WEBVTT

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 Please open your Bibles with me to Matthew chapter 19.

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 If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand.

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 We'd love to give you a copy of it you can use.

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 For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sean.

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 I'm one of the pastors of Trinity Campus Church along with Ed.

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 It's my great joy and privilege to preach God's word to you this morning.

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 We're in Matthew 19.

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 Verses 1 to 12.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 I come to this pulpit with fear and trembling.

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 How can it be, Lord, that you

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 entrust your eternal, infallible word?

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 Lord,

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 to people like us.

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 Lord,

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 help me to say only what you want me to say.

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 And give all those who are here

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 years to hear,

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 hearts to understand,

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 humility to receive and obey all that you have for us in your word.

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 and we ask, God, that you would magnify the love of Christ,

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 your son,

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 Lord,

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 our bridegroom,

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 our Lord and Savior,

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 that we may walk away from this worship gathering with the deeper knowledge and experience of the love of Christ.

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 Lord,

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 address us now from your word.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Please stand, if you're able,

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 to honor God as we read from his word.

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 Matthew 19,

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 1 through 12.

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 Now,

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 when Jesus had finished these sayings,

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 he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

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 And large crowds followed him,

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 and he healed them there.

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 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking,

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 Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?

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 He answered,

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 Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?

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 And said,

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 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife,

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 and the two shall become one flesh.

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 So they are no longer two,

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 but one flesh.

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 What, therefore,

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 God has joined together,

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 let not man separate.

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 They said to him,

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 Why, then,

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 did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?

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 He said to them,

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 Because of your hardness of heart,

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 Moses allowed you to divorce your wives,

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 but from the beginning it was not so.

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 And I say to you,

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 Whoever divorces his wife,

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 except for sexual immorality,

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 and marries another,

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 commits adultery.

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 The disciples said to him,

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 If such is the case of a man with his wife,

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 it is better not to marry.

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 But he said to them,

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 Not everyone can receive this saying,

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 but only those to whom it is given.

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 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth,

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 and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men,

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 and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

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 Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Please be seated.

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 According to Wilkinson and Thinkbainer,

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 a specialized law firm focusing on family law and divorce,

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 based here in Massachusetts,

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 41% of all first marriages end in divorce.

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 41%.

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 If you think,

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 Well,

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 if you don't get it right the first time,

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 anyone can get it wrong the first time.

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 If at first you don't succeed,

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 then try,

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 try again.

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 Right?

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 Second marriage is fair,

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 no better.

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 60% of all second marriages end in divorce.

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 If you think,

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 Well,

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 the third time is the charm.

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 Then think again.

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 Because 73% of third marriages end in divorce.

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 The more times you get married,

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 the higher the chance that you'll get divorced.

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 In the U.S.,

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 there's a divorce every 42 seconds.

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 In the time that it takes for a couple that's getting married to recite their marriage vows,

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 approximately two minutes,

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 there will be three divorces.

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 But these numbers alone don't tell the full story.

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 Think of all the estranged relationships,

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 the broken hearts,

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 the shattered dreams,

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 the disrupted lives,

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 and financial hardship,

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 and fatherless or motherless children

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 that these numbers represent.

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 And yet,

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 despite all the damage that the world,

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 the flesh,

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 and the devil have done to this sacred institution of marriage,

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 that dream of marriage continues.

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 Every 16 seconds,

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 a couple in the U.S. gets married.

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 Every year,

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 over 2 million people get married in our country.

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 The late pastor Tim Keller put it well in his book,

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 The Meaning of Marriage.

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 To be loved,

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 but not known,

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 is comforting,

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 but superficial.

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 To be known and not loved,

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 is our greatest fear.

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 But to be fully known and truly loved,

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 is,

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 well,

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 a lot like being loved by God.

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 It is what we need,

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 more than anything.

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 And that is precisely what people seek in marriage.

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 To be fully known,

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 with all your faults,

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 and all your foibles,

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 and all your idiosyncrasies,

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 and all your blemishes,

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 and yet to be truly loved.

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 To be fully seen,

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 and yet not rejected.

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 To be naked,

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 yet unashamed.

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 But is it possible?

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 Not only is it possible,

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 according to Jesus,

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 it is imperative

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 that we form marriages like this as Christians.

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 Not perfectly,

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 of course,

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 but nonetheless,

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 truly,

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 obedient Christians' marriages

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 can reflect Christ's covenantal relationship

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 with his church.

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 And that's my point this morning.

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 Whether in singular devotion

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 or lifelong marriage,

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 we ought to portray our union with Christ.

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 First,

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 I'm going to talk about marriage.

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 Secondly,

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 I'll talk about divorce.

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 And third,

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 I'll talk about singleness.

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 Verse 1 reminds us

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 where we are

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 in the narrative of Jesus' journey.

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 This is now,

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 when Jesus had finished these sayings,

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 he went away from Galilee

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 and entered the region of Judea

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 beyond the Jordan.

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 The clause,

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 when Jesus had finished these sayings,

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 is a key programmatic line

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 in the Gospel of Matthew.

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 I've mentioned to you multiple times

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 in this series

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 that the book is divided

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 into five major sayings

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 or five major discourses by Jesus.

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 And at the end of each discourse,

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 you find this

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 nearly identical concluding statement,

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 when Jesus had finished these sayings.

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 And this is now the final time

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 that Jesus leaves Galilee

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 and now he is going toward Jerusalem

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 where he has predicted twice already

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 and he will predict once more

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 that he's going to suffer and die

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 for the sins of his people.

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 Jesus knows that that's where he's headed.

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 He is going to Jerusalem right now.

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 But even as he is headed there,

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 he is crowded by people

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 who are looking to be ministered to by him,

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 people who want healing from him.

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 And yet, even as he faces death in the face,

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 even as he is going ineluctably toward the cross,

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 even with all those things on his mind,

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 Jesus is not preoccupied with self-pity.

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 He compassionately gives himself to serve others

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 and he heals all those who come to him.

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 But as is often the case,

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 when you become an object of people's acclaim

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 and admiration,

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 you also become an object of people's envy

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 and rivalry.

