WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.339 Lord Jesus, would you cause your word to dwell richly in the midst of us this morning? 00:00:06.459 --> 00:00:11.519 God, would you give us open hearts to receive what, Lord Jesus, you would speak to us through 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:12.500 your word this morning? 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:15.860 God, would you comfort those needing comfort? 00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:17.980 Would you convict those who need conviction? 00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:21.120 Would you direct those who need direction? 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:24.320 And God, would you pour out grace upon us all? 00:00:25.260 --> 00:00:28.660 Father, would you pour out your spirit now upon us, your people? 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:34.820 God, form your mind in us for the glory of Christ, and it's in his name we pray. 00:00:35.380 --> 00:00:35.719 Amen. 00:00:36.840 --> 00:00:37.439 Amen. 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:38.299 You may be seated. 00:00:38.519 --> 00:00:42.219 Children, you may scoot to your Sunday school class. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:50.700 Before I forget, Billy and I, congratulations on Ezra. 00:00:50.700 --> 00:00:50.820 Thank you. 00:00:56.120 --> 00:00:58.500 Would you pass on our love to your dear wife? 00:00:58.659 --> 00:01:00.339 All right. 00:01:01.459 --> 00:01:08.039 Would you open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 19, verses 1 through 12? 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:10.819 We got quite a passage in front of us this morning. 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:17.340 I'm reminded of the great blockbuster movie, The Princess Bride. 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:19.979 Marriage. 00:01:19.979 --> 00:01:20.039 Marriage. 00:01:22.479 --> 00:01:28.060 Marriage is what brings us together today. 00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:29.219 Love. 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:29.780 Love. 00:01:29.780 --> 00:01:30.299 Love. 00:01:31.299 --> 00:01:31.700 True. 00:01:32.939 --> 00:01:33.299 Love. 00:01:35.700 --> 00:01:39.579 Actually, what brings us together today is God's Word and our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:48.299 And he's got something to say about marriage, divorce, remarriage, and if we can get to it, singleness. 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:52.640 And so, would you open up your Bibles to Matthew 19? 00:01:55.539 --> 00:01:57.140 And let's look to God's Word. 00:01:57.659 --> 00:01:59.140 Let's hear the voice of our King. 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:06.819 Now, when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 00:02:08.099 --> 00:02:10.680 And large crowds followed him and he healed them there. 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:21.560 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:28.340 Jesus answered, have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female? 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:36.060 And said, therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:38.759 So they're no longer two, but one flesh. 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:43.560 What, therefore, God has joined together? 00:02:44.060 --> 00:02:46.140 Let not man separate. 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:54.340 And the Pharisees said to him, why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? 00:02:55.199 --> 00:03:03.120 And Jesus said to them, because of your hardness of heart, Moses, allowed you to divorce your wives. 00:03:03.539 --> 00:03:05.719 But from the beginning, it was not so. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:15.300 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife except for sexual immorality and marries another commits adultery. 00:03:16.620 --> 00:03:23.659 Then the disciples said to him, if such is the case of a man with his wife, it's better not to marry. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:30.319 But Jesus said to them, not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:37.639 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, 00:03:37.959 --> 00:03:42.759 and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. 00:03:43.519 --> 00:03:47.859 Let the one who is able to receive this receive it. 00:03:47.860 --> 00:03:58.320 We live in a time and culture where there are a lot of questions and controversies surrounding what is marriage. 00:03:59.220 --> 00:04:01.640 We're asking basic questions. 00:04:01.920 --> 00:04:04.420 What is marriage? 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:07.400 That's the question being asked in our culture today. 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.640 And furthermore, how about this question? 00:04:11.099 --> 00:04:13.760 Are Christians allowed to divorce? 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:20.500 And if Christians are allowed to divorce, under what circumstances? 00:04:20.780 --> 00:04:21.860 When can they divorce? 00:04:22.340 --> 00:04:27.639 And if a Christian is allowed to divorce, can they remarry? 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:32.259 And what about singleness? 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:37.219 Well, Jesus is going to tackle all this. 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:46.159 And so as his followers, we need to carefully listen to what Jesus has to say today. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:56.939 Because he's going to give us some very important information about the nature of marriage and about divorce. 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:00.080 And he also addresses singleness. 00:05:01.760 --> 00:05:05.160 I know many people have come to this topic guarded. 00:05:06.620 --> 00:05:08.920 And they're guarded for a variety of reasons. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.360 Maybe you've been divorced. 00:05:11.260 --> 00:05:13.700 Maybe you grew up in a home where there was divorce. 00:05:13.699 --> 00:05:18.779 Maybe just hearing the word divorce is really hard for you. 00:05:20.519 --> 00:05:26.560 Well, Jesus is going to speak about divorce not to hurt you, but to heal you. 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:29.120 He wants to help you. 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:36.000 And he wants us to think right about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. 00:05:36.539 --> 00:05:38.599 And so this is a complex topic. 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:40.879 It's highly charged. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:45.759 And so this morning, I'm not even going to pretend that I'm going to address everything connected to it. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:54.379 I can't talk about every situation and every possibility surrounding what matters about marriage and divorce and remarriage. 00:05:56.159 --> 00:05:57.560 Let's let Jesus speak. 00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:04.319 And what we're going to hear him talk about and how he talks about, it's surprisingly comprehensive. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:10.319 So this morning, I want to walk through the passage. 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:12.500 Three moves to this morning's sermon. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:13.980 First move is this. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:17.579 We're going to walk through the passage, 19, 1 through 12. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:22.860 And what you're going to see is Jesus talks about marriage, and then he talks about divorce, and then he talks about singleness. 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:32.920 And after we walk through the passage, what I'm going to give you is a summary of Jesus' teaching on divorce, marriage, and remarriage. 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:35.460 And so I'm going to approach it bullet style. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:41.100 I'm going to pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, give you some realities of what Jesus taught us to summarize. 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:47.040 And so you can have in one place what Jesus taught about marriage and divorce and remarriage. 00:06:47.200 --> 00:06:53.320 And then finally, I'd like to wrap up our time together by saying, so what does this mean for us? 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:58.000 What does this mean for us moving forward as followers of Jesus? 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:06.000 How do we live in this culture that has a very different view on marriage and divorce than what Jesus is going to show us today? 00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:08.100 And how do we treat one another? 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:11.680 What does this look like moving forward? 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:14.180 And so three moves. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:18.520 And the first move is to walk through this text. 00:07:18.700 --> 00:07:25.900 My desire this morning is for you to hear what Jesus has to say about marriage and divorce. 00:07:26.080 --> 00:07:29.600 So that you see with your own eyes what Jesus says. 00:07:30.400 --> 00:07:34.140 And let that form God's mind in you. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:38.959 So let's get through this passage. 00:07:39.159 --> 00:07:40.800 Let's walk through this text. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:50.259 When Jesus walks through this text, when we go through this, what we're going to see is Jesus is going to talk about marriage. 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:55.759 And what we're going to see is there is a question posed to Jesus and then he responds to it. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:57.199 And then we move to divorce. 00:07:57.500 --> 00:08:00.900 There's a question posed to Jesus and then he responds to it. 00:08:00.899 --> 00:08:08.759 And then if we can get to singleness this morning, which I don't think we're going to be able to get to, his disciples raise an issue about marriage and Jesus responds to it. 