October 30, 2012
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:31-32

OBSERVATIONS
1. Jesus refers to Deuteronomy 24:1-4. In Matthew 19:8 Jesus describes this as Moses permitting, something that was not God’s will from the beginning. This tells us something important about the Law, that it contains elements of Moses’ thinking that were not God’s will. This helps us when we confront difficult passages in the Law, to know that many of the more specific laws might be Moses permitting or not permitting “because of the hardness of their hearts”… but they do not reflect God’s law from creation (like slavery!).

2. Jesus overrides the Mosaic Law. He able to do this (‘”but I say to you”) because He is the fulfillment of the Law? Moses represents a temporary covenant; we can learn from the OT (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17) but we are no longer under it (see Galatians 3:21-22). Though we are no longer under Moses Law, we are under Christ’s Law (1 Corinthians 9:20-21). Grace is not an excuse to sin, but an opportunity to love (Romans 6:14-18).
3. In that time, it was men who enacted divorce. The act itself made the women suspect of being an adulteress. As a woman she had no choice but to seek another marriage partner, for survival, thereby undermining her marriage vows. Jesus is not condemning the innocent wife here, but the abuse of Moses’ Law. Marriage is a God-designed gift, and we are warned against treating it like nothing.
4. Jesus is not denouncing divorce as an unforgiveable sin. He is just showing the depth of God’s Creation Law, deeper and further than Moses Law. He is showing God’s will and purpose from which we have fallen, and to which Jesus has come to restore us. All sinners, including adulterers, can be forgiven and restored, but we must still understand the seriousness of the sin, and the damage it causes.
What do you notice in this passage?

APPLICATION
1. Since divorce is not a personal issue for me, I need to look deeper, to the kinds of things in my marriage that undermine my covenant bond with my wife. Am I guilty of the previous adultery (Matthew 5:27-28)? Am I guilty of allowing my love for other things preempt my love for her? Do I treat her as the precious gift she is, or do I take her for granted, do I neglect her needs, do I use her for my advantage in subtle ways?
2. What standard do we use to measure our marriage? Compared to others, mine is pretty good. But how is it compared to God’s creation design? No one should presume that they have arrived, also in regards to marriage. My marriage vows compel me to set God’s design for love as my standard, my benchmark. When I do, then I can be honest and admit my weakness, seek God’s mercy and help, and strive with His Spirit to improve it. Though I cannot be perfect, with God’s help I can aim for it (Matthew 5:48), instead of just settling for the status quo.
3. In general, I sense God challenging me to go deeper with all of the commands, to discern His creation will. I may be too moral to break God’s commands in an obvious way (like the Pharisees), but how am I guilty of going against God’s Creation Law in more subtle ways. Subtle lies, subtle stealing, subtle coveting (or not so subtle?). Once again Jesus is confronting me with my heart, leading me to honest confession, trust in God for mercy, and a commitment to strive with His help for better.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?

PRAYER
Lord, Your teaching cuts like a knife. If I felt good about myself before, You show me how subtle and sinister sin is in me. Thank You for not settling with me just as I am. Help me not to settle either.