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 So it says in verse three,

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 The word test is the same word

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 that is translated sometimes as tempt.

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 It's the word that was used earlier

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 in Matthew chapter four

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 to describe the devil tempting Jesus.

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 It's the same word that Jesus used

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 to rebuke the devil

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 by citing Deuteronomy 6.16,

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 you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.

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 And remarkably, throughout the gospel,

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 the only people who are the subjects

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 of this verb test

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 are the devil and the Pharisees.

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 They're the ones who want to see Jesus fail.

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 They're the ones who want to see Jesus

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 fall flat on his face.

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 The Pharisees and the Sadducees

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 came to test Jesus earlier

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 in chapter 16, verse one,

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 and they'll plot again

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 to entangle Jesus in his words

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 and test him in chapter 22, verse 18,

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 chapter 22, verse 35.

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 As they're doing here.

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 And little do they know

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 that they are in fact

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 putting the Lord their God

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 to the test

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 because Jesus is the Son of God.

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 They're not seeking to learn from Jesus

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 by asking this question.

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 They're trying to test him

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 by deliberately broaching

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 a controversial hot button issue

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 that they think they can use

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 to pigeonhole Jesus

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 and discredit him.

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 It's possible that Jesus' opponents here,

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 the Pharisees,

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 have already heard

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 his earlier teaching on divorce

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 from chapter five, verse 31 and 32.

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 There, Jesus put forward

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 an extremely high standard for marriage.

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 He quoted Deuteronomy 24, verse one,

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 saying it was also said,

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 whoever divorces his wife,

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 let him give her a certificate of divorce.

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 That's Deuteronomy 24, one.

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 And then audaciously,

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 right after saying that,

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 Jesus set his own teaching

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 up against the Old Testament law

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 as a contrast,

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 as an antithesis,

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 saying,

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 you have heard this

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 from the Old Testament,

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 but I say to you

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 that everyone who divorces his wife

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 except on the ground

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 of sexual immorality

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 makes her commit adultery,

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 and whoever marries a divorced woman

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 commits adultery.

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 This is a staggering claim

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 of Jesus' divine teaching authority.

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 How does Jesus think

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 that he can overturn

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 nearly two millennia

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 of legal precedents

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 and interpretive traditions

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 surrounding the Old Testament law?

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 Moreover, the law of Moses

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 is no mere human law.

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 It is the law given by God himself.

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 It's divine law.

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 Who can give a definitive take

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 on God's law?

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 Only God can do that.

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 And that's exactly

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 what Jesus is claiming.

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 He's the Son of God.

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 It seems likely

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 that the Pharisees

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 had caught wind

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 of Jesus' controversial

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 teaching there.

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 He had cited Deuteronomy 24, one,

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 and then set it aside

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 to put forward

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 a more definitive fulfillment

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 of that

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 in the standard that he gave.

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 And so later,

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 in verse seven,

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 the Pharisees themselves

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 will cite Deuteronomy 24, one.

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 And they're saying,

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 in essence,

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 to Jesus,

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 you had the gall

00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:47.379
 to contradict Moses,

00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:47.860
 did you?

00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:51.620
 Oh, now we've got you cornered.

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:55.200
 Now we can finally expose you

00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.159
 as a charlatan

00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.620
 and for the false teacher

00:12:58.620 --> 00:12:59.139
 that you are.

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.480
 So these Pharisees

00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.379
 come with that attitude

00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:02.279
 to test him

00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:02.800
 by asking,

00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:03.580
 is it lawful

00:13:03.580 --> 00:13:04.580
 to divorce one's wife

00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:05.480
 for any cause?

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:08.320
 Many historians note

00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.580
 that in those days,

00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:11.580
 there was a contentious debate

00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:13.440
 between two Jewish

00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:14.860
 rabbinical schools of thought.

00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:17.240
 Shammai and Hillel

00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.420
 were both contemporaries

00:13:18.420 --> 00:13:18.980
 of Jesus

00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:21.039
 and they were reputable rabbis

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.340
 with sizable followings.

00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:24.139
 The school of Shammai

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.899
 was the more conservative school,

00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:27.420
 the more strict of the two,

00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:28.720
 and they taught

00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.000
 that a man may not

00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:30.860
 divorce his wife

00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.200
 unless he has found

00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:33.600
 unchastity in her.

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:36.879
 They disallowed divorce

00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.019
 for every case

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.040
 except some kind

00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:40.139
 of sexual unfaithfulness

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.040
 and unchastity

00:13:41.040 --> 00:13:42.580
 and in that case,

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.320
 they allowed Jews

00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:43.940
 to divorce

00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:45.560
 and to remarry.

00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:48.480
 The school of Hillel,

00:13:48.560 --> 00:13:49.139
 on the other hand,

00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.100
 was the more liberal

00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:51.220
 and permissive school

00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:51.580
 of thought.

00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:52.580
 They taught that a man

00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.659
 may divorce his wife

00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:55.740
 even if she spoiled

00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.860
 a dish for him.

00:13:58.580 --> 00:14:00.259
 You put sugar

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.920
 in my dish

00:14:01.920 --> 00:14:02.779
 instead of salt?

00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:05.340
 Here,

00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:06.060
 here's your certificate

00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:06.480
 of divorce.

00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:11.399
 This more permissive view,

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.800
 as is often the case

00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:13.500
 in the sinful world,

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.980
 was the more popular view

00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:16.240
 among the common people.

00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:19.300
 The Pharisees likely

00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:20.940
 have this contemporary debate

00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.879
 in their minds

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.060
 when they pose this question.

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:24.060
 What do you say,

00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:24.759
 Rabbi Jesus?

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.800
 Who do you side with,

00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:27.700
 Shammai or Hillel?

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.540
 Give us your hot take.

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.779
 We have heard you have

00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:32.000
 quite the controversial opinion

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.600
 on this matter.

00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:34.940
 They want to lure Jesus

00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:35.639
 into this debate

00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:36.539
 so they could trap him

00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.299
 in his words.

