Divorce
Once again we see Jesus answering questions, with a question.
“One day the Pharisees were badgering him: “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” He answered,
Jesus responds by referencing God's original design for marriage as described in Genesis 2:24, ("Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.")
“Haven’t you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father and mother and is firmly bonded to his wife, becoming one flesh—no longer two bodies but one. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart.””
Matthew 19:3-6 MSG
Now of course they have a good rebuttal to this. . .
“They shot back in rebuttal, “If that’s so, why did Moses give instructions for divorce papers and divorce procedures?””
Matthew 19:7 MSG
This may seem like a good question, but their motives were of course wrong, Divorce was much more common in his time than it is today, and many religious leaders of his time interpreted the Mosaic Law to permit divorce for much less serious reasons. Jesus' teachings on divorce were intended to protect the sanctity of marriage and to encourage people to make a lifetime commitment to one another.
In Deuteronomy 24:1-4, the Mosaic Law permitted divorce under certain circumstances but it was not encouraged. In this passage, it states that a man can give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away if he finds something "indecent" in her, but Jesus emphasizes that God's original intention for marriage was for it to be permanent
So Jesus responds to their rebuttal with something very beautiful -
“Jesus said, “Moses provided for divorce as a concession to your hard heartedness, but it is not part of God’s original plan. I’m holding you to the original plan, and holding you liable for adultery if you divorce your faithful wife and then marry someone else. I make an exception in cases where the spouse has committed adultery.””
Matthew 19:8-9 MSG
Ive seen so many people us this exception - however, he sums it up well here
“But Jesus said, “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn’t for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you’re capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it.””
Matthew 19:11-12 MSG
Its like He sees right into their hearts, know that the very reason they even asked this is because they wanted to justify things that were common in their culture. and keep in mind this just came after Jesus gave some very stern warning about the importance of forgiveness . . .
Ive spent the better majority of the last 2 years studying this topic, and i am pretty convinced that Its always better to stick it out and work things out than it is to get divorced. . . This concession to your hard heartedness is more of a warning that if you allow the concept of divorce into your heart and pursue it, your heart will become hardened and you will loose sight of Christ.
To Enter God's Kingdom
“One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.”
Matthew 19:13-15 MSG
During the time of Jesus, children were considered to be of lower status in Jewish culture. They were not given the same education or opportunities as adults, and were expected to obey their parents and elders. However, Jesus was known for his teachings on the importance of children and for welcoming them into his presence. This was seen as revolutionary at the time and it was in stark contrast to the cultural views of children as inferior.
“Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?””
Matthew 19:16 MSG
The man was likely approaching Jesus from a perspective of works-based righteousness, which was a common belief in Jewish culture at the time. The idea was that one could earn salvation and eternal life through good works and obedience to the Law of Moses.
It's also possible that the man was not convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and he was trying to see if Jesus' teachings aligned with the expectations of the Messiah, that is someone who would restore the kingdom of Israel and bring salvation to the Jewish people.
Overall, the man's question reflects a common misunderstanding of the nature of salvation and the way of righteousness that Jesus came to correct. Through His teachings and actions, Jesus made it clear that salvation is not earned through good works, but is a gift of grace received through faith in Him.
Jesus responds -
“Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.””
Matthew 19:17 MSG
The man questions him to be more specific and Jesus gives him a summary of the ten commandments and the man replies "i've done all that. whats left?"
It is possible that the young man believed in a works-based understanding of salvation, where one could earn eternal life through obedience to the commandments and laws of the Old Testament. This was a common belief in Jewish culture at the time, and it is clear that the young man had followed these commandments, as he states "I've done all that." However, Jesus' teachings emphasize that salvation is not earned through good works, but is a gift of grace received through faith in Him. The young man's question, "What's left?" could indicate that he may not have fully understood or accepted Jesus' message of salvation through faith.
This is a common belief i hear when i speak to people about Christ, they believe they are good people and that when they stand before God (most people believe this will happen seemingly instinctually) that He will see that they were a good person and welcome them into heaven.
