Marriage, Divorce and the Gift of Living Single

1. The Context (vs1-2) 

• Vs 1 “finished these saying” Jesus is teaching the process of restoring a relationship in church and  

• Vs 2 “large crowds followed him” Matt 9: b/c they were “harassed & helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd”

1. The Conflict (vs 3) 

• 1. This is the region John the Baptist was arrested and beheaded. Matthew 14 

• 2. Two Opposing Cultural Views

• Rabbi Shammai () Divorce only for adultery, death. Rabbi Hillel () divorce for any reason. 

1. The Conversation (vs4-6) Jesus bypasses their cultural debate, by pointing them BACK. TO. THE. WORD! 

1. Marriage (VS 4-6) 

• The Partners in Marriage (vs4) The only genders God recognized is male and female.

• The Priority in Marriage (vs5) It must supersede all earthy and ! 

• The Permanence in Marriage (vs5-6) cleave KJV prokolayo: To join, glue, or to intertwin. Hold fast to his wife! 

• The Procreation in Marriage (vs5-6) “…two shall become one, and they shall no longer be two but ONE FLESH!” 

1. Divorce (vs7-9) 

• Deuteronomy 24: 1-4 They have perverted this verse and used it as a weapon against women. ANY REASON!  

• Ex: Professor of Theology at Talmud & Rabbinic at the Jewish Theological Seminary 

• 1. If they burn a meal. 2. If they find someone more beautiful. 3. If their wife is ! 

• Rabbi: “A bad wife is like leprosy to her husband. What is the remedy? Let him divorce her & be cured of leprosy” 

• Another Rabbi: “If a man has a bad wife, it is his religious duty to divorce her”  

1. Singleness (vs8-12) 

• (Vs10) 11 single men! If the culture is wrong and we can’t divorce for ANY reason! Maybe we should stay single! 

• What Jesus saying? Married people are not more spiritual, or more blessed, and being single is not a .  

• Explain: vs Eunuchs are castrated men you live life dedicated to the cause of the king. Remember   

• Read: 1 Cor 7 – Teaching them about marriage, he stops to say that he wishes they could serve like him.  

Application: 

• If married, strengthen your commitment to each other, and to God. 

• If divorced, don’t feel condemned. Be forgiven. For others, don’t get married with one foot out the door.  

• If single, God elevated singleness! You have an opportunity for service in God free of the concern of a partner! 

Final Thought: We are all the bride of Christ and have been unfaithful! He has not divorced us. He is!