00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:39.000
 But Jesus,

00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:40.059
 as he always does,

00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:41.740
 rises above the fray.

00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:43.620
 He is no interest

00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.659
 in siding with Shammai

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.159
 or Hillel.

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.960
 There's only one party

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.799
 that he is interested

00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:49.000
 in being aligned with,

00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.759
 and that is God.

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.700
 Jesus answers in verse 4,

00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.840
 have you not read

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.520
 that he who created them

00:14:55.520 --> 00:14:56.140
 from the beginning

00:14:56.140 --> 00:14:58.620
 made them male and female?

00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:03.000
 In Joshua 5.13,

00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:03.900
 when Joshua,

00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.240
 during the conquest of Canaan,

00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:06.340
 sees the angelic being

00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:07.360
 with the drawn sword

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:07.920
 in his hand,

00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.560
 he asks him,

00:15:08.640 --> 00:15:09.820
 are you for us

00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:12.440
 or are you for our adversaries?

00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:14.340
 But the angel of the Lord

00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:14.840
 answers,

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:15.680
 no,

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.940
 not either.

00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:19.560
 No,

00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:20.859
 but I am the commander

00:15:20.859 --> 00:15:21.919
 of the Lord's army.

00:15:25.219 --> 00:15:26.259
 During the Civil War,

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.619
 someone asked Abraham Lincoln

00:15:27.619 --> 00:15:28.419
 if he believed

00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:29.739
 God was on his side,

00:15:30.239 --> 00:15:31.439
 to which Lincoln answered,

00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:31.719
 sir,

00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.439
 my concern is not

00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:35.000
 whether God is on our side.

00:15:35.739 --> 00:15:36.819
 My greatest concern

00:15:36.819 --> 00:15:38.619
 is to be on God's side,

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:40.099
 for God is always right.

00:15:41.599 --> 00:15:43.099
 When you find yourself

00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:45.459
 embroiled in fierce debates

00:15:45.459 --> 00:15:46.279
 in our culture

00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.179
 between conservatives

00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:48.319
 and liberals

00:15:48.319 --> 00:15:49.019
 and Republicans,

00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:49.620
 Democrats

00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:51.079
 and black and white

00:15:51.079 --> 00:15:51.659
 and Catholics

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.500
 and Protestants,

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:54.000
 Baptists and Presbyterians,

00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:55.840
 cessations and continuationists

00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:56.799
 and complementarians

00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:58.100
 and egalitarians,

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.419
 don't just ask yourself

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.939
 whether a person's view

00:16:00.939 --> 00:16:01.860
 or a person

00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.579
 that you're talking to

00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:05.319
 is aligned with your tribe

00:16:05.319 --> 00:16:06.759
 or your party or not.

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:07.600
 Instead,

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.679
 always ask yourself,

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.919
 what does God

00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:11.100
 have to say about this matter?

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.779
 How does God's word

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:14.639
 bear on this issue?

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.699
 That's what Jesus does.

00:16:17.699 --> 00:16:18.960
 Have you not read

00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:19.560
 God's word?

00:16:19.560 --> 00:16:22.280
 He goes right back to Scripture,

00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:24.019
 right back to Genesis 1, 27.

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:26.600
 Make it your highest concern

00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:27.320
 to be in agreement

00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.180
 with God,

00:16:28.280 --> 00:16:29.139
 not with men,

00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:30.680
 because God is always right.

00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:46.959
 God took a rib from Adam's side

00:16:46.959 --> 00:16:47.859
 and out of it

00:16:47.859 --> 00:16:49.000
 he fashioned Eve

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:51.099
 to be a helpmate for Adam.

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:52.399
 Therefore,

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.820
 for that reason,

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.300
 it says,

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.620
 a man shall leave

00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.500
 his father and his mother

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.920
 and hold fast to his wife

00:16:57.920 --> 00:16:59.200
 and they shall become one flesh.

00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.940
 The woman literally means

00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:02.399
 was taken out of man

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:02.920
 in Hebrew

00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:04.579
 and therefore she will be

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:06.039
 reunited with man

00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.599
 in marriage

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:08.000
 and they become one flesh.

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.360
 The bone of my bones

00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:10.460
 and the flesh of my flesh

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.680
 fused back together,

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.299
 so to speak.

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.640
 God created mankind

00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.180
 as male and female,

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:16.980
 right,

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.839
 two complementary sexes

00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:20.639
 precisely for this reason.

00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:23.579
 The word hold fast

00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:25.419
 describes a man

00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.259
 cleaving to

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.919
 or sticking to his wife

00:17:27.919 --> 00:17:30.240
 like how flesh sticks to bone.

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.399
 It comes from a word

00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.299
 that means glue

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:35.579
 or some kind of adhesive.

00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:38.279
 That same Hebrew word,

00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:39.819
 the root word in that Hebrew

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:41.659
 is used in Isaiah 41, 7

00:17:41.659 --> 00:17:43.659
 to refer to a metal worker

00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:46.059
 who welds metals together.

00:17:47.639 --> 00:17:48.539
 In other words,

00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.819
 God describes

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:51.339
 the one flesh union

00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:52.519
 between a husband and wife

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:54.480
 in the strongest possible terms.

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:55.799
 God himself,

00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:56.419
 so to speak,

00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.339
 takes the hammer

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.539
 and anvil

00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:00.500
 and forges marriages

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.519
 when it happens

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.759
 between a man and a woman.

00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.759
 Weld it together.

00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:09.439
 Then Jesus draws out

00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:10.679
 the ethical implications

00:18:10.679 --> 00:18:11.579
 of that union

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.259
 in verse 6.

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.199
 So they are no longer two

00:18:14.199 --> 00:18:16.259
 but one flesh.

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:18.059
 What therefore God

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:19.039
 has joined together,

00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:20.819
 let not man separate.

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.879
 Once the two are joined,

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.240
 they are one flesh

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.079
 and divorcing

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:26.379
 is like tearing apart

00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.359
 a single body,

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.740
 limb from limb.

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.500
 It's mutilation.