““If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.””
Matthew 19:21 MSG
It's important to note that Jesus is not saying that giving away wealth and possessions is a requirement for salvation, but rather that it is a way to demonstrate true repentance, faith and a willingness to follow Jesus completely. He is making the point that the love of money can be a hindrance to true faith, and that one's possessions can become a source of security and identity that can distract from following God.
I know that i used to read this part, and believe that rich people could not be Christians, However as i have studied more i see that is not the case, wealth is not inherently sinful, but it can become a source of temptation and idolatry if one has a love of money.
A Christian who is given wealth can use it in a way that honors God by using it to support the work of the kingdom, by being a good steward of their resources, by being generous and compassionate towards the poor and the less fortunate, by being honest and fair in their business dealings, and by being content with what they have.
The Bible encourages Christians to be good stewards of their resources and to use their wealth to serve others and to glorify God. For example, in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, it says "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
The story of the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-26 serves as a reminder of the danger of valuing wealth and material possessions above God, and it highlights the importance of repentance, humility, and a willingness to follow Jesus completely.
But we see Jesus raise a pretty staggering train of thought with the diciples
“As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.” The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?””
Matthew 19:23-25 MSG
Jesus response probably evoked some blank stares
“Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.””
Matthew 19:26 MSG
Then we have to love how peter replies Peter here - “Then Peter chimed in, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?””
Matthew 19:27 MSG
Jesus response - “Jesus replied, “Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.””
Matthew 19:28-30 MSG
It's also worth noting that in this passage Jesus is not promising wealth or material gain as a reward for following him, but rather the reward is the privilege of participating in the coming kingdom, and the eternal life. The reward is not in the material gain, but in the spiritual gain, and in the joy of participating in the kingdom of God.
The idea of the "first being last" is a recurring theme in the Bible, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. Some examples of where this idea is echoed include:
Matthew 20:16 - "So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last."
Mark 10:31 - "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."
Luke 13:30 - "And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
This idea is also reflected in other passages such as:
James 2:5 - "Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
These verses emphasize that in God's kingdom, the values and standards of the world are turned upside down and that those who are considered to be last or unimportant by the world's standards will be first in God's kingdom. Those who put their faith and trust in God, regardless of their social status or wealth, will be rewarded.
Now watch how this ties into Job . . .
Job 18
Bildad, one of Job's friends, speaks to Job and accuses him of being wicked. Bildad states that the wicked will be destroyed and that their end will be terrible, and that their families will also be destroyed. He goes on to describe how the wicked will be pursued by trouble and darkness, and how their descendants will be destroyed.
Bildad argues that the wicked will lose their wealth and prestige, their friends will abandon them, and their families will be destroyed. He describes the fate of the wicked as a descent into darkness and destruction, with no hope for redemption or salvation.
““Here’s the rule: The light of the wicked is put out. Their flame dies down and is extinguished. Their house goes dark— every lamp in the place goes out. Their strong strides weaken, falter; they stumble into their own traps. They get all tangled up in their own red tape, Their feet are grabbed and caught, their necks in a noose. They trip on ropes they’ve hidden, and fall into pits they’ve dug themselves. Terrors come at them from all sides. They run dazed and confused. The hungry grave is ready to gobble them up for supper, To lay them out for a gourmet meal, a treat for ravenous Death. They are snatched from their home sweet home and marched straight to the death house. Their lives go up in smoke; acid rain soaks their ruins. Their roots rot and their branches wither. They’ll never again be remembered— nameless in unmarked graves. They are plunged from light into darkness, banished from the world. And they leave empty-handed—not one single child— nothing to show for their life on this earth. Westerners are aghast at their fate, easterners are horrified: ‘Oh no! So this is what happens to perverse people. This is how the God-ignorant end up!’””