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:14.459 And so there's a dialogue here in Matthew chapter 19, 3 through 12. 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:18.939 But Matthew 19, 1 and 2 sets the scene. 00:08:19.479 --> 00:08:20.759 So would you look at that with me? 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:28.659 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:31.699 And large crowds followed him and he healed them there. 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:35.919 Remember that the gospel of Matthew is a story. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.399 And with a story, there is a storyline. 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:49.659 And with this gospel, there is growing tension and moving towards climax when Jesus dies and is raised from the dead. 00:08:49.979 --> 00:08:51.699 Do you know where that takes place? 00:08:52.839 --> 00:08:53.979 In Jerusalem. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:09:03.860 And so what we see happening here in Matthew 19, 1 and 2 is Matthew is moving us along the storyline of the gospel. 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:10.139 And we move from the northern region of Galilee where Jesus has been doing most of his ministry. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:15.560 And now we see Jesus coming into Judea, which is in southern Israel. 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:18.980 And do you know what city lies in Judea? 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:20.100 Jerusalem. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:23.720 And that's where Jesus is going to end up. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:28.720 And that's where the climax of the gospel of Matthew takes place. 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:32.279 That's where Jesus is crucified and is raised from the dead. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:41.259 And so what we see happening here is we have this narrative in which Matthew is covering all sorts of ground. 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:46.919 And then it moves into dialogue and slows down in verse 3. 00:09:47.340 --> 00:09:49.279 Would you look at now verse 3? 00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:52.379 And this issue of marriage is raised. 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:56.240 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:59.799 Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:06.299 And so in verses 3 through 6, Jesus and these Pharisees have a dialogue. 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:09.960 And these Pharisees tested him. 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:14.639 So imagine Jesus is kind of rolling into Judea. 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:19.659 And the Pharisees, they do not roll out a red carpet for Jesus. 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:23.899 They greet him with testing. 00:10:23.899 --> 00:10:26.159 It's a contested rival. 00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:31.220 And so they greet him by asking a very interesting question. 00:10:31.340 --> 00:10:35.340 They say, Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:10:36.699 --> 00:10:39.759 Now, that may seem really odd to you. 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:42.000 Jesus shows up in town. 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:45.039 And the first question that these religious leaders ask him is, 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:47.799 Well, can a man divorce a woman for any cause? 00:10:48.579 --> 00:10:49.039 Huh? Huh? 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:49.120 Huh? 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:54.259 There's something going on here that you need to know about. 00:10:55.539 --> 00:11:00.779 There is a long-standing debate that this question is drawing upon. 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:08.559 And that debate revolves around two words in Deuteronomy 24.1. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:14.939 Would you flip back in your Bible to Deuteronomy 24, verse 1? 00:11:15.619 --> 00:11:18.639 Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. 00:11:19.219 --> 00:11:25.539 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:32.219 And so you get to Deuteronomy, get to chapter 24, and look at verse 1. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:40.080 And there is controversy and debate within Judaism at this time that Jesus is walking into Judea. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:44.899 There's debate over 24.1 in two words. 00:11:45.160 --> 00:11:46.700 Let me point out the two words to you. 00:11:48.060 --> 00:11:49.759 24.1 reads this. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:12:02.200 When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he's found some indecency in her, 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:08.120 and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, 00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:14.879 and she departs out of his house, dot, dot, dot, and this case law wraps up in verse 4. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:20.039 But the controversy are over those two English words, some indecency. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:25.559 Now, back in this day, there are two camps. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.980 The debate had two camps. 00:12:28.439 --> 00:12:32.320 There is the narrow and strict camp, the school of Shammai, 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:37.759 and they would interpret some indecency as some act of infidelity, unchastity. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.899 So it was sexual unfaithfulness. 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:46.799 And so they would say, oh, the some indecency, that's sexual infidelity, and therefore a divorce can be granted. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:50.799 The other camp is the school of Hillel. 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:58.100 And the school of Hillel was a kind of loose and broad interpretation of those two words, some indecency, 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:03.960 which would include unchastity, but it would also include things like burning your roast. 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:11.420 It would also include if your husband's eyes fell on some other woman more attractive than you. 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:20.120 That would constitute some indecency, and he could hand you a certificate of divorce, send you on your way. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:31.960 So when these Pharisees ask Jesus this question, we read in 19.3 of Matthew, 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:36.860 they say, is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:45.039 Behind that is Deuteronomy 24.1, and they're asking him, what do you think about some indecency, Jesus? 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:52.139 Furthermore, these Pharisees asking Jesus the question, they were of the school of Hillel. 00:13:52.599 --> 00:13:59.379 So what they're thinking is, hey, we have any reason to get a divorce with our wives, let's see what Jesus thinks about it. 00:14:00.099 --> 00:14:01.659 Let's test him on it. 00:14:03.699 --> 00:14:07.179 So this is just not some small question. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.439 Jesus is being drawn into a debate. 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:17.680 And we even talked about the whole Herod and Herodias thing and John the Baptist dying for coming down on this issue. 00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:26.600 Is it biblical for a man to divorce his wife for any cause? 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:31.760 They're asking, are you with us or are you against us, Jesus? 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:40.840 So what you're getting a sense of back in the day where Jesus was walking here, divorce was rampant and easy. 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:43.200 They didn't even have to hire attorneys. 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.860 They didn't have to go to court. 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:49.700 They could just hand a certificate of divorce if there was some, quote unquote, some indecency. 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:55.559 Our day is very similar. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.679 Divorce is rampant in our culture. 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:01.859 There's no fault. 00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:03.899 Divorce, we all know the statistics. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:09.799 50% of divorces that start in marriages end in divorce. 00:15:10.319 --> 00:15:14.019 That's outside of the church as well as inside of the church. 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:22.579 So how Jesus answers this question, is it biblical for a man to divorce his wife for any cause? 00:15:24.099 --> 00:15:25.000 That's poignant. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:28.879 That gets some traction for us today. 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:35.759 All of us know someone who's been divorced or we ourselves have been divorced. 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:41.639 And so they ask Jesus this question. 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:46.799 And in verses 4 through 6, Jesus answers and he puts on a clinic. 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:49.759 Let's read what he has to say. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:57.200 Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said, 00:15:57.819 --> 00:16:03.399 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh? 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:06.139 I just want you to see where he starts. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:08.200 You know what he's saying to the Pharisees? 00:16:08.439 --> 00:16:12.819 He's saying that you guys have got your finger in the wrong spot in the Pentateuch. 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:16.580 You've got to move from book 5 to book 1. 