Today’s Reading:
Matthew 19:1-12
“Now I say to you, whoever put away his wife except for fornication and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9)
The legalistic religious leaders (Pharisees) were seeking a way to establish divorce theology, therefore they asked him a pertinent question. Though there were two schools of thought at that time among Jewish scholars concerning divorce under the Old Testament law. The question that is asked by the Pharisees is based on the background of contention between these two schools of thought. One, there were those of the teaching of the Jewish teacher Hillel who taught that a man could divorce his wife for any reason. Deut. 24:1-4. Two, there were also those of the teaching of the Jewish teacher Shammai who taught fornication was the only cause for divorce. Both groups were basing their teaching on the interpretation of the same scripture.
Jesus ignored the two schools of thoughts and even Moses' instruction but went straight to God’s original plan as instituted from the very beginning of time in Genesis 1:27 & 2:21-24. God established marriage and, in his agenda, there is no divorce. Divorce came into being due to the hardness of the heart of men. Divorce was a permission given by Moses but not God’s. Till today God is still saying He hates divorce Malachi 2:16a: “I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel.” When God created them in the beginning, it was male and female, not male and male or female and female. Any other pattern which is different from God’s original plan is absurd, abnormal and forbidden. Though divorce occurs, but it wasn’t the idea, rather a permission. And this permission was given because men’s hearts were hard and it is still hard today. When couples have not experienced brokenness, then they will experience a broken marriage.
Several battles are confronting marriages and that is why singles must look before they leap and couples too need to pray for their marriages, because the mighty are falling daily, and the host of hell is rejoicing. Couples need to settle issues quickly so as not to escalate, understanding of one’s spouse is also important to avoid divorce. You need to make up your mind and pay the price of staying in marriage to avoid adding to the number of divorce cases. But when the marriage is life threatening, it is advisable to separate for a while, allow men of God and family to intervene, then come together as the Lord will help the spouses. We must not also forget that the scripture says anyone who remarries when the previous spouse is still alive has committed adultery, the only thing that should dissolve Christian marriage is death, I Corinthians 7:10-11, I Peter 3:7
JAMES ALADE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
God is our hope and strength, a very present help in trouble.
My family and I dwell in the secret place of the Most High; we abide under the shadow of the Almighty. We shall say of the Lord, ‘He is our refuge and fortress, in Jesus' name.
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