March 25th, 2012

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God's Standards and Human Standards Mark 10:1-12

1) The law is subject to human interpretation (1-5)

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. Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" "What did Moses command you?" he replied. They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. (1-5)
 

2) God's standard is the basis for all standards--it is the "original" standard (6-9)

"But at the beginning of creation God `made them male and female.' `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (6-9)
 

3) Jesus' standards (10-12)

When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (10-12)
 

Summary
Every culture and generation has its own set of standards about right and wrong, but God's standards don't change. God's standards are far beyond human reach and no one has the ability to meet them in their own strength. In his righteousness, God does not lower his standards simply because we are unable to meet them. What are we to do? Through Jesus Christ--his coming to earth and his death and resurrection on the cross--we are given the chance to be children of God. The people God accepts are not necessarily those who are good or exceptional in some way, or those who give the most in tithes and offerings, but those who love Jesus and joyfully follow him.

For Discussion
1) Why did the Pharisees question Jesus in this way?
2) How did Jesus interact with those who could not keep the law?