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:18.020 That's where you need to go. 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:22.060 You've started in the wrong spot to talk about divorce. 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:24.980 There's a better place to start. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:29.820 Not in a case law that has to do with an exception of the norm. 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:32.120 Let's start with the norm. 00:16:32.520 --> 00:16:38.560 And where the norm of marriage is found is in Genesis chapter 1 and chapter 2. 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.799 So the place where Jesus starts is very important. 00:16:43.339 --> 00:16:48.439 He says, okay guys, turn in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 1 and 2. 00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.379 That's what he's saying. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:55.299 And then look how he makes his argument. 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.659 In 19.4, Jesus says, 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:03.699 Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female? 00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:09.819 It's a reference to Genesis 127, where God created humans in his own image, 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:13.279 and he created them male and female. 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:24.380 And what Jesus is talking about here is that God purposely designed male, male, and female, female. 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:34.580 He's talking about our distinct anatomical equipment that uniquely defines us as male or female. 00:17:35.300 --> 00:17:37.080 This is part of his argument. 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:46.080 Jesus is saying God purposefully designed two sexes, male and female, defined anatomically. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:58.359 What Jesus is espousing here is pushing back against the current trend in our culture to redefine gender apart from anatomy. 00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:01.539 Jesus is bringing us back to the beginning. 00:18:02.399 --> 00:18:03.699 He's saying this is where you start. 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:05.599 This is what gives definition. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:20.219 And so Jesus starts his argument by starting in Genesis 127 and saying God purposely designed human beings male and female anatomically. 00:18:20.939 --> 00:18:21.639 That's what he's saying. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:26.879 And then he moves his argument now to Genesis 224. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:30.019 And we see that in verse 5. 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:36.480 He who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said, 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:42.039 Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.740 Jesus is saying this. 00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:52.740 God who created humans male and female purposefully, anatomically, 00:18:52.740 --> 00:19:02.039 He designed them that way for a purpose, to unite together in the one flesh union of marriage. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.380 They're designed for it. 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:13.880 Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:17.799 There's a reason why God designed us this way. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:22.240 He designed us to unite in a one flesh union. 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:30.500 And that is for as long as you both shall live. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.160 Would you look back in verse 5? 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:35.759 There's a very important word I want you to see. 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:45.359 Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.839 That hold fast. 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:55.579 That word comes from a Hebrew word that means to stick together, to join together, to cleave together, to cement together. 00:19:55.659 --> 00:19:58.599 When I was growing up, there was this commercial for super glue. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:02.299 And there was this guy who had this red hard hat. 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:04.839 And they put some super glue on the top of his hat. 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.519 And then they attached the super glue on the hat to an I-beam. 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:11.779 And that I-beam, this crane came down and pulled up the I-beam. 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:14.619 And the guy would hold on to his red hard hat. 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:20.919 And he would be pulled up into the air because of that super glue bond that could never be broken. 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:34.820 This hold fast bond of the one flesh union between one man and one woman is not designed to be broken. 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:37.240 That's Jesus' argument. 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:45.380 We were designed, male and female, to unite in a hold fast bond. 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:56.420 So let me give you a definition of marriage based upon what Jesus is teaching here. 00:20:56.420 --> 00:21:15.019 Marriage, biblically speaking, is God joining one man and one woman together in a life-long one flesh union. 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.920 That's what marriage is. 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:18.980 Genesis 1 and 2 marriage. 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.900 That's God's design. 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:27.320 And so Jesus' argument in response to this question is, 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:34.820 Hey, did you not read in Sunday school, Genesis 1 and 2, that God created male and female anatomically? 00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:41.200 And he created them anatomically that way to unite together in a one flesh union that's not meant to be broken apart? 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.720 You guys are in the wrong spot. 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:47.220 You've got to start in Genesis 1 and 2. 00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:54.039 And in verse 6, Jesus sums up his point in answering their test. 00:21:54.380 --> 00:22:02.000 So they are no longer two, but one flesh united together for life. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:12.960 And so God has purposely designed one man, one woman to unite together in a one flesh bond not to be broken. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:16.259 And why it's in Genesis 1 and 2 is this. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:19.019 It's to be normative pattern. 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:24.880 The normative pattern for all people in all places for all times. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.200 It's a huge claim. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.440 It's by design. 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:36.180 And then Jesus wraps it up with quite a countercultural claim. 00:22:36.180 --> 00:23:06.160 He says, 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.259 Marriage is God joining together for life. 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:11.060 Marriage is God joining together. 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:15.259 Divorce is man separating what God has joined. 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:21.620 So Jesus is not just saying, 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:24.840 No, a man cannot divorce his wife for any cause. 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.960 He's forbidding it. 00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:31.259 Let not man separate. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.019 It's a command. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.620 Don't do that. 00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:35.559 What God has joined. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.719 Don't separate. 00:23:39.159 --> 00:23:44.539 Let me just clarify what Jesus is not saying in that command to not separate and what he is saying. 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:50.419 Jesus is not saying that it's impossible for man to separate what God has joined. 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:53.300 Quite the contrary. 00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:55.519 It is possible. 00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.920 And we're going to get to that in a little bit. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:00.060 What Jesus is saying is, 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:03.360 Don't separate what God has joined. 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:07.380 He's intended it for life. 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:18.320 Jesus is making a strong case for marriage from Genesis 1 and 2. 00:24:18.840 --> 00:24:22.320 And there's nowhere in there any mention of divorce. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:28.200 Jesus' point is that marriage was instituted by the design of God. 00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:35.599 And divorce is a result of what we'll see as sinful human hard-heartedness. 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:39.179 So four things I want you to notice real quick. 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:44.039 Where Jesus starts, he starts in Genesis, not in Deuteronomy. 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:45.200 He starts in the beginning. 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:48.839 When God created Adam and Eve. 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:51.159 And then notice how Jesus makes the case. 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:55.699 He builds his case on the anatomical design of men and women. 