00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.339
 And this joining together

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:34.839
 in marriage

00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:35.879
 was not the doing

00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:36.579
 of a mere man.

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:36.960
 It says,

00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:38.140
 What therefore God

00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:38.940
 has joined together,

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:40.259
 let not man separate.

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.059
 Separate.

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:44.079
 Marriage must be conferred.

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:46.119
 It must be bestowed.

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:49.160
 Marriage is no mere affection

00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:50.180
 or passion.

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:53.759
 It's not mere passion

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.379
 or love

00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:56.359
 that makes a couple married.

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:58.079
 It's not cohabitation

00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:59.980
 that makes a couple married.

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.859
 It's not even

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:02.359
 the legal marriage certificate

00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:04.859
 that makes the two people married.

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.640
 Because all governing authorities

00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.960
 are instituted by God

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:09.559
 and ultimately subject to God.

00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.539
 It is ultimately God

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:13.379
 who makes marriage.

00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:16.299
 Takes a man and a woman

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:17.039
 and makes them married.

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.559
 This is an unflinching,

00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:22.399
 unapologetic teaching

00:19:22.399 --> 00:19:23.559
 on the indissolubility

00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.460
 of marriage

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:27.279
 according to the will of God.

00:19:28.419 --> 00:19:29.359
 What therefore God

00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.099
 has joined together,

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.619
 let not man separate.

00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:35.099
 Citing various human authorities

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:37.619
 to justify unbiblical divorce

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.939
 is like a student

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:40.839
 who fails to turn in his homework

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.739
 and then says to his teacher,

00:19:41.859 --> 00:19:42.899
 well that other student told me

00:19:42.899 --> 00:19:43.779
 I don't have to turn it in.

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:46.239
 Who cares what the other student said?

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.179
 This is what the teacher said.

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.779
 The marital bond is permanent.

00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:54.739
 It is lifelong.

00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:55.839
 It's because marriage

00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:56.899
 is a binding covenant.

00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.859
 Look at the strong terms

00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.919
 in which God denounces

00:20:00.919 --> 00:20:02.339
 the divorce habits

00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.439
 of his people Israel,

00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.279
 the nation of Judah,

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:06.599
 in Malachi 2, 13 to 16.

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:09.079
 He says that God refuses

00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:10.940
 to accept their sacrificial offerings.

00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:12.079
 Why, they ask?

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:14.299
 Because the Lord was witness

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.619
 between you and the wife

00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.379
 of your youth

00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:18.500
 to whom you have been faithless.

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.500
 Though she is your companion

00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:22.039
 and your wife by covenant,

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:24.019
 did he not make them one

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:26.019
 with the portion of the spirit

00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.819
 in their union?

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:29.399
 And what was the one God's,

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:31.799
 and what was the one God's seeking?

00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:33.180
 Godly offspring.

00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.779
 So guard yourselves

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.420
 in your spirit

00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:36.440
 and let none of you

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.620
 be faithless to the wife

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.200
 of your youth.

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.600
 For the man who does not

00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:40.480
 love his wife

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.539
 but divorces her,

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.220
 says the Lord,

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.320
 the God of Israel,

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.779
 covers his garment

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.620
 with violence,

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.660
 says the Lord of hosts.

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.820
 God himself

00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:51.420
 has made the husband

00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:52.380
 and wife one

00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:53.360
 by giving them

00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:54.900
 a portion of the spirit

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.060
 of God in their union.

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.039
 Isn't that remarkable?

00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:00.539
 For this reason,

00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:01.680
 the one who does not

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.900
 love his wife,

00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:04.720
 and in the Hebrew,

00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:05.160
 it's literally

00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:06.759
 the one who hates his wife

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:08.180
 and divorces her,

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.180
 covers his own garment

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.100
 with the violence

00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:12.500
 he has done to her

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.400
 by divorcing her.

00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:18.000
 No matter all the pretense

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.440
 nowadays

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:21.500
 about amicable divorces,

00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:24.220
 don't all divorce

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.960
 ultimately stem from

00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:27.140
 hatred of one's spouse?

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.720
 That's what Deuteronomy 24.3

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.660
 implies as well.

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.580
 It says that if the wife's husband

00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:35.540
 hates her

00:21:35.540 --> 00:21:37.140
 and writes a certificate

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.780
 of divorce,

00:21:38.780 --> 00:21:39.759
 that's what you're saying

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.660
 when you divorce someone.

00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:42.000
 I can't stand

00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.140
 to live with you anymore.

00:21:44.560 --> 00:21:46.120
 I don't love you anymore.

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:48.140
 I want to end this.

00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:52.000
 A man who hates his wife

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.759
 and divorces her

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.380
 does a kind of

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:55.200
 spiritual violence to her,

00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:56.820
 tearing apart

00:21:56.820 --> 00:21:57.900
 that one flesh union

00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.279
 forged by the spirit of God.

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:02.080
 And she who forsakes

00:22:02.080 --> 00:22:03.779
 the covenant of her youth

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:05.680
 forgets the covenant

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.880
 of her God,

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:09.340
 it says in Proverbs 2,

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:09.940
 verse 17.

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:13.740
 This unbreakability

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:15.000
 or indissolubility

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.800
 of marriage

00:22:15.800 --> 00:22:16.860
 is a hallmark

00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:18.300
 of all covenants.

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.740
 Galatians 3.15 says,

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:22.920
 even with a man-made covenant,

00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:24.960
 no one annuls it

00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.100
 or adds to it

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:27.440
 once it has been ratified.

00:22:28.800 --> 00:22:29.960
 How much more than

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.920
 for a God-made covenant

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.620
 of marriage?

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:37.240
 Does anything then

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.440
 dissolve the marital bond?

00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:41.799
 Romans 7,

00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:43.019
 1-3 says this,

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:44.120
 do you not know,

00:22:44.320 --> 00:22:44.519
 brothers,

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.400
 that the law

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.600
 is binding on a person

00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:48.299
 only as long as he lives?

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.759
 For a married woman

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:52.240
 is bound by law

00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.900
 to her husband

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.080
 while he lives,

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.360
 but if her husband dies,

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.180
 she is released

00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:57.299
 from the law of marriage.

