IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

God's View of Marriage and Children

Date: May. 21, 2016

Passage

Mark 10:1-16  (ESV)

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 10:9

What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

First, is divorce lawful? (1-12). Some Pharisees came and tested him, asking "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" They thought they could catch Jesus if he said either 'yes' or 'no'. However Jesus wisely responded by directing them to the Word of God. Moses permitted divorce because of the sinful hearts of the men of his generation and to protect those victimized by such behavior. Nevertheless, God's original command in Genesis still stands and it reflects His will for marriage:

"Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Pray for the Lord's healing and blessing upon our marriages. By honoring marriage, we honor God.

Second, Jesus blesses the children (13-16). People brought their children to Jesus to be blessed.

There were no complaints from the people, the children, or Jesus. Only the disciples seemed upset about this. As Jesus lovingly embraced the children, no doubt they embraced him as well. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who embrace Jesus with the simple trust of a child. Jesus welcomes all of those who come to him in this way. Jesus loved and blessed the children one by one.

As followers and servants of Christ, can we do any differently?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, strengthen our marriages and bless our children to grow in the love of Christ.

One Word: They are no longer two, but one flesh.

Daily Bread

Joseph and Potiphar

Genesis 39:1-12

Key Verse: 39:9

He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

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