00:24:56.159 --> 00:25:00.819 They're designed to unite together in a one-flesh union. 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.619 And notice how he speaks about marriage. 00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:06.859 It is God joining a man and a woman. 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:09.619 And notice how he speaks about divorce. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:14.500 It's man separating, man breaking what God has joined. 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:21.619 So this first question, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause? 00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:24.920 Jesus answers on the basis of Genesis 1 and 2, no. 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:28.779 God never intended a man to divorce his wife for any cause. 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:34.759 But to hold fast to his wife in a one-flesh union for as long as they both shall live. 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:40.440 And then there's another question. 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:44.519 So Jesus has talked about laid the foundation for marriage. 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:46.920 And now he's asked another question. 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:50.180 And that question we see in verse 7. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:52.500 The Pharisees said to him, 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:56.920 Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? 00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:59.900 And in verses 8 and 9, Jesus will respond to that. 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:05.600 What the Pharisees have just heard Jesus say is this. 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:09.980 No, divorce isn't part of God's design. 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:12.100 And so here's what's going on in their minds. 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:17.880 Moses, who under the inspiration of God wrote Genesis 1 and 2, 00:26:18.280 --> 00:26:21.340 also wrote Deuteronomy 24.1. 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:28.119 So how is it that the same guy, same God, who spoke Genesis 1 and 2, 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:31.359 would also speak Deuteronomy 24.1? 00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:33.359 How do you make sense of that? 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:45.220 And what they seem to think is that this Deuteronomy 24.1 is a command. 00:26:45.439 --> 00:26:46.179 Did you see that? 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:51.360 Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of a divorce and to send her away? 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:54.560 Speaking of Deuteronomy 24.1. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:57.840 So is Jesus in a pickle here? 00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.759 What's he going to do? 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:03.539 He's going to go, too tough for me, guys. 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:04.180 I'm out of here. 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.019 So sorry. 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:09.660 They don't have him over a barrel. 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.620 Look what he does. 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:18.500 You see, the Pharisees have misunderstood Deuteronomy 24.1, 00:27:18.719 --> 00:27:21.779 and as a result of misunderstanding it, they've misapplied it. 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:29.000 And what Jesus is going to do in verses 19.8 is he's going to clarify their misunderstanding 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:33.479 and say 24.1 is not a command. 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.739 It's a concession. 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:38.440 And that helps us understand how these two relate. 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:45.259 Notice where Jesus begins. 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:51.160 They say, hey, did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away? 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:51.859 Why? 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:56.740 And he said to them, because of your hardness of heart. 00:27:58.019 --> 00:28:01.940 In other words, this wasn't part of God's original design. 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:01.980 Why? 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:08.860 This divorce business is the result of human hardness of heart. 00:28:10.080 --> 00:28:14.160 Now, when we read that little phrase, hardness of heart, in our Bibles, 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:21.420 it's language describing the posture of a person's heart towards God. 00:28:22.340 --> 00:28:23.840 Do you remember Pharaoh and the plagues? 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:29.120 Do you remember what would happen to Pharaoh's heart when Moses would come to him? 00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:30.160 He would resist him. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:31.640 He would harden his heart. 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:36.340 It's a way of describing prideful resistance. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:39.720 And so what Jesus is saying here in verse 8 is, 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:43.279 because of your sinful pride, 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:49.660 Moses allowed you to divorce your wives. 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:52.779 It's a concession, not a command. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:55.340 Do you notice the change of words? 00:28:55.339 --> 00:29:00.139 Look at chapter 9 or 19, verse 7. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:03.919 Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce? 00:29:04.139 --> 00:29:05.459 And then Jesus corrects them. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:08.619 He says, because of your hardness of heart, 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:12.159 Moses allowed you to divorce. 00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:14.279 It's not a command. 00:29:15.199 --> 00:29:16.980 And there's a big difference between the two. 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:22.740 God is regulating sinful behavior among his people. 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:33.339 The Pharisees had made Deuteronomy 24.1 say something it wasn't saying. 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.920 They were making it into a command. 00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:38.279 And what Jesus is saying, it's not commanded. 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:40.099 Divorce is not commanded. 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.860 It's permitted. 00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:47.319 Deuteronomy 24 is an example of what's called case law. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:50.859 If this happens, then you've got to do this. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:54.619 And what God through Moses did in Deuteronomy 24 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:57.839 was to regulate destructive behaviors 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:00.500 that were resulting from hardness of hearts. 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:04.399 And so what 24.1-4 is, 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:09.139 is a concession to hard hearts seeking to take advantage of women. 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:13.480 There's an expression out there that says, 00:30:14.060 --> 00:30:16.140 hard cases make for bad laws. 00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:19.360 When you build laws on exceptions, 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:21.580 it's not good for a society. 00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:25.540 And what the Pharisees had made a law out of 00:30:25.540 --> 00:30:28.400 is a concession that regulated sinful behavior 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.400 because of hard hearts. 00:30:33.060 --> 00:30:35.580 So they're using it to justify their desires. 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:37.519 And what Jesus is saying is that it's, 00:30:37.939 --> 00:30:39.199 this Deuteronomy 24, 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:41.720 it's not a command, it's a concession. 00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.859 The Pharisee had made it, 00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:46.899 made an exception the norm. 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:50.619 And Jesus repudiates it. 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:55.859 After Jesus points out that Deuteronomy 24.1 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:58.359 is a concession to regulate sinful behavior, 00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.480 he adds, 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:01.659 but from the beginning it was not so. 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:03.379 This isn't God's design. 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:05.560 This isn't God's command. 00:31:06.860 --> 00:31:07.980 This is a concession. 00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:11.340 And you're making a mistake of building law out of it. 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:17.060 So what we see here is this. 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:17.960 Divorce, 00:31:18.560 --> 00:31:22.060 what Jesus defines as man separating what God has joined together, 00:31:22.320 --> 00:31:25.680 is not a result of God's good design and creation, 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:29.960 but it's the result of man's hardened hearts. 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.200 Divorce, 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:30.819 divorce, 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:32.779 divorce, 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:36.059 is always the result of sin. 