00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.340
 Accordingly,

00:22:58.340 --> 00:22:58.940
 she will be called

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.740
 an adulteress

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.980
 if she lives with another man

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:02.279
 while her husband is alive,

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.900
 but if her husband dies,

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.200
 she is free from that law,

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.460
 and if she marries another man,

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.559
 she is not an adulteress.

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.980
 There is one thing

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:11.660
 that frees the married party

00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:12.900
 from the covenant bond

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.340
 of marriage,

00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.299
 and that is death.

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.340
 Notice how the Apostle Paul

00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.259
 does not even mention

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.400
 divorce in this context.

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.500
 We in our modern context

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.440
 tend to assume,

00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:24.579
 well, of course,

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.880
 divorce dissolves the marriage,

00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:28.700
 but that possibility

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.460
 doesn't even occur

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.079
 in this context.

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.660
 Only death dissolves

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.480
 the marriage bond.

00:23:34.320 --> 00:23:35.279
 1 Corinthians 7

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.540
 is also very explicit

00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:37.200
 in this regard.

00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:38.100
 The whole chapter

00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:39.000
 deals with principles

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.600
 for singleness in marriage

00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:41.820
 and divorce and remarriage,

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.740
 and 1 Corinthians 7, 39

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:45.380
 says a wife is bound

00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.180
 to her husband

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.740
 as long as he lives.

00:23:49.300 --> 00:23:49.960
 Notice the language

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:51.240
 of binding again.

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.640
 That's the technical term

00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.360
 that conveys

00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:54.560
 the indissolubility

00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:55.440
 of marriage,

00:23:55.840 --> 00:23:57.100
 and notice once again

00:23:57.100 --> 00:23:57.960
 the one thing

00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:59.120
 that makes the husband

00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:00.440
 or wife unbound

00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.600
 is the death

00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:02.900
 of his or her spouse.

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.019
 The verse continues,

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.900
 but if her husband dies,

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.420
 she is free to be married

00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.380
 to whom she wishes

00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:10.559
 only in the Lord.

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.940
 Paul says explicitly here

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:15.559
 that Christians ought to marry

00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.880
 only in the Lord,

00:24:17.320 --> 00:24:18.360
 meaning other Christians.

00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:21.820
 If you marry an unbeliever,

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.640
 you're not merely

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:24.840
 disregarding my pastoral advice

00:24:24.840 --> 00:24:26.299
 or Ed's pastoral advice.

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.299
 You are disobeying

00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:28.320
 the commandment of God.

00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.920
 And notice once again

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.779
 that the option

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.820
 of remarriage

00:24:33.820 --> 00:24:35.320
 only opens up

00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:37.059
 once your spouse dies.

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.820
 Widows and widowers

00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:39.539
 may remarry,

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:39.940
 it says.

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.660
 When it comes

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.680
 to divorcees,

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.059
 however,

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.740
 Paul says this

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.740
 in 1 Corinthians 7,

00:24:46.820 --> 00:24:47.500
 10 to 11,

00:24:47.500 --> 00:25:06.819
 Paul is not naive.

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:09.279
 He adds the conditional caveat,

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:11.379
 but if she does divorce,

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:13.200
 because he knows well

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.659
 the sinful depravity

00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:15.159
 of our world

00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:15.700
 and the hardness

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.579
 of the human heart,

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:18.319
 this is not God's will.

00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.700
 And yet,

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:20.659
 Paul acknowledges

00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:21.759
 that divorces happen,

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.879
 whether it's for something grave

00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:25.539
 like sexual infidelity,

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.200
 abuse,

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.519
 or something frivolous.

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:33.019
 But even if she does

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.039
 separate from her husband,

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.440
 even if she divorces him,

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:35.900
 Paul adds,

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.619
 she should remain unmarried

00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:39.420
 or else be reconciled

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:39.900
 to her husband.

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.879
 In the case of widows

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.440
 and widowers,

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.900
 Paul expressly says

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:46.400
 they are free to remarry.

00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.940
 But in the case of divorcees,

00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.160
 Paul expressly says

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:52.059
 they should remain unmarried

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:54.359
 or be reconciled

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.000
 to their spouse.

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:57.740
 Only remarriage option

00:25:57.740 --> 00:26:00.000
 that remains to divorcees

00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:02.059
 is not really a remarriage

00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.240
 at all in a sense

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.619
 because it's being reconciled

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.599
 to your original spouse.

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.680
 And the reasoning seems to be

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:09.319
 that remarriage to another

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:11.380
 shuts the door completely

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:12.359
 on the possibility

00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:13.119
 of reconciliation.

00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:16.859
 For Christians,

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.799
 reconciliation,

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.680
 not divorce and remarriage,

00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.980
 is supposed to be the norm.

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:24.359
 Paul also specifically addresses

00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.939
 the situation

00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:26.240
 when a Christian

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.799
 already finds him or herself

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:29.019
 married to a non-Christian.

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.779
 What should they do then?

00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:33.179
 Since we're not supposed

00:26:33.179 --> 00:26:34.759
 to be marrying unbelievers,

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.740
 should you then divorce

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.919
 your unbelieving spouse?

00:26:38.479 --> 00:26:39.879
 It says in 1 Corinthians 7,

00:26:39.979 --> 00:26:40.779
 12 to 15,

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.599
 if any brother has a wife

00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.979
 who is an unbeliever

00:26:43.979 --> 00:26:45.419
 and she consents

00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.259
 to live with him,

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:48.199
 he should not divorce her.

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.240
 If any woman has a husband

00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:51.479
 who is an unbeliever

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.480
 and he consents

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.319
 to live with her,

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:55.019
 she should not divorce him.

00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:56.559
 But if the unbelieving

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.640
 partner separates,

00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:58.720
 let it be so.

00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.180
 In such cases,

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.059
 the brother or sister

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:02.319
 is not enslaved.

00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:05.339
 Even when a Christian

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:07.000
 is married to a non-Christian,

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:09.539
 marriage is such a sacred thing.

