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Some Pharisees came, and to test him they 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 dismissal and to divorce her." But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, "God made them male and female.' "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:2-16 NRSV)
"You're not my friend!" These words used to hurt our daughters when growing up. The order would go something like this, one day, they'd come home and say how wonderful it was to have a new friend. Then, a day or two later, and sadness would be upon their little eyes, and when we'd inquire of them, they would share with us the words their "friend" had shared with them, "You're not my friend." Relationships matter and sometimes these relationships can bring great hurt and pain into our lives. Those relationships that we enter into with vows before God, matter the most before God and should to us as well. The Pharisees, seeking, like always, to tempt Jesus asked him about the very delicate subject of divorce; "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" The pain of divorce had probably touched lives even in that era, and Jesus answers with a question, "What did Moses command you?" They replied with the standard answer that with a certificate of divorce it was lawful. Jesus further says that it was because of "hardness of heart," that this commandment came into being. Jesus and the Pharisees knew the history of divorce. During the Exodus, as the new people was being formed in the wilderness, the standard way to divorce was to throw out the wife's belongings from their tent. When the wife would return, she would know, but still wonder and want to make sure, that their marriage was over. This led to Moses having to issue certificates of divorce, to finalize the breakup of that relationship.
Jesus takes His explanation right back to the one found in Genesis where we find the beginnings of marriage. Jesus states, "But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." It was a bit later in the day, when the disciples had Jesus alone that they ask about divorce. Jesus then stresses the importance of marriage teaching that if one divorces his wife and marriages another, that man would be guilty of adultery, as would the woman who divorces her husband. The understanding here is that Jesus is speaking of those who decide one day they would rather have another spouse other than the one they have now, and divorce them just to remarry another. As Jesus saw the children being brought to Him for His blessing, He teaches again on relationships saying, "Let the little children come to me, do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." And the stern warning continued, "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." With that said, Jesus took the children up in His arms, laid hands on them, and blessed them.
There is pain in the breakup of any relationship, but more so in divorce. The children being brought to Jesus right at the moment He was teaching on it illustrates the ones who most times suffer from the pain of divorce. Jesus is teaching about the seriousness we must give all our relationships, beginning with the one we should have with God. If we enter into a full, loving and trusting relationship with God, we will receive from God that which we need to stay in relationship with ourselves and with others. It is key to know that from God comes the love we need to share back with God and with ourselves and with the people in our lives. As we bring children into our lives we should be teaching and sharing with them the importance of God's love in their lives as well.
PRAYER: Loving God, forgive me for taking some relationships too lightly. Grant me strength and wisdom to dedicate myself to You and the people in my life. Bless those who have gone through the pain of divorce, and especially bless and protect the children of divorce. Guide me this day into a more trusting childlike relationship with You, this I ask in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