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:38.620 It's always the result of sin. 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:40.539 In a couple who divorces, 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.160 it might be 50-50, 00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:43.759 it might be 75-25, 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:45.319 it might be 90-10, 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:46.500 95-5, 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.579 but there's always sin involved. 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.779 It's not God's design. 00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:56.940 And then in 19.9, 00:31:57.079 --> 00:32:02.460 Jesus goes on to give the only grounds for which a Christian can divorce another Christian. 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:05.899 It's known as the exception clause. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.819 Look at verse 9. 00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.779 And I say to you, 00:32:09.899 --> 00:32:11.399 whoever divorces his wife, 00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:14.859 except for sexual immorality, 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:16.259 and marries another, 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:18.019 commits adultery. 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:26.440 We need to really understand what this exception clause is. 00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:29.559 Except for sexual immorality. 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:33.400 Jesus has already taught on it in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.859 Matthew 5.32. 00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:35.259 He says, 00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:37.940 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:40.180 except on the ground of sexual immorality, 00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:42.099 makes her commit adultery, 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.700 and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:49.140 So we need to be clear on what this sexual immorality is. 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:56.840 Let me just remind you where Jesus has already been. 00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:59.299 He's already laid the foundation 00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:04.400 that marriage is a sacred joining of one man and one woman 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:06.539 in a one flesh union for life. 00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:11.019 That's the norm for all people in all places and all times. 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:13.019 It's not to be separated. 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:14.720 But now we're asking the question, 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:19.519 Is there ever a time where people are allowed to break 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.920 what God has joined together? 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.299 And Jesus is saying, 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.119 Yes, there is. 00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.720 There's one exception. 00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:27.319 When there is sexual immorality. 00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:30.079 Sexual immorality, 00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:31.279 those two words in English, 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:33.519 are translating a Greek word, 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.319 porneia. 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:37.299 You might have heard that in pornography. 00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:40.619 And what porneia is, 00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.559 scholars have shown, 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:43.259 is this umbrella term 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:48.460 for a variety of illicit sexual behaviors, 00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:50.000 like adultery, 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.519 like bestiality, 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.859 like prostitution, 00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:54.519 like homosexuality. 00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:56.399 Even I would throw in polygamy. 00:33:56.400 --> 00:34:02.180 So the question that we need to answer right now is this. 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:07.700 Why would God allow illicit sex outside of marriage 00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:09.880 to be the only grounds for divorce? 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.220 And by the way, 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:14.000 it's not a requirement to get a divorce. 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:17.160 It's an allowance. 00:34:18.180 --> 00:34:20.019 He doesn't require this. 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.500 He permits it. 00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:26.019 Well, the answer goes back to Genesis 1 and 2. 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:28.980 It has to do with the one flesh union 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:31.739 God designed from the very beginning. 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:34.539 Just as a husband and wife 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:36.739 consummate the one flesh union 00:34:36.739 --> 00:34:38.639 of their marriage on their wedding night, 00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:44.000 sexual immorality ruptures the one flesh union 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:47.239 by bringing in a third party. 00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:50.699 And it ruptures it to such a degree 00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:54.479 that God who joined a husband and wife together 00:34:54.479 --> 00:34:56.779 allows them to divorce. 00:34:56.939 --> 00:34:57.839 So here's what this means. 00:34:58.439 --> 00:35:00.719 Five minutes of sexual infidelity 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:04.739 can break what God has joined together for a lifetime. 00:35:05.799 --> 00:35:08.299 It shows you the significance and importance 00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:09.539 of this one flesh union. 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:16.000 That one flesh union, 00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:16.900 this marriage, 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.860 is God's holdfast bond 00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:21.239 between a man and his wife. 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:25.099 When there is sexual infidelity, 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:27.380 that holdfast bond 00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:28.639 of the one flesh union 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:29.739 gets ruptured. 00:35:30.699 --> 00:35:31.619 So much so, 00:35:31.779 --> 00:35:34.719 permission is granted by God 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:37.460 to legally dissolve that marriage. 00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:37.579 marriage. 00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:40.900 Now you might be asking, 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:42.559 I've got a set of questions now 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:44.639 because you may have a ton of questions 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.240 on your minds. 00:35:46.740 --> 00:35:47.019 You may, 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.260 well, 00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:49.320 what constitutes sexual immorality? 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.099 Well, 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:51.400 I've already named some things, 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.440 but one of the questions 00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.840 I'm regularly asked is, 00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:56.840 is pornography sexual immorality 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:59.260 and does that give grounds 00:35:59.260 --> 00:36:01.720 for a wife to divorce her husband? 00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.559 That's a hard one. 00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:07.340 It's not an easy one. 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:12.279 After many situations, 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.460 after a lot of dialogue 00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:14.840 with a lot of godly people, 00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:17.440 the conclusion I've drawn 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:21.719 is that it can become grounds 00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:25.420 when a third party 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:27.500 ruptures the sexual union 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:28.900 of one man and one woman. 00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:31.820 I don't say that lightly, 00:36:32.260 --> 00:36:33.900 but I do say it as a warning. 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.860 Here's another question. 00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:42.800 If a married couple divorces, 00:36:43.180 --> 00:36:44.900 but there's no sexual immorality, 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.220 what does that mean? 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.920 Here's what that means. 00:36:49.220 --> 00:36:52.139 Their divorce is disobedience to God. 00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:54.539 God had not permitted them 00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:55.820 to get a divorce. 