00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.380
 He says that you should

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.180
 not divorce them.

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.140
 However,

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:15.620
 if the unbelieving spouse

00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.240
 separates,

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.440
 and that word consistently

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.400
 refers to divorce

00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.340
 in this chapter,

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.940
 because people who were

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:22.060
 separated were told

00:27:22.060 --> 00:27:23.080
 to remain unmarried,

00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:23.960
 the word separate here

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.560
 means divorce,

00:27:26.780 --> 00:27:28.640
 if an unbelieving spouse

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:30.300
 divorces you,

00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:32.180
 then he says,

00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:32.759
 let it be.

00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:35.140
 With that said,

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.240
 if an unbelieving spouse

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.240
 abandons you,

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.400
 if he hooks up

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.080
 with another woman

00:27:40.080 --> 00:27:41.140
 and moves out

00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:42.800
 and starts living with her,

00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.280
 instead,

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.440
 even if they're not

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.580
 divorcing you legally,

00:27:45.780 --> 00:27:47.120
 I think that is in practice

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:47.879
 what they're doing.

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.959
 You may not be divorced

00:27:50.959 --> 00:27:51.679
 de jure,

00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.879
 but you are divorced

00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:53.359
 de facto.

00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:55.739
 And I think in such cases,

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:57.359
 divorce is allowed.

00:27:58.239 --> 00:27:58.919
 That's why I think

00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.599
 Paul mentions it

00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.479
 in 1 Corinthians 7.

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:04.319
 This is why historically

00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.259
 Reformed Christians

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:08.439
 have cited two grounds

00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:08.979
 for divorce,

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:09.599
 biblical grounds

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:10.119
 for divorce,

00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:12.459
 and one is sexual immorality

00:28:12.459 --> 00:28:13.659
 and the other is desertion

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:15.459
 by an unbeliever,

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.039
 being divorced

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.819
 by an unbeliever.

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.459
 It's really odd

00:28:18.459 --> 00:28:19.479
 to call them grounds

00:28:19.479 --> 00:28:20.379
 for divorce, however,

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.919
 because this is really

00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:22.359
 a situation

00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:23.279
 where you have no choice.

00:28:26.879 --> 00:28:27.619
 Paul says,

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.459
 in such cases,

00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.179
 the brother or sister

00:28:29.179 --> 00:28:30.119
 is not enslaved.

00:28:31.459 --> 00:28:32.679
 Some people take this

00:28:32.679 --> 00:28:33.599
 to mean that the Christian

00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.659
 who has been divorced

00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:36.119
 by a non-Christian

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.859
 in this manner

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:38.439
 is free to remarry.

00:28:39.719 --> 00:28:40.119
 However,

00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:40.919
 it's important to note

00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:42.239
 that Paul does not use

00:28:42.239 --> 00:28:43.259
 the technical term

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.099
 for the dissolution

00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:44.859
 of marriage here.

00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:46.740
 He does not say

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.559
 that they are free

00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:48.199
 to be married

00:28:48.199 --> 00:28:48.879
 like he did

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:49.579
 for the widows

00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:50.219
 in verse 39.

00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:52.159
 He does not say

00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:53.299
 that they are not bound,

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.719
 which is a technical term.

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.359
 He says instead

00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.699
 that they are not enslaved.

00:28:58.699 --> 00:28:59.399
 And I think that

00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:00.559
 different word choice

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.079
 is deliberate.

00:29:01.939 --> 00:29:02.839
 Paul is not saying

00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:03.419
 that a Christian

00:29:03.419 --> 00:29:04.339
 who has been divorced

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.419
 by a non-Christian spouse

00:29:05.419 --> 00:29:06.799
 is free to remarry.

00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.119
 He's merely saying

00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:08.819
 that even though

00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.979
 he just told them

00:29:09.979 --> 00:29:11.479
 in the strongest terms

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.319
 that they should not

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.019
 be divorced,

00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:16.000
 even from an unbelieving spouse,

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:18.059
 if your unbelieving spouse

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.480
 is the one

00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.680
 that's divorcing you,

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:21.360
 then let it be so.

00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.440
 You're not enslaved

00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.140
 to the command

00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:24.059
 that I've given you

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:25.360
 to preserve that marriage.

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:29.039
 Don't insist

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.920
 on being chained

00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:31.460
 to your unbelieving spouse

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.920
 who wants to divorce you.

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.299
 We can expect

00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:37.039
 a Christian,

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.759
 a fellow Christian

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:39.039
 to repent of his sins

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.640
 or her sins

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.920
 and seek forgiveness

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:42.500
 and to pursue reconciliation.

00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.880
 But how can you do that

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.540
 for an unbeliever

00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:46.500
 who does not subscribe

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.860
 to your ethical standards

00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.800
 according to the word of God?

00:29:51.780 --> 00:29:52.700
 So then this verse,

00:29:52.800 --> 00:29:53.700
 I don't think it has permission

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:55.020
 to remarry in view at all.

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.360
 And the testimony

00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.500
 of all these passages

00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:59.240
 are consistent.

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:02.860
 Only death dissolves

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.660
 the marriage bond.

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.759
 Therefore widows may remarry

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:07.020
 but divorcees may not.

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:10.599
 For added credibility,

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:12.379
 Paul adds the parenthetical remark,

00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.680
 not I,

00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.700
 but the Lord

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.980
 in verses 10 to 11.

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.940
 Saying that it's not him

00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.720
 who's saying this

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:20.000
 but the Lord Jesus himself

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.879
 who gave the command

00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:22.119
 not to divorce.

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.500
 And if you do,

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.539
 to remain unmarried

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.400
 or else be reconciled

00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:26.019
 to your spouse.

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.599
 That's verses 10 to 11.

00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:29.039
 This is not because

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.900
 what Paul writes

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.920
 is not authoritative.

00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:32.579
 Paul is an apostle of God.

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.240
 What he writes

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.259
 is authoritative

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.339
 for all believers.

