Slices
Prepare
When two individuals are united in holy matrimony, have you ever considered what it costs for the two to become one?
Bible passage
Divorce
10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.
2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’
3 ‘What did Moses command you?’ he replied.
4 They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’
5 ‘It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,’ Jesus replied. 6 ‘But at the beginning of creation God “made them male and female”. 7 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.’
Explore
While solemnising a marriage, the minister read from the Bible and told the young couple, ‘You are no longer two but one. Do you think that it is possible?’ Blinded by love though they were, their eyes did have a look of wonder. The minister said, ‘Imagine two wonderful rivers flowing from two directions. At one point the two rivers merge and then flow together. One plus one has now become a bigger one and that is the mystery of marriage. Each of these rivers carries with it all its richness and merges into the richness of the other and together they form an entirely new and beautiful entity.’
Jesus herein gives some wonderful insights about marriage, in response to a question from the Pharisees about divorce (vs 7–9). Why do you think the Pharisees asked this question? Marriage calls for prayerful giving up, thoughtful adjustments and intentional initiatives; not the hardness of heart that led to Moses permitting divorce (v 5). The affirmation that it is God who joins people together not only adds to the spiritual dimension of marriage but also points at the responsibility of the partners in safeguarding and protecting marriages as sacred. The passage is another example of the disciples seeking clarity in private on something Jesus taught in public (vs 10–12). Does it raise questions for you?
Respond
Pray for those who are struggling in their marriages at the moment, as well as those who are feeling the loss of bereavement or divorce, or are experiencing unwanted singleness.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 29,30; Hebrews
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Financial Controller Craig Macpherson as he balances income and expenditure in the light of continually increasing costs and a large one-off cost for repairs on Trinity House. Pray for God’s continued provision.