00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:58.500 And so the question is, 00:36:58.580 --> 00:36:59.640 what should they do? 00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:02.940 And what the Bible would say is, 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:03.559 what God would say, 00:37:03.660 --> 00:37:04.820 remain as you are. 00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.880 Remain single. 00:37:08.660 --> 00:37:10.400 And start praying and trusting 00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:12.280 and seeing if God would do a work 00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:13.980 in which He would change your heart 00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:16.460 and change your former spouse's heart 00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:18.180 so that He could bring a restoration 00:37:18.180 --> 00:37:19.360 to that marriage. 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:25.079 That's where I'm so grateful 00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:27.400 for the words Jesus will say later here. 00:37:28.180 --> 00:37:29.300 And when He talks about 00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:31.740 someone who makes themselves a eunuch 00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:34.300 for the sake of the kingdom, 00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:37.320 if you find yourself in that position, 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:39.320 live out your singleness 00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:41.280 for the glory of God. 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.420 Wait on Him. 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:47.059 But it kind of leads to another question, right? 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:51.539 What if one or both people 00:37:51.539 --> 00:37:53.039 who have divorced, 00:37:53.200 --> 00:37:55.200 what happens if they remarry someone else 00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:56.720 after they've divorced 00:37:56.720 --> 00:37:57.800 without biblical grounds? 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:58.639 What then? 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:02.099 Remain as you are. 00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:07.059 It would be further damage 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:09.139 if you get a divorce 00:38:09.139 --> 00:38:11.259 in that second marriage 00:38:11.259 --> 00:38:14.079 because God sees that second marriage 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:15.259 as a real marriage. 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:17.880 We see that in 19.9. 00:38:19.699 --> 00:38:21.360 And marries another, 00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.519 commits adultery. 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:24.199 It's a real marriage, 00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.840 but it starts in adultery. 00:38:28.179 --> 00:38:30.159 It doesn't stay 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:31.480 in adulterous relationship. 00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:33.699 It starts as an adulterous relationship. 00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:38.980 So what do you do 00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:39.719 if you find yourself 00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:40.539 in that situation? 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:43.159 You divorce someone. 00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:44.320 There wasn't biblical grounds. 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:45.320 You got remarried. 00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:47.340 You're married to somebody else now. 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:49.019 It started, according to Jesus, 00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:50.460 as adultery. 00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:51.119 What now? 00:38:51.219 --> 00:38:51.759 What do you do? 00:38:52.699 --> 00:38:53.980 You remain as you are. 00:38:54.420 --> 00:38:55.840 You stay married to that person. 00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:57.940 You acknowledge your sin 00:38:57.940 --> 00:38:59.360 of divorcing without warrant. 00:39:00.759 --> 00:39:02.279 You acknowledge that 00:39:02.279 --> 00:39:03.099 the second marriage 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:04.199 began as adultery. 00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:06.719 And you call on God 00:39:06.719 --> 00:39:07.599 to forgive you. 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.799 You confess your sins. 00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:11.639 And you confess them 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.679 to the one who's faithful 00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:14.199 and just to forgive your sins 00:39:14.199 --> 00:39:14.859 and to cleanse you 00:39:14.859 --> 00:39:15.939 from all unrighteousness. 00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:16.879 Here's what you need to hear. 00:39:18.039 --> 00:39:19.459 Divorce is not 00:39:19.459 --> 00:39:20.579 the unforgivable sin. 00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:22.879 God has grace for this. 00:39:23.839 --> 00:39:25.239 He has mercy for this. 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:28.419 You ready for another question? 00:39:29.699 --> 00:39:30.799 What about abuse? 00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:34.780 What about a wife 00:39:34.780 --> 00:39:36.519 who's physically abused 00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:37.220 by a husband? 00:39:39.160 --> 00:39:40.620 Another way to say it is this. 00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:42.100 Salvati, are you saying 00:39:42.100 --> 00:39:44.640 that one five-minute sexual fling 00:39:44.640 --> 00:39:46.600 with someone other than your spouse 00:39:46.600 --> 00:39:48.820 is legitimate grounds for divorce, 00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:51.500 but a woman suffering abuse 00:39:51.500 --> 00:39:53.220 from her husband for 15 years 00:39:53.220 --> 00:39:54.820 has no legitimate grounds for divorce? 00:39:54.900 --> 00:39:55.760 Is that what you're saying? 00:39:55.760 --> 00:39:57.840 And all I would do 00:39:57.840 --> 00:39:59.040 is humbly point you to Jesus. 00:40:00.080 --> 00:40:01.520 What does Jesus say? 00:40:02.640 --> 00:40:03.640 And what Jesus is saying 00:40:03.640 --> 00:40:04.760 is the only grounds 00:40:04.760 --> 00:40:05.960 he gives for divorce 00:40:05.960 --> 00:40:07.700 between two Christians 00:40:07.700 --> 00:40:09.980 is sexual immorality. 00:40:10.100 --> 00:40:11.840 532.99. 00:40:13.220 --> 00:40:15.800 In 1 Corinthians 7.15, 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:17.500 the apostle Paul, 00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:19.160 speaking with the authority 00:40:19.160 --> 00:40:19.920 of an apostle, 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:22.840 says the only other exception 00:40:22.840 --> 00:40:24.579 for divorce 00:40:24.579 --> 00:40:26.740 is when a non-Christian 00:40:26.740 --> 00:40:29.500 abandons a Christian spouse. 00:40:30.760 --> 00:40:32.519 The Christian who's been abandoned 00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:33.780 by an unbelieving spouse 00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:36.019 is then free to divorce 00:40:36.019 --> 00:40:37.519 and remarry in the Lord. 00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:41.019 Now, you might be saying, 00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:41.920 well, Salvati, 00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:43.440 we just started talking about 00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:44.980 an abused wife. 00:40:45.639 --> 00:40:47.260 Neither of these seems to apply 00:40:47.260 --> 00:40:48.280 to an abused woman. 00:40:48.280 --> 00:40:50.720 Is there any kind of resource, 00:40:51.340 --> 00:40:52.820 recourse in the church 00:40:52.820 --> 00:40:53.640 for a woman, 00:40:54.019 --> 00:40:54.940 a sister in Christ 00:40:54.940 --> 00:40:55.720 who's getting beat 00:40:55.720 --> 00:40:56.580 by her husband? 00:40:58.340 --> 00:40:59.300 There is. 00:41:00.100 --> 00:41:01.500 But it's not in Matthew 19. 00:41:02.100 --> 00:41:03.620 It's in Matthew 18. 00:41:04.280 --> 00:41:06.019 And what we see in Matthew 18 00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:08.900 is a process that Jesus lays out 00:41:08.900 --> 00:41:10.240 when one Christian 00:41:10.240 --> 00:41:11.840 is sinned against by another. 00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:13.600 And what that Christian 00:41:13.600 --> 00:41:15.120 who's been sinned against does 00:41:15.120 --> 00:41:15.860 is she, 00:41:16.280 --> 00:41:17.440 or he goes to the one 00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:18.260 who's sinned against them 00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:19.620 and points out their fault. 00:41:20.420 --> 00:41:21.800 And if that person 00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:22.980 doesn't listen, 00:41:23.220 --> 00:41:24.680 they bring somebody else in. 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.820 And if that person 00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:26.720 doesn't listen to that, 00:41:26.800 --> 00:41:27.980 they bring the church in. 00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:29.680 And when the church 00:41:29.680 --> 00:41:30.620 goes to that person 00:41:30.620 --> 00:41:31.980 and they still don't listen, 00:41:32.340 --> 00:41:34.220 that church exercises discipline, 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:34.960 removes them 00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:35.600 from her membership, 00:41:35.800 --> 00:41:36.860 and considers them 00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:37.700 an unbeliever. 