Mark 10:5 “It was because your hearts were hard.”
Jesus understood some of the prescriptions in Deuteronomy as God’s accommodation of the “hardness of heart” (v. 5) of his people. The laws on divorce fit into this category. God’s accommodation through divorce was intended to help people work through broken relationships in a just way. God still helps us--weak that we are--to work through broken relationships. Divorce, done according to the standard of justice is meant to help families caught in sin and failure.
Jesus affirmed the Old Testament law. He made the point that he did not come to change the law but to fulfill it. (Matt. 5:17) From the Sermon on the Mount we know that Jesus fulfilled the law by raising the standards not lowering them. Too often laws have been interpreted so that people have found ways to avoid the spirit and intention of the law. (Mark 7:11) Some people in the first century used the laws on divorce as a way to exert power over women. Jesus stood against this abuse.
Jesus affirmed the Old Testament law. He made the point that he did not come to change the law but to fulfill it. (Matt. 5:17) From the Sermon on the Mount we know that Jesus fulfilled the law by raising the standards not lowering them. Too often laws have been interpreted so that people have found ways to avoid the spirit and intention of the law. (Mark 7:11) Some people in the first century used the laws on divorce as a way to exert power over women. Jesus stood against this abuse.
Marriage was meant to be permanent. (v. 9) Divorce is God’s accommodation to our brokenness and is a grace, but divorce was never meant to be normative and never meant to be a tool of abuse.
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Books. For those interested in church history and theology, Justin Holcomb has written a small book that is quite accessible and helpful. It is entitled Know the Creeds and Councils. He begins his book by explaining terms. Creeds describe the basic beliefs of Christian faith; confessions distinguish denominational differences; catechisms are outlines of belief used for teaching purposes; councils are large church meetings meant to resolve differences between believers. In this book Holcomb has reviewed the major creeds and councils of the church. He has reviewed several confessions including two from the 1970’s. It is a helpful book, especially for pastors, but also for anyone who wants to understand theology and church history better.
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Main Street Baptist Church in Luray, Virginia has called me to serve as their intentional interim pastor. I begin this good work on October 1. Prayers are much appreciated!
it is better to be an "intentional" pastor than an "accidental" one. i am praying for you.
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