Disciples know Jesus’ heart regarding relationship of unity, marriage, and divorce
Matthew 5:31-32
It has been said, “Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.” But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. ~ Jesus
Nearly everyone has been touched by the sad reality of marriages ending in divorce. A broader treatment of this topic in the Bible is found in Mark 10 (or Matthew 19), where Jesus brings up hardness of heart as a root cause for divorce.
As with other areas of sin, Jesus draws attention to the motive lurking behind a situation rather than the action alone. Though not in God’s original plan, divorce is permitted in certain circumstances due to people’s hardness of heart – from which comes all kinds of evil (consider the chilling possibility of a dead wife versus a divorced woman).
Dallas Willard addressed this teaching of Jesus in one of his books:
Hard hearts may make divorce necessary to avoid greater harm, and hence make it permissible. But kingdom hearts are not hard, and they together can find ways to bear with each other, to speak truth in love, to change – often through times of great pain and distress – until the tender intimacy of mutual, covenant-framed love finds a way for the two lives to remain one, beautifully and increasingly. (The Divine Conspiracy, Willard, p. 172).
Prayer For the Week
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).
Jesus Christ, can we sit and ponder any hardness in my heart – not just with marriage, but with life in general? Kingdom hearts are not hard hearts, and I want a kingdom heart like You. Where I need it, help me to soften my attitudes, question my motives, and love well in my relationships. In Your name I pray, Amen.
AND... Don’t end this devotional time without meditating with Jesus about your heart.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God
Psalm 119:169-176 22nd letter: Taw (ת)
- May my cry come before you, Lord;
give me understanding according to your word. - May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise. - May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees. - May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous. - May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts. - I long for your salvation, Lord,
and your law gives me delight. - Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me. - I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.
Read the verses of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.