Why should Christians look to God’s word for answers?
Thursday
What does hardening your heart mean? What does Ezekiel 3:7
say about the people of Israel?
Explain why you agree or disagree. Since God created marriage
He should be the one to define marriage.
What should we infer from “leaving mother and father” in
Genesis 2:24 when Adam and Eve had no parents?
What change happens after marriage according to verses 6-9?
Why is God’s original intent for marriage more important than
any divorce clause given?
Friday
What were the disciples questioning Jesus about in verse 10?
What did Jesus say a person was guilty of if they divorced their
husband or wife, and married someone else? Why?
What are you doing to divorce proof your marriage?
If you are single what should your attitude be concerning
marriage and divorce?
Hebrews 3:7 also warns us about hardheartedness. What is this
and how do we become tenderhearted?
MARK’S
GOSPEL
7/20/14
“Jesus Teaching”
Mark 10:1-12
I. The CROWDS gather again (Verse 1)
“Getting up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the
Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His
custom, He once more began to teach them.
A. At the conclusion of His teaching Jesus gets up and goes
beyond the Jordan. The crowds gather and he teaches them.
II. The cunning and CONFUSION of the Pharisees (Verse 2)
Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question
Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.”
A. They were testing Jesus. The Jews of that day generally
agreed that divorce was lawful but regulated. Like today, the
conflict arose on what were the proper grounds for divorce.
 Rabbi Sammai - Only in the case of uncleanness
 Rabb Hillel – for as little as a burned supper
 Rabbi Akiba – If you find one more becoming than she
 Rabbi Judah – with a letter of release a woman is free to
marry any man (Barkley)
III. The COMMAND of Moses (Verses 3-4)
“And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command
you?” They said, “Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF
DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY.”
Saturday
What response would you give to the divorce question today?
A. Jesus has the perfect response, He asks them a question.
The opinions of their Rabbis are irrelevant, what does God’s
word say?
Prayers: For Macia Henneman and her family as they grieve
her mother, Edna’s passing.
B. Jesus does not say, “You have heard it said, or “A new
command I have for you today.” Did Moses command divorce
or permit divorce?
IV. The CAUSE of divorce (Verse 5)
“But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote
you this commandment.
A. Many Rabbis taught that divorce was the duty of a Godly man
if his wife displeased him in any way. Moses instituted the
certificate of divorce to suppress the volume of divorces that
were taking place, not to encourage divorce.
Daily Meditations
Use this as an opportunity to spend some time meditating on
today’s message.
Monday
Why should we be careful not to consider Mark 10:1-2 a
complete teaching on marriage or divorce?
Read Malachi 2:15-16. What are the instructions here?
B. God permitted divorce in certain circumstances, but never
requires or commands it. Sin is the problem, the hardness.
What was the Pharisee’s question? Why were they asking this
question?
V. The CONDITIONS of marriage (Verses 6-9)
“But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND
FEMALE.” FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND
MOTHER, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no
longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let
no man separate.”
A. Rather than discussing a certificate of divorce Jesus
reminds them of God’s original intent. Jesus obviously regards
Genesis as the record of God’s thoughts concerning marriage.
B. God the creator of marriage defines marriage: one man,
one woman, becoming one flesh, God joined, for good!
What was their purpose in testing Jesus?
Did the Pharisees know what had happened to John because of
his stand on marriage? Was this their hope? (Mark 6:17-26)
Tuesday
Read Matthew 16:1-4. Who was testing Jesus and why?
Verses 11 and 12 show both a man and a woman divorcing.
Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus only about a man?
How did Jesus respond when the Pharisees asked Him if it
was lawful for a man to divorce his wife?
VI. The CLARIFICATION for the disciples (Verses 10-12)
“In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.
And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries
another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself
divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing
adultery.”
A. This is not a complete teaching concerning divorce. If a
divorce is not based on Biblical grounds like Matthew 19:9
then there is to be no divorce or remarriage.
Read Deuteronomy 24:1-4. What were the grounds for divorce?
Does Jesus teaching in Matthew 19:9 bring clarification to
indecency in Deuteronomy 24? Why or why not?
Wednesday
What did Moses permit and why?
What was Jesus saying in verse 5? What is our lesson here?