Job 18:5-21 MSG
however -
Bildad's statements in Job 18:5-21 can be understood to be a reflection of the belief, common in the ancient Near East, that the wicked will be punished and the righteous will be rewarded in this life. He describes the fate of the wicked in vivid and graphic detail as a descent into darkness and destruction, with no hope for redemption or salvation.
It is true that the Bible teaches that the wicked will be punished, and that the righteous will be rewarded in the end times. For example, in Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks about the final judgment and how the wicked will be separated from the righteous and sent to eternal punishment.
However, it's also important to note that Job 18 is part of a longer conversation, and that Job is not a wicked man, but a righteous man who is suffering, so Bildad's accusations are not accurate in the context of the story. Also it's worth noting that in the Bible there are examples of righteous people who suffer, and that suffering is not always a result of wickedness.
It's also important to note that the Bible teaches that God's ways are not always easy to understand and that the wicked may prosper in this life, but ultimately they will be held accountable by God.
HMMM . . . perhaps some of the theology our rich young friend who was questioning Jesus may have had? If he believed he had followed the law then that is why he was wealthy, and giving it all up may have made him feel like the would be giving up his righteousness.
In both passages, a belief that obedience to religious laws will lead to prosperity in this life is being challenged. The story of the rich young man highlights that wealth and material possessions can become an obstacle to true faith and obedience to God, and that true righteousness comes from repentance, humility, and a willingness to follow Jesus completely. Job 18, on the other hand, emphasizes that the wicked will be punished and their end will be terrible, while the virtuous will be rewarded.
It's important to note that the Bible teaches that righteousness is not earned through obeying the laws or accumulating wealth, but through faith in God and accepting His grace through Jesus Christ. Also, it's important to remember that God's ways are not always easy to understand, and that suffering and prosperity do not always correspond with righteousness or wickedness in this life.
Job 19
Job responds to Bildad's accusations of wickedness. Job expresses his deep distress and frustration at his suffering, which he feels is unjust. He insists on his innocence and righteousness, and accuses God of being unjust and cruel. (sounds familiar)
Job accuses his friends of not understanding his pain and of falsely accusing him of wickedness. He laments the loss of his family, friends, and reputation, and his physical deterioration. He also complains about the isolation and alienation he is experiencing, and the lack of support from his friends and God.
““Oh, friends, dear friends, take pity on me. God has come down hard on me! Do you have to be hard on me, too? Don’t you ever tire of abusing me?”
Job 19:21-22 MSG
Poor Job . . .
I love how he ends this chapter tho
““If you’re thinking, ‘How can we get through to him, get him to see that his trouble is all his own fault?’ Forget it. Start worrying about yourselves. Worry about your own sins and God’s coming judgment, for judgment is most certainly on the way.””
Job 19:28-29 MSG
The idea of "worrying about your own sins and God's coming judgment" is a recurring theme in the Bible, particularly in the teachings of the prophets. Some examples of where this idea is echoed include:
Isaiah 55:6-7 - "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."
Ezekiel 18:30 - "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord."
Luke 13:3-5 - "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
These verses, as well as Job 19:28-29, emphasize the importance of repentance and acknowledging one's own sins in light of God's coming judgment. They remind that everyone will be held accountable for their actions and that God's judgment is impartial and will not discriminate between the wicked and the righteous.
Psalm 19
“That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.”
Psalms 19:6 MSG
“God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.”
Psalms 19:10 MSG
“There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.”
Psalms 19:11-14 MSG
Psalm 19 is a psalm that praises God for his creation and the revelation of his law. It begins by describing the beauty and majesty of the heavens, which declare the glory of God. The psalmist says that the heavens tell of God's handiwork and the sky displays his craftsmanship, making it clear to all that there is a Creator.
The second half of the psalm shifts focus to the revelation of God's law, which is described as perfect, sure, right, pure and true. The psalmist says that God's law gives wisdom to the simple, and gives joy to the heart. He also says that God's commandments are more desirable than gold, and sweeter than honey. The psalmist concludes by asking God to keep him from hidden sins and to make him pure in heart.
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