR MORAL CONTRACT IT IS SIMPLY A LEGAL CONTRACT WITH LEGAL BENEFITS. THEREFORE, LIKE ANY OTHER LEGAL CONTRACT, IT CAN BE MADE BETWEEN PARTNERS OF THE SAME SEX.
• JESUS’ RESPONSE TO THE DISCIPLES’ QUESTION:
• JESUS SAYS MARRIAGE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.
• EVERYONE IS NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO THE HIGH IDEAL.
• ONLY CHRISTIAN COUPLES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO LIVE UP TO THE HIGH IDEAL.
• WITHOUT THE HELP AND GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE HIGH IDEAL IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE SAME QUALITIES THAT MAKE A PERSON A GOOD CHRISTIAN MAKE THAT PERSON A GOOD MATE (GAL 5:22-23).
• APPLICATION:
• FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FAILED AT THE HIGH DEAL OF MARRIAGE, GOD FORGIVES ALL SIN AND ALL FAILURE THAT IS ACKNOWLEDGED AND FOR WHICH REPENTANCE IS SOUGHT. (1JOH 1:9) THE HIGH IDEAL IS FOR OUR BENEFIT AND NOT TO BE A LEGALISTIC RESTRICTION. OUR GOD FORGIVES AND GIVES NEW LIFE, NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NEW GRACE DAY BY DAY TO LIVE THE HIGH IDEAL.

• READ MAR 10:13-16 THE EXAMPLE OF A CHILD
• NEXT TO THE PASSAGE ABOUT THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE, MARK PLACES THE PASSAGE ABOUT A CHILD’S ACCEPTABILITY INTO HEAVEN.
• IT IS FROM THIS PASSAGE THAT WE KNOW YOUNG CHILDREN ARE SAVED UNTIL THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
• THE BIBLE DOES NOT GIVE AN EXACT AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY PROBABLY BECAUSE IT VARY’S WITH EACH PERSON.
• WHILE ALL HUMANS ARE BORN WITH A SIN NATURE AND NEED A SAVIOR FOR FORGIVENESS, A CHILD HAS NO PERSONAL SIN COUNTED AGAINST HIM UNTIL HE IS OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND RIGHT FROM WRONG. THE AGE WHEN HE CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS PERSONAL SIN IS CALLED, THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
• THE CHARACTERISTIC OF BEING CHILDLIKE:
• JESUS POINTS OUT THAT A CHILD POSSESSES THE RIGHT CHARACTERISTIC ACCEPTABLE IN GOD’S KINGDOM. WHAT IS IT?
• A CHILD’S TOTAL UNQUESTIONING TRUST IN A PARENT.
• TRUE FAITH POSSESSES THIS CHARACTERISTIC.

• READ MAR 10:17-22 THE RICH YOUNG RULER
• THREE GOSPELS TELL US ABOUT THIS MAN. MATTHEW TELLS US THIS MAN IS YOUNG AND LUKE TELLS US HE WAS A RULER, A MAN WITH AUTHORITY.
• THE MAN CAME TO JESUS SEEKING “ETERNAL LIFE”, HOWEVER, HIS WORDS TELL US HIS IDEA OF RELIGION.
• “WHAT MUST I DO TO OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE?”
• LIKE MANY PEOPLE, HE THOUGHT THE ONLY WAY TO GOD WAS BY DOING GOOD WORKS.
• NOTICE THAT HE HAD ALREADY LIVED A LIFE OF GOOD WORKS, BUT INWARDLY HE KNEW IT WAS INSUFFICIENT.
• THE WORD FOR “ETERNAL” IS aionios WHICH MEANS = SOMETHING THAT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF AND BELONGING TO GOD. IT DOES NOT MEAN LASTING FOREVER.
• ETERNAL LIFE IS BASED ON FOLLOWING AN ATTITUDE OF LOVE AND GENEROSITY (JOH 3:16)
• IF YOU REPRODUCE TO OTHER PEOPLE GOD’S ATTITUDE OF LOVE, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE QUALITY OF “ETERNAL” LIFE CHARACTERISTIC OF GOD’S KINGDOM
• JESUS QUOTES 5 OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FROM EXO 20.
• IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTICE WHICH OF THE TEN JESUS QUOTED.
• JESUS QUOTES THE COMMANDMENTS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH MAN’S RELATIONSHIP TO MAN. EVIDENTLY THAT WAS THE WEAK AREA OF THE MAN’S LIFE.
• THE MAN CLAIMED TO HAVE KEPT THE COMMANDMENTS.
• HE PROBABLY KEPT THE LETTER OF THE LAW EXTERNALLY BUT NOT INWARDLY…NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW.
• WHAT DID THE RICH YOUNG RULER HAVE TO DO TO BE SAVED?
• JESUS TOLD HIM TO SELL EVERYTHING AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR.
• JESUS KNEW IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE LETTER OF THE LAW. (GAL 2:16 GAL 3:24)
• THE LAW WAS TO DEMONSTRATE TO MAN GOD’S STANDARD AND TO POINT OUT HOW FAR MAN FALLS SHORT OF IT.
• JESUS HAD SET HIM UP WITH A DIVINE TRAP. ONLY WHEN A PERSON COMES TO THE END OF TRYING TO DO GOOD WORKS TO BE SAVED, WILL HE THEN HUMBLE HIMSELF AND TURN TO GOD FOR GRACE AND MERCY.
• WHY DOES JESUS TELL THE MAN TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS IF IT IS NOT BY WORKS OR BY LAW THAT MAN IS SAVED? HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN JESUS’ ANSWER IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT YOU CANNOT BE SAVED BY WORKS BUT ONLY BY FAITH?
• JESUS KNOWS THE HEART OF EVERYONE HE MEETS. HE KNOWS THEIR LEVEL OF FAITH. HE GIVES THEM SOMETHING THAT IS INTENDED TO RAISE THEIR FAITH TO A HIGHER LEVEL.
• JESUS’ DIVINE CLUE:
• THE MAN CALLED JESUS “GOOD” AND JESUS SAID ONLY GOD IS “GOOD”. HE IS TELLING THE MAN THAT HE IS GOD, BUT THE MAN DOES NOT SEE IT AND DOES NOT HUMBLE HIMSELF BEFORE JESUS.
• THEREFORE, THE MAN MUST COME TO THE END OF TRYING TO LIVE UP TO THE LAW BEFORE HE WILL SEE AND TRUST IN GOD’S GRACE.
• THE TRAGEDY OF THE STORY IS THAT THIS MAN LOVED THINGS MORE THAN HE LOVED OTHER PEOPLE, AND HE LOVE HIMSELF MORE THAN HE LOVED GOD OR OTHERS. HE DID NOT HAVE A CHILDLIKE FAITH TO FULLY TRUST GOD.

