Happy Friday!
Today, we’re continuing our series on Six Ways to Think Like Jesus with adultery and divorce. Yikes!
Refer to week one’s post for additional introduction information about the series.
Adultery:
Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:27-30 and says it is not enough to avoid adultery, but we must keep our hearts from lusting and be faithful to our spouse. Jesus’ language about lust is quite powerful and reminds us of the seriousness of sin. Sometimes I think we consider our thoughts to be insignificant, even that perhaps they don’t affect our actions. The truth is whatever our mind dwells upon matters a great deal. This is what Jesus is emphasizing here. It isn’t enough to simply be faithful in action. We must also be faithful in our minds. To be faithful to your spouse in body alone, not your mind, is to break the trust so vital to marriage.
Divorce:
Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:31-32 that is not enough to be legally married, we must live out our marriage commitments. One commentary (MacArthur ESV, Crossway) explained that some rabbis took liberties here, as if this Scripture (referring to Deut. 24:1-4) were to regulate paperwork when one sought divorce. They had wrongly concluded that men could divorce their wives for anything that displeased them as long as they provided a certificate. But Moses provided this concession to protect the woman who was divorced, not to justify or legalize divorce under any circumstances. Jesus explains that divorce is merited when one commits adultery and thus divorce should not be used to solve problems or as a way out of a relationship that seems dead.
Adultery and divorce are two topics I usually avoid, but I hope this post is helpful for someone.
Years ago, my pastor explained that marriage really isn’t about us or our spouse, it’s about showing the unbelieving world that if two imperfect people can love one another unconditionally then perhaps there is a loving God.
What stands out to you most from Jesus’ teachings?
**summarized from Life Application Study Bible, NIV, Zondervan
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