Day 75, Mark 10 
The issues of divorce
and remarriage are ones that have been hotly debated within Christian circles.
As you seek for a true understanding, let me encourage you, first of all, to
consider all that Scripture teaches on the subject. If our interpretation of
Jesus' words that we read today, for example, makes Him contradict other
scriptures, then we need to re-think our interpretation. The Bible has one
author, and He is not confused!
Second, let me
encourage you to use that good brain that God has given you! If every person on
the planet who is divorced and remarried is regularly committing adultery, then
those people are all doomed to hell, because Scripture says that no adulterer
will inherit God's kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Thus there could be only two
possible remedies. Those "adulterers" could get divorced, which of
course is a sin Jesus condemned and one that God hates (Mal. 2:16). Or those
"adulterers" could remain married, live together for the rest of their
lives, love one another, hug and kiss one another, perhaps enjoy sex together
to some degree (if adultery is defined as intercourse), but avoid "going
all the way," thus avoiding "adultery." But does that make a bit
of sense? What would be gained? Is the only thing that grieves God about
divorce and remarriage the sexual intercourse in the remarriage? Or is there a
greater reason why God hates divorce?
All of this is to say
that it is obvious that Jesus was addressing an alleged loophole that Israel's
corrupt religious leaders had found in the Mosaic Law. Their very liberal
interpretation of what constituted an "indecency" in Deuteronomy
24:1-3, along with some twisting of the words found there, permitted them to
divorce with impunity (in their own minds) and quickly remarry another whom
they were lusting after, all while maintaining that adultery was wrong. Anyone
who is honest, however, knows that the person who divorces his or her spouse in
order to marry another is
doing what is no different than adultery. But that is not the same as the
person who tries to save his or her marriage but fails, whose heart is torn
apart in the process, and who slowly recovers so that years later succeeds in
having a happy second marriage.
It goes without
saying, of course, that there is no excuse for two genuine Christians to
divorce. Those who do should be reconciled or remain unmarried (see 1 Cor.
7:11). I have written much more extensively on this topic here if
you care to read more.
Isn't it wonderful
that Jesus took time to bless children? God could have populated the earth
instantly with adults, but He gave us children to remind us continually of
innocence and purity of heart---what is needed to enter heaven. The most wicked
adults in the world at one time were innocent little children! Yet the hope
remains for them to recover their lost purity through Jesus if they will repent
and believe! Amazing grace!
This necessity of
holiness to gain heaven is underscored by Jesus' clear words to the rich, young
ruler. Jesus unmistakably declared that inheriting eternal life is for those
who obey the commandments, and if one is rich, that includes liberal giving to
the poor (10:17-21). It is quite amazing how such clear truths are
obscured by modern ministers who have no higher motive other than to keep goats
coming back each week to their churches.
Jesus said, "It
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God" (10:25). If you earn more than $125 each month,
you are among the top 25% of the world's richest people. If you earn more than
$2,100 each month, you are among the top 10% of the world's richest people (see
GlobalRichList.com). Thus it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye
than for most of us to enter God's kingdom. Thankfully, it is possible with God, but not because He will
overlook our greed, but because He can transform us into generous people who
care for the poor. Obviously, that transformation requires our cooperation!
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