• READ MAR 10:23-31 JESUS’ TEACHING ABOUT WEALTH
• THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE RICH YOUNG RULER PROMPTS JESUS TO TEACH ABOUT WEALTH.
• THE EXAMPLE OF THE CAMEL AND THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE:
• THE SYMBOLIC ILLUSTRATION MAY BE BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE CITY WALLS WERE SHUT DURING THE NIGHT TO PREVENT BANDS OF ROBBERS FROM RAIDING THE CITY. HOWEVER, ONE SMALL GATE WAS LEFT OPEN FOR NIGHT TRAVELERS. THIS GATE WAS ONLY BIG ENOUGH FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH IF THE CAMEL CRAWLED THROUGH ON HIS KNEES. THIS GATE WAS CALLED “THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE”.
• IN OTHER WORDS, HUMILITY (BOWING THE KNEE) WAS NECESSARY TO GET THE CAMEL THROUGH THE GATE.
• DISCUSSION

: WHY IS WEALTH A DETERRENT TO ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

• THE DISCIPLE’S KEY QUESTION: “WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?” (26)
• JESUS’ ANSWER:
• MAN CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF. IT’S ONLY POSSIBLE IF GOD SAVES US.
• THIS IS WHAT THE RICH YOUNG RULER COULD NOT UNDERSTAND.
• A REWARD FOR DISCIPLES WHO SACRIFICE FOR CHRIST (28-31)
• JESUS PROMISES A HEAVENLY REWARD FOR THOSE WHO SACRIFICE FOR CHRIST AND THE GOSPEL.
• THE PRINCIPLE FOR DISPENSING REWARDS IS THAT THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST AND THE LAST FIRST.
• DISCUSSION

: WHAT DO YOU THINK HE MEANT?

• APPLICATION:
• THE PHARISEES LOOKED AT MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE FROM A LEGALISTIC VIEWPOINT.
• THEY TRIED TO TRAP JESUS ON POINTS OF THE LAW.
• THE RICH YOUNG RULER SAID HE KEPT THE LAW BUT DIDN’T FEEL HE WAS SAVED.
• JESUS TRIED A DIVINE TRAP TO SHOW HIM THAT IT IS NOT BY LAW THAT YOU ARE SAVED.
• THE POINT OF OUR LESSON IS THAT WHETHER IT BE MARRIAGE OR ETERNAL SALVATION, WE CANNOT LIVE UP TO GOD’S HIGH STANDARDS WITHOUT HIS HELP, WITHOUT HIS GRACE, WITHOUT HIS MERCY.
• WE NEED JESUS IN OUR LIVES TO SHOW US HOW TO LIVE.
• WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES TO GUIDE US IN OUR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS.
• WE NEED THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD, THE FATHER, TO GET US TO HEAVEN!

• HOMEWORK
  MARK 10:32-52
  THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF MAR 10:1-31 
  • ARE THERE ANY CHANGES IN ATTITUDE TOWARD MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE? PLEASE EXPLAIN.

• PREPARATION FOR MAR 10:32-52
• READ MAR 10:31-52
• WHAT ARE JESUS’ STANDARDS FOR GREATNESS?
• HOW ARE THESE STANDARDS DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD’S STANDARDS FOR GREATNESS?

• MEMORY VERSE: MAR 10:44