00:41:38.420 --> 00:41:39.660 And if this is the case 00:41:39.660 --> 00:41:40.840 with a wife 00:41:40.840 --> 00:41:41.560 who's being beaten 00:41:41.560 --> 00:41:42.200 by a husband 00:41:42.200 --> 00:41:43.380 and this wife goes 00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:43.960 to that husband 00:41:43.960 --> 00:41:45.020 and she brings somebody else 00:41:45.020 --> 00:41:45.520 to that husband, 00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:46.679 which requires 00:41:46.679 --> 00:41:47.860 a tremendous amount 00:41:47.860 --> 00:41:48.340 of courage, 00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:49.360 and then brings in 00:41:49.360 --> 00:41:51.139 her church to this situation, 00:41:51.139 --> 00:41:52.099 and the husband 00:41:52.099 --> 00:41:53.380 still is resistant, 00:41:53.679 --> 00:41:55.280 he does not want to confess 00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:56.840 or admit his wrong, 00:41:57.219 --> 00:41:58.380 that church now has 00:41:58.380 --> 00:41:58.860 the liberty 00:41:58.860 --> 00:41:59.900 to put him out. 00:42:00.679 --> 00:42:01.579 And all of a sudden, 00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:02.320 we find ourselves 00:42:02.320 --> 00:42:03.259 in a new situation. 00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:06.579 Because according to the church, 00:42:06.800 --> 00:42:07.940 that man is considered 00:42:07.940 --> 00:42:08.699 as an outsider, 00:42:08.940 --> 00:42:09.780 as an unbeliever. 00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:12.220 And now we're looking 00:42:12.220 --> 00:42:13.740 at 1 Corinthians 7.15 00:42:13.740 --> 00:42:14.760 as a real possibility 00:42:14.760 --> 00:42:16.040 if he leaves his wife. 00:42:18.800 --> 00:42:19.900 So Matthew 19 00:42:19.900 --> 00:42:21.600 doesn't provide the answer 00:42:21.600 --> 00:42:22.720 for a woman 00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:23.820 who's beaten by her husband. 00:42:23.900 --> 00:42:24.720 It's wrong. 00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:27.320 Matthew 18 does. 00:42:30.720 --> 00:42:31.700 Here's what would happen 00:42:31.700 --> 00:42:32.180 in our church 00:42:32.180 --> 00:42:33.160 if a sister came up 00:42:33.160 --> 00:42:33.880 to one of the elders 00:42:33.880 --> 00:42:34.380 and says, 00:42:34.780 --> 00:42:35.780 hey, my husband 00:42:35.780 --> 00:42:37.100 has not been listening to me 00:42:37.100 --> 00:42:39.460 and he's physically hurting me. 00:42:39.780 --> 00:42:40.600 Do you know what we would do? 00:42:41.460 --> 00:42:42.380 We would immediately 00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:43.080 take action. 00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:45.180 We would relocate that woman 00:42:45.180 --> 00:42:46.140 into a safe place 00:42:46.140 --> 00:42:46.820 with her children 00:42:46.820 --> 00:42:49.060 and we would confront the man. 00:42:49.700 --> 00:42:50.600 And we would go to him 00:42:50.600 --> 00:42:50.980 and we would say, 00:42:51.340 --> 00:42:53.019 you're breaking your vows, brother. 00:42:53.320 --> 00:42:54.180 What are you doing? 00:42:54.280 --> 00:42:55.340 We'd gather information 00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:57.019 and then we'd call him to repent. 00:42:57.400 --> 00:42:58.460 That's what we would do. 00:43:00.220 --> 00:43:01.280 But the desire 00:43:01.280 --> 00:43:03.840 is to bring about 00:43:03.840 --> 00:43:05.640 repentance 00:43:05.640 --> 00:43:07.280 and restoration. 00:43:09.780 --> 00:43:13.360 man, this opens up 00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:14.680 a whole lot of things, 00:43:14.740 --> 00:43:15.140 doesn't it? 00:43:19.840 --> 00:43:21.019 In 1907, 00:43:21.880 --> 00:43:23.640 the Pharisees asked Jesus, 00:43:25.320 --> 00:43:29.440 why then did Moses 00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:30.140 command one 00:43:30.140 --> 00:43:30.900 to give a certificate 00:43:30.900 --> 00:43:31.460 of divorce 00:43:31.460 --> 00:43:32.340 and send her away? 00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:33.900 And Jesus' response 00:43:33.900 --> 00:43:34.840 in 18 and 9, 00:43:35.120 --> 00:43:36.300 19, 8 and 9 is, 00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:38.320 Deuteronomy 24, 00:43:38.440 --> 00:43:38.820 1 through 4 00:43:38.820 --> 00:43:40.059 is not a command of God, 00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:41.760 it's but a concession of God. 00:43:41.840 --> 00:43:43.660 The only grounds for divorce 00:43:43.660 --> 00:43:44.940 is sexual immorality 00:43:44.940 --> 00:43:46.480 and the only other exception 00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:48.000 is when a Christian spouse 00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:48.500 is abandoned 00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:49.900 by an unbelieving spouse. 00:43:51.360 --> 00:43:52.579 And might I add this, 00:43:54.660 --> 00:43:56.760 when Jesus gives permission 00:43:56.760 --> 00:43:58.960 for one spouse 00:43:58.960 --> 00:44:00.140 to divorce another, 00:44:00.820 --> 00:44:02.080 he's giving permission 00:44:02.080 --> 00:44:02.920 to that spouse 00:44:02.920 --> 00:44:03.760 to remarry. 00:44:04.200 --> 00:44:05.300 And here's how 00:44:05.300 --> 00:44:06.800 I ground that. 00:44:07.400 --> 00:44:08.240 If you look at 00:44:08.240 --> 00:44:09.140 verse 19, 00:44:10.140 --> 00:44:13.560 chapter 19, 00:44:13.660 --> 00:44:14.360 verse 9, 00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:15.480 and I say to you, 00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:16.760 whoever divorces 00:44:16.760 --> 00:44:17.340 his wife 00:44:17.340 --> 00:44:19.500 except for sexual immorality 00:44:19.500 --> 00:44:20.420 and marries another 00:44:20.420 --> 00:44:21.500 commits adultery. 00:44:21.820 --> 00:44:23.680 That exception clause 00:44:23.680 --> 00:44:25.040 not only applies 00:44:25.039 --> 00:44:25.900 to divorce, 00:44:26.259 --> 00:44:27.800 it also applies 00:44:27.800 --> 00:44:29.219 to marrying another. 00:44:31.159 --> 00:44:32.719 It addresses both. 00:44:34.239 --> 00:44:35.480 If there's freedom 00:44:35.480 --> 00:44:36.500 to divorce, 00:44:36.679 --> 00:44:37.420 there's freedom 00:44:37.420 --> 00:44:38.259 to remarry. 00:44:42.420 --> 00:44:43.420 We've looked at 00:44:43.420 --> 00:44:44.059 what Jesus says 00:44:44.059 --> 00:44:44.739 about marriage. 00:44:45.599 --> 00:44:46.559 We've looked at 00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:47.219 what Jesus says 00:44:47.219 --> 00:44:48.259 about divorce 00:44:48.259 --> 00:44:50.559 and the exception 00:44:50.559 --> 00:44:52.800 for divorce. 00:44:53.659 --> 00:44:54.980 In verses 10, 00:44:55.039 --> 00:44:56.500 through 12, 00:44:56.759 --> 00:44:57.920 Jesus addresses 00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:58.480 the issue 00:44:58.480 --> 00:44:59.179 of singleness. 00:44:59.420 --> 00:45:00.159 I don't have time 00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:00.759 to go there. 00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:03.139 But let me just close 00:45:03.139 --> 00:45:03.840 by giving you 00:45:03.840 --> 00:45:04.860 a summary 00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:06.480 of Jesus' teaching 00:45:06.480 --> 00:45:07.119 and we'll close 00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:07.980 on that this morning. 00:45:12.779 --> 00:45:14.119 Here are seven points 00:45:14.119 --> 00:45:14.719 that summarize 00:45:14.719 --> 00:45:15.599 Jesus' teaching 00:45:15.599 --> 00:45:16.119 on marriage, 00:45:16.440 --> 00:45:16.759 divorce, 00:45:16.860 --> 00:45:17.460 and remarriage. 00:45:18.139 --> 00:45:18.759 And I'm just gonna 00:45:18.759 --> 00:45:20.579 just rat-a-tat-tat 00:45:20.579 --> 00:45:21.259 right on through. 00:45:21.260 --> 00:45:25.080 Jesus raises 00:45:25.080 --> 00:45:25.680 the standard 00:45:25.680 --> 00:45:26.300 of marriage. 00:45:27.240 --> 00:45:28.080 He reminds us 00:45:28.080 --> 00:45:29.560 of the true nature 00:45:29.560 --> 00:45:30.420 of marriage. 00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:31.780 It's God joining 00:45:31.780 --> 00:45:32.420 one man 00:45:32.420 --> 00:45:33.200 and one woman 00:45:33.200 --> 00:45:33.980 in a lifelong 00:45:33.980 --> 00:45:35.040 one-flesh union. 00:45:36.520 --> 00:45:37.880 He reminds us 00:45:37.880 --> 00:45:38.540 that marriage 00:45:38.540 --> 00:45:39.280 is sacred. 00:45:40.700 --> 00:45:41.760 God joining 00:45:41.760 --> 00:45:42.260 one man 00:45:42.260 --> 00:45:42.860 and one woman. 00:45:43.540 --> 00:45:44.500 That's the first 00:45:44.500 --> 00:45:45.260 point of summary. 00:45:45.600 --> 00:45:46.700 Second is this. 00:45:47.279 --> 00:45:48.980 Jesus clearly states 00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:49.679 that divorce 00:45:49.679 --> 00:45:50.579 is always 00:45:50.579 --> 00:45:51.719 the result of sin. 00:45:51.879 --> 00:45:52.739 It's the product 00:45:52.739 --> 00:45:54.159 of the hardness 00:45:54.159 --> 00:45:55.739 of a human heart. 00:45:56.480 --> 00:45:57.879 It's a concession, 00:45:58.239 --> 00:45:59.500 not a command. 00:46:00.319 --> 00:46:01.899 Divorce is always 00:46:01.899 --> 00:46:03.500 the result of sin. 00:46:04.039 --> 00:46:05.480 That's the second summary. 00:46:06.119 --> 00:46:07.219 The third summary 00:46:07.219 --> 00:46:07.899 is this. 00:46:09.279 --> 00:46:10.460 Though divorce 00:46:10.460 --> 00:46:11.279 is always 00:46:11.279 --> 00:46:12.500 the result of sin, 00:46:13.279 --> 00:46:14.739 not all divorce 00:46:14.739 --> 00:46:15.439 proceedings 00:46:15.439 --> 00:46:16.519 are sinful. 00:46:16.699 --> 00:46:18.599 The Bible 00:46:18.599 --> 00:46:19.659 permits divorce 00:46:19.659 --> 00:46:20.419 when there's been 00:46:20.419 --> 00:46:21.799 sexual immorality 00:46:21.799 --> 00:46:22.739 or when a Christian 00:46:22.739 --> 00:46:23.480 spouse is 00:46:23.480 --> 00:46:24.219 abandoned 00:46:24.219 --> 00:46:25.859 by an unbeliever. 00:46:26.559 --> 00:46:27.480 In that case, 00:46:28.039 --> 00:46:29.079 though there's sin 00:46:29.079 --> 00:46:30.519 causing the divorce, 00:46:30.899 --> 00:46:32.460 the divorce itself 00:46:32.460 --> 00:46:33.559 is permitted 00:46:33.559 --> 00:46:34.119 by God. 00:46:36.699 --> 00:46:37.460 Four, 00:46:37.639 --> 00:46:38.119 when divorce 00:46:38.719 --> 00:46:39.739 has not been 00:46:39.739 --> 00:46:40.239 permitted 00:46:40.239 --> 00:46:41.219 because there are 00:46:41.219 --> 00:46:42.359 no biblical grounds, 00:46:42.739 --> 00:46:43.500 a subsequent 00:46:43.500 --> 00:46:44.939 marriage to someone 00:46:44.939 --> 00:46:45.599 other than 00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:46.819 the original spouse 00:46:46.819 --> 00:46:48.880 results in adultery. 00:46:49.559 --> 00:46:50.420 532, 00:46:50.900 --> 00:46:51.500 99, 00:46:52.059 --> 00:46:52.960 Mark 10. 