00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:37.119
 But rather what's going on

00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:38.480
 is that these Corinthian believers

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.659
 as we know from the context

00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:40.220
 of the letters

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:41.319
 were questioning

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:42.179
 and challenging

00:30:42.179 --> 00:30:44.119
 Paul's apostolic credentials

00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.740
 as we see

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:46.099
 in 1 Corinthians chapter 9.

00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.759
 So Paul is saying

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.539
 you won't take my word for it?

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:51.339
 You doubt my apostolic authority?

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:51.720
 Well,

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.779
 this isn't even just me.

00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:54.839
 I'm just relaying to you

00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:57.240
 what our Lord Jesus himself said.

00:31:00.439 --> 00:31:02.240
 And did Jesus really teach that?

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.680
 Yes.

00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.880
 Look at Mark 10,

00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:06.720
 11 to 12.

00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.720
 Whoever divorces his wife

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.519
 and marries another

00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:12.259
 commits adultery against her.

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:14.660
 And if she divorces her husband

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.620
 and marries another,

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.680
 she commits adultery.

00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:19.519
 Luke 16, 18.

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.859
 Everyone who divorces his wife

00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.660
 and marries another

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.579
 commits adultery.

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:25.400
 And he who marries a woman

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.500
 divorced from her husband

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.240
 commits adultery.

00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.839
 Adultery.

00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:32.079
 And Luke 16, 18

00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:33.039
 for added effect

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.039
 comes immediately

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.440
 after Jesus saying

00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.799
 that it is easier

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.960
 for heaven and earth

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.900
 to pass away

00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:40.299
 than for one dot

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.019
 of the law

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.920
 to become void.

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.559
 And then Jesus

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:46.640
 is using the indissolubility

00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.519
 of marriage

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.700
 as an illustration

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.640
 of the fact

00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.799
 that not one word

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.400
 of God's law

00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:52.200
 can become void.

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:56.019
 Think about how stark

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.059
 and clear

00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:58.080
 these verses are.

00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.559
 What is adultery?

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:02.059
 Adultery is voluntary

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.400
 sexual relations

00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.799
 between a married person

00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.460
 and someone

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.740
 who is not his

00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:08.160
 or her lawful spouse.

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.200
 In our society,

00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:12.160
 when a man divorces his wife

00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.420
 and marries another,

00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:15.840
 we don't call that divorce.

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.759
 We call that remarriage.

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:22.940
 I'm sorry,

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.740
 I misspoke there.

00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:24.960
 If you,

00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.619
 if you,

00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.839
 if in our society

00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:27.980
 when a man divorces his wife

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.700
 and marries another,

00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:31.379
 we don't call that adultery.

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:33.920
 We call that remarriage.

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:37.160
 So why

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:40.220
 does Jesus call it adultery?

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:42.379
 He got divorced.

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.660
 That marriage is gone.

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.359
 He marries another person.

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.220
 Why is that divorce?

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.200
 It's only,

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.900
 it's only adultery

00:32:49.900 --> 00:32:52.700
 if you're still married

00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:54.539
 and you have sexual relations

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:54.860
 with someone

00:32:54.860 --> 00:32:55.660
 who is not your spouse.

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.339
 The,

00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:59.059
 the only logical conclusion

00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:00.000
 we can arrive at

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.600
 from this

00:33:00.600 --> 00:33:01.779
 is that remarriage

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.900
 after divorce

00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:04.279
 is adultery

00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:05.200
 according to Jesus

00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:07.360
 because while adultery

00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:09.720
 breaks the marriage vow,

00:33:10.600 --> 00:33:12.440
 it does not break

00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:13.400
 the marriage bond.

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:21.519
 the covenant of marriage

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.680
 can be defiled,

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.480
 yes,

00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:25.380
 but it cannot be dissolved.

00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.820
 For this reason,

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.360
 the man who divorced his wife

00:33:29.360 --> 00:33:30.540
 is still married

00:33:30.540 --> 00:33:31.700
 in the eyes of God

00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:33.400
 and vice versa.

00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:37.100
 this should strike us,

00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:37.500
 I think,

00:33:37.620 --> 00:33:39.019
 strike us as a holy fear

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.500
 of God,

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:41.240
 of his inviolable word.

00:33:42.820 --> 00:33:44.840
 As Jesus says in John 10, 35,

00:33:45.040 --> 00:33:47.560
 scripture cannot be broken.

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:47.899
 I think,

00:33:47.899 --> 00:33:52.019
 I think,

00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:52.659
 in our culture,

00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:54.240
 we've lost the sense of honor

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:55.240
 of being a man

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.720
 or a woman

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:57.139
 of his or her word.

00:33:58.099 --> 00:34:00.619
 Being like Psalm 14 says,

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.480
 to be people

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.299
 who fear God,

00:34:02.399 --> 00:34:02.859
 fear the Lord,

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.500
 and therefore,

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.159
 are willing to,

00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.119
 who swear

00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:07.259
 to their own hurt,

00:34:08.299 --> 00:34:09.320
 who keep their word

00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:10.299
 even when it hurts them.

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:13.740
 When God declares

00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.460
 a man and a woman

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.200
 husband and wife,

00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:17.160
 he forges an unbreakable bond

00:34:17.160 --> 00:34:18.240
 that endures for life.

00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:19.200
 This is why

00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:20.280
 traditional Christian

00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:21.060
 wedding vows

00:34:21.060 --> 00:34:22.720
 have always said,

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.300
 I take you

00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:25.680
 to have and to hold

00:34:25.680 --> 00:34:26.720
 from this day forward

00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.300
 for better,

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:27.900
 for worse,

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.380
 for richer,

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.039
 for poorer,

00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:30.660
 in sickness and in health,

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:32.039
 to love and to cherish

00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:34.560
 until death do us part.

00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:38.539
 Or in alternate renditions,

00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:40.120
 as long as we both

00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.960
 shall live.

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.739
 Isn't that what

00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:44.619
 we all long for?

00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:48.319
 To be fully known

00:34:48.319 --> 00:34:49.920
 and truly loved.

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:53.079
 To mess up

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:54.279
 but to be forgiven again.

00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:56.079
 To be accepted again.

00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:58.759
 To have someone

00:34:58.759 --> 00:34:59.519
 who loves us

00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:00.000
 and is committed

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:01.380
 to us unreservedly.

00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:03.259
 Come what may,

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.159
 hardship,

00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:05.420
 heartache,

00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:07.019
 sin and brokenness,

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:08.139
 I will stick by you

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:08.719
 and love you

00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:09.359
 till the end.

00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:10.920
 Isn't that what

00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.960
 covenantal love is?

00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.699
 Covenantal love

00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.739
 has at its heart

00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.639
 the idea of

00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:18.460
 constancy and sacrifice

00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:19.299
 that makes the other

00:35:19.299 --> 00:35:20.380
 person the focal point

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.319
 of your affection

00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:22.480
 and service and love.

00:35:24.219 --> 00:35:24.880
 Contrast that

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:26.599
 with the contractual love

00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:27.119
 of our age

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.819
 which has at its heart

00:35:28.819 --> 00:35:30.559
 the idea of personal fulfillment

00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.920
 and individual happiness

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.920
 which says,

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:34.099
 as long as you

00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:35.680
 are meeting my needs,

00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:36.820
 as long as you

00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:38.139
 are making me happy,

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.300
 I'll love you.

00:35:42.180 --> 00:35:43.260
 And as soon as there's

00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:44.619
 no personal benefit

00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.099
 to begin,

00:35:45.220 --> 00:35:46.420
 then the relationship

00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:47.059
 is terminated.

00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:50.480
 I wish people

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.259
 who think like that

00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:52.420
 would change

00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:53.380
 their wedding vows

00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.360
 to make it more accurate.

00:35:56.279 --> 00:35:57.400
 I take you

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.239
 to be my wife,

00:35:58.320 --> 00:35:59.159
 to have and to hold

00:35:59.159 --> 00:36:00.519
 until

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:02.219
 you get poor,

00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:02.639
 sick,

00:36:02.779 --> 00:36:03.059
 ugly,

00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:04.559
 or do me any wrong

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.480
 or simply stop

00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.219
 making me happy.

00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.239
 Where's the love

00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:12.699
 in that?

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:16.639
 Where's the sacrifice?

00:36:17.259 --> 00:36:17.919
 The commitment?

00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.039
 That's not the kind

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.619
 of love God

00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.500
 has shown us

00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.279
 in Christ.

00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:25.299
 Let's return

00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:25.859
 to our passage

00:36:25.859 --> 00:36:26.619
 in Matthew 19.

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:27.539
 So far in verses

00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:28.099
 3 to 6,

00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:28.779
 Jesus has said

00:36:28.779 --> 00:36:29.839
 in the clearest terms

00:36:29.839 --> 00:36:30.579
 that marriage

00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:31.559
 is binding for life

00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.000
 and that God

00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:32.899
 does not want us

00:36:32.899 --> 00:36:33.359
 to divorce.

00:36:33.899 --> 00:36:34.779
 I think we're reading

00:36:34.779 --> 00:36:35.419
 that correctly

00:36:35.419 --> 00:36:37.079
 because that's exactly

00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:38.099
 how the Pharisees

00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:38.899
 understand Jesus.

00:36:40.919 --> 00:36:41.919
 But there is

00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:43.240
 on the surface

00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.320
 a discrepancy

00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:45.780
 between the indissolubility

00:36:45.780 --> 00:36:46.220
 of marriage

00:36:46.220 --> 00:36:47.420
 that Jesus teaches here

00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:49.000
 and the Old Testament

00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:49.700
 case law

00:36:49.700 --> 00:36:50.639
 regarding divorce.

00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:52.240
 And the Pharisees

00:36:52.240 --> 00:36:53.320
 harp on that

00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:54.200
 contradiction

00:36:54.200 --> 00:36:54.720
 and they say,

00:36:54.820 --> 00:36:54.980
 aha!

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:57.280
 We thought you

00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:58.139
 might say this.

00:36:58.700 --> 00:36:59.019
 Gotcha.

00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:01.019
 Verse 7.

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:02.039
 Why then

00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:03.099
 did Moses command

00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:03.639
 one to give

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:04.579
 a certificate of divorce

00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.460
 and to send her away?

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:07.240
 But Jesus

00:37:07.240 --> 00:37:08.099
 doesn't lose a beat.

00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:09.780
 He says in verse 8,

00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.639
 because of your

00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.740
 hardness of heart,

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:13.039
 Moses allowed you

00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:13.900
 to divorce your wives,

00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:14.740
 but from the beginning

00:37:14.740 --> 00:37:15.840
 it was not so.

00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:17.780
 Divorce was

00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:19.480
 a temporary provision

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.659
 for a broken,

00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:22.200
 fallen world.

00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:23.880
 A concession

00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:25.139
 to the hardness

00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:26.340
 of the human heart

00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:27.980
 intended to mitigate

00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:29.200
 human failure

00:37:29.200 --> 00:37:30.059
 and evil

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:31.559
 not to establish

00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:32.659
 the divine standard.

00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:36.220
 The provision

00:37:36.220 --> 00:37:37.099
 for a certificate

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:37.780
 of divorce

00:37:37.780 --> 00:37:39.039
 served to protect

00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:40.240
 vulnerable women

00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:41.059
 from being

00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:41.939
 taken advantage

00:37:41.939 --> 00:37:42.339
 of.

00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:43.799
 When sinful men

00:37:43.799 --> 00:37:45.019
 divorce their wives

00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:45.619
 when they should

00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:46.199
 not have,

00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:47.619
 they were required

00:37:47.619 --> 00:37:48.119
 to provide

00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:48.719
 a certificate

00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:49.339
 of divorce,

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:50.359
 which in a sense

00:37:50.359 --> 00:37:51.219
 is like a clean

00:37:51.219 --> 00:37:52.279
 bill of health,

00:37:52.359 --> 00:37:52.839
 so to speak,

00:37:52.979 --> 00:37:53.599
 so that she does

00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:54.399
 not come under

00:37:54.399 --> 00:37:55.579
 undue suspicion

00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:56.759