00:46:54.759 --> 00:46:55.679 Five, 00:46:55.920 --> 00:46:56.779 when divorce 00:46:56.779 --> 00:46:57.599 is permitted 00:46:57.599 --> 00:46:58.799 because it has 00:46:58.799 --> 00:46:59.759 biblical grounds, 00:47:00.380 --> 00:47:01.179 remarriage 00:47:01.179 --> 00:47:02.880 is also permitted. 00:47:03.639 --> 00:47:05.019 The exception clause 00:47:05.019 --> 00:47:06.279 that applies to 00:47:06.279 --> 00:47:07.139 divorce 00:47:07.139 --> 00:47:08.299 applies to 00:47:08.299 --> 00:47:09.079 remarriage. 00:47:10.259 --> 00:47:10.900 Six, 00:47:11.559 --> 00:47:12.599 improperly 00:47:12.599 --> 00:47:13.380 divorced and 00:47:13.380 --> 00:47:14.360 remarried Christians 00:47:14.360 --> 00:47:15.659 should stay 00:47:15.659 --> 00:47:17.400 as they are 00:47:17.400 --> 00:47:18.639 but repent 00:47:18.639 --> 00:47:19.699 and seek 00:47:19.699 --> 00:47:20.239 forgiveness 00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:21.819 making peace 00:47:21.819 --> 00:47:22.599 as God 00:47:22.599 --> 00:47:23.179 allows 00:47:23.179 --> 00:47:24.339 and use 00:47:24.339 --> 00:47:25.219 their singleness 00:47:25.219 --> 00:47:26.159 for the sake 00:47:26.159 --> 00:47:26.799 of the kingdom 00:47:26.799 --> 00:47:28.119 to bring glory 00:47:28.119 --> 00:47:28.639 to God. 00:47:29.119 --> 00:47:29.900 Jesus says 00:47:29.900 --> 00:47:31.360 that's legit 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:32.099 which brings me 00:47:32.099 --> 00:47:32.940 to point seven. 00:47:34.059 --> 00:47:34.400 Singleness 00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:35.299 is a legitimate 00:47:35.299 --> 00:47:36.679 God-pleasing 00:47:36.679 --> 00:47:37.880 way forward. 00:47:37.880 --> 00:47:39.500 If you find 00:47:39.500 --> 00:47:40.039 yourself 00:47:40.039 --> 00:47:41.000 single, 00:47:42.260 --> 00:47:42.900 Jesus says 00:47:42.900 --> 00:47:43.400 you're in good 00:47:43.400 --> 00:47:43.860 company 00:47:43.860 --> 00:47:46.019 because he himself 00:47:46.019 --> 00:47:47.780 was single 00:47:47.780 --> 00:47:48.700 for the sake 00:47:48.700 --> 00:47:49.920 of the kingdom 00:47:49.920 --> 00:47:51.160 and to forego 00:47:51.160 --> 00:47:52.200 a one-flesh union 00:47:52.200 --> 00:47:52.740 for the sake 00:47:52.740 --> 00:47:53.340 of the kingdom 00:47:53.340 --> 00:47:55.019 according to Jesus 00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:57.000 that's legit. 00:48:00.320 --> 00:48:01.579 There is one 00:48:01.579 --> 00:48:03.420 point of application 00:48:03.420 --> 00:48:04.280 I would just like 00:48:04.280 --> 00:48:04.640 to say 00:48:04.640 --> 00:48:05.519 for all of us. 00:48:05.519 --> 00:48:09.000 make that too. 00:48:11.460 --> 00:48:12.199 In light of 00:48:12.199 --> 00:48:12.800 everything that 00:48:12.800 --> 00:48:13.460 Jesus said here 00:48:13.460 --> 00:48:14.119 and he has said 00:48:14.119 --> 00:48:14.500 a lot 00:48:14.500 --> 00:48:15.000 and I haven't 00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:15.840 covered all of it 00:48:15.840 --> 00:48:18.679 we extend grace. 00:48:20.300 --> 00:48:21.320 We extend grace 00:48:21.320 --> 00:48:21.860 to one another. 00:48:23.119 --> 00:48:23.840 We're slow 00:48:23.840 --> 00:48:24.400 to judge 00:48:24.400 --> 00:48:26.000 quick to listen. 00:48:26.860 --> 00:48:27.940 We graciously 00:48:27.940 --> 00:48:29.259 meet people 00:48:29.259 --> 00:48:30.000 where they are. 00:48:30.599 --> 00:48:31.280 We graciously 00:48:31.280 --> 00:48:32.239 disagree with people 00:48:32.239 --> 00:48:32.940 who have a different 00:48:32.940 --> 00:48:33.400 point of view 00:48:33.400 --> 00:48:33.840 than us. 00:48:33.840 --> 00:48:36.280 we graciously 00:48:36.280 --> 00:48:37.860 wade into 00:48:37.860 --> 00:48:39.340 difficult situation 00:48:39.340 --> 00:48:39.940 when God 00:48:39.940 --> 00:48:40.740 saves someone 00:48:40.740 --> 00:48:41.280 in the middle 00:48:41.280 --> 00:48:41.800 of a hard 00:48:41.800 --> 00:48:42.640 marriage situation. 00:48:43.180 --> 00:48:44.600 We graciously 00:48:44.600 --> 00:48:45.660 meet them there 00:48:45.660 --> 00:48:46.900 and walk 00:48:46.900 --> 00:48:47.400 with them 00:48:47.400 --> 00:48:50.000 and we extend 00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:50.700 grace to one 00:48:50.700 --> 00:48:51.380 another because 00:48:51.380 --> 00:48:52.620 hey we all 00:48:52.620 --> 00:48:53.300 make mistakes 00:48:53.300 --> 00:48:53.760 don't we? 00:48:53.760 --> 00:48:58.540 we all make 00:48:58.540 --> 00:48:59.040 mistakes. 00:49:00.740 --> 00:49:01.720 There are those 00:49:01.720 --> 00:49:02.320 of us in this 00:49:02.320 --> 00:49:02.880 room who look 00:49:02.880 --> 00:49:03.760 back on our 00:49:03.760 --> 00:49:04.840 lives and look 00:49:04.840 --> 00:49:06.020 at past divorces 00:49:06.020 --> 00:49:06.840 and remarriages 00:49:06.840 --> 00:49:08.300 and it is 00:49:08.300 --> 00:49:09.720 heavy hearted 00:49:09.720 --> 00:49:10.240 stuff. 00:49:11.740 --> 00:49:12.840 We love you. 00:49:13.800 --> 00:49:14.580 We're glad 00:49:14.580 --> 00:49:15.060 you're here. 00:49:15.920 --> 00:49:16.540 We're glad 00:49:16.540 --> 00:49:16.940 that we get 00:49:16.940 --> 00:49:17.780 to follow Jesus 00:49:17.780 --> 00:49:18.280 together 00:49:18.280 --> 00:49:19.720 as you are 00:49:19.720 --> 00:49:20.800 together 00:49:20.800 --> 00:49:21.200 now. 00:49:22.560 --> 00:49:23.400 We extend 00:49:23.400 --> 00:49:24.240 grace to each 00:49:24.240 --> 00:49:24.500 other. 00:49:28.060 --> 00:49:28.519 Ultimately 00:49:28.519 --> 00:49:28.980 it's about 00:49:28.980 --> 00:49:29.420 Jesus. 00:49:31.480 --> 00:49:32.140 We're not 00:49:32.140 --> 00:49:32.660 looking to win 00:49:32.660 --> 00:49:33.340 people to our 00:49:33.340 --> 00:49:33.960 position on 00:49:33.960 --> 00:49:34.360 marriage. 00:49:34.360 --> 00:49:35.060 Our greatest 00:49:35.060 --> 00:49:36.680 desire is for 00:49:36.680 --> 00:49:37.320 people to become 00:49:37.320 --> 00:49:38.140 followers of 00:49:38.140 --> 00:49:38.840 Jesus and 00:49:38.840 --> 00:49:39.760 experience the 00:49:39.760 --> 00:49:40.920 transforming power 00:49:40.920 --> 00:49:42.100 of his grace, 00:49:42.740 --> 00:49:43.300 forgiveness, 00:49:44.760 --> 00:49:45.340 restoration, 00:49:46.440 --> 00:49:46.960 hope. 00:49:46.960 --> 00:49:48.900 it's ultimately 00:49:48.900 --> 00:49:50.720 about Jesus. 00:49:53.659 --> 00:49:54.699 At the end of 00:49:54.699 --> 00:49:55.460 Matthew Jesus 00:49:55.460 --> 00:49:56.340 says go make 00:49:56.340 --> 00:49:57.139 disciples of the 00:49:57.139 --> 00:49:59.340 nations teaching 00:49:59.340 --> 00:50:00.079 them to observe 00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:00.740 all that I've 00:50:00.740 --> 00:50:02.579 commanded and 00:50:02.579 --> 00:50:03.300 that includes 00:50:03.300 --> 00:50:04.380 what he commands 00:50:04.380 --> 00:50:05.000 in Matthew 00:50:05.000 --> 00:50:07.079 19 1 00:50:07.079 --> 00:50:08.820 through 12. 00:50:09.559 --> 00:50:10.599 Let me leave 00:50:10.599 --> 00:50:11.260 you with this. 00:50:12.820 --> 00:50:13.720 If you're going 00:50:13.720 --> 00:50:14.420 to remember one 00:50:14.420 --> 00:50:16.559 thing from this 00:50:16.559 --> 00:50:17.779 sermon I want 00:50:17.779 --> 00:50:18.480 it to be 00:50:18.480 --> 00:50:19.299 something Jesus 00:50:19.299 --> 00:50:20.119 himself has 00:50:20.119 --> 00:50:21.340 said and 00:50:21.340 --> 00:50:21.940 it's this. 00:50:24.599 --> 00:50:25.900 What God has 00:50:25.900 --> 00:50:26.940 joined together 00:50:26.940 --> 00:50:30.400 let not man 00:50:30.400 --> 00:50:31.519 separate. 00:50:32.599 --> 00:50:33.299 Let's pray 00:50:33.299 --> 00:50:33.679 together. 00:50:37.719 --> 00:50:38.940 Oh God in 00:50:38.940 --> 00:50:42.179 heaven I just 00:50:42.179 --> 00:50:43.039 feel the scale 00:50:43.039 --> 00:50:44.159 of this but I 00:50:44.159 --> 00:50:45.019 am so grateful 00:50:45.019 --> 00:50:46.219 for your word 00:50:46.219 --> 00:50:48.099 and God I do 00:50:48.099 --> 00:50:49.019 pray that you 00:50:49.019 --> 00:50:49.820 would help us 00:50:49.820 --> 00:50:50.739 your people live 00:50:50.739 --> 00:50:51.440 in light of your 00:50:51.440 --> 00:50:52.119 word and be 00:50:52.119 --> 00:50:53.739 courageous and 00:50:53.739 --> 00:50:55.280 standing on your 00:50:55.280 --> 00:50:57.280 word and that we 00:50:57.280 --> 00:50:58.019 would allow your 00:50:58.019 --> 00:50:59.480 word to direct our 00:50:59.480 --> 00:51:00.039 lives. 00:51:00.500 --> 00:51:01.360 God I pray for 00:51:01.360 --> 00:51:02.320 those in the room 00:51:02.320 --> 00:51:03.059 who may be 00:51:03.059 --> 00:51:03.679 experiencing 00:51:03.679 --> 00:51:06.059 condemnation for 00:51:06.059 --> 00:51:08.059 past mistakes and 00:51:08.059 --> 00:51:08.500 sins. 00:51:08.659 --> 00:51:09.480 God would you 00:51:09.480 --> 00:51:10.880 remind them that 00:51:10.880 --> 00:51:12.280 in Christ they are 00:51:12.280 --> 00:51:12.880 forgiven. 00:51:12.880 --> 00:51:14.500 that this is done 00:51:14.500 --> 00:51:15.480 paid for on the 00:51:15.480 --> 00:51:17.059 cross and that 00:51:17.059 --> 00:51:17.920 now you call them 00:51:17.920 --> 00:51:19.559 to follow you. 00:51:21.480 --> 00:51:22.579 God I do pray 00:51:22.579 --> 00:51:23.200 that you would 00:51:23.200 --> 00:51:24.500 save people from 00:51:24.500 --> 00:51:25.480 this city who are 00:51:25.480 --> 00:51:26.980 in messy marriages 00:51:26.980 --> 00:51:28.760 and that you 00:51:28.760 --> 00:51:30.280 would bring them 00:51:30.280 --> 00:51:30.860 along. 00:51:32.099 --> 00:51:32.660 Help them to 00:51:32.660 --> 00:51:34.119 trust you and to 00:51:34.119 --> 00:51:35.079 obey you Lord 00:51:35.079 --> 00:51:35.480 Jesus. 00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:38.039 And I pray God 00:51:38.039 --> 00:51:38.820 that we would be a 00:51:38.820 --> 00:51:39.640 people that would be 00:51:39.640 --> 00:51:40.800 quick to show grace 00:51:40.800 --> 00:51:41.860 to each other. 00:51:43.160 --> 00:51:44.000 Understanding each 00:51:44.000 --> 00:51:44.280 other. 00:51:45.500 --> 00:51:46.660 Long suffering with 00:51:46.660 --> 00:51:47.180 one another. 00:51:48.660 --> 00:51:49.480 Bearing with one 00:51:49.480 --> 00:51:49.780 another. 00:51:51.220 --> 00:51:52.140 God thank you for 00:51:52.140 --> 00:51:52.720 your grace. 00:51:53.760 --> 00:51:54.460 Thank you for your 00:51:54.460 --> 00:51:54.860 forgiveness. 00:51:55.760 --> 00:51:56.640 In Jesus name. 00:51:57.920 --> 00:51:58.220 Amen. 00:52:10.800 --> 00:52:20.039 to heaven. 00:52:20.039 --> 00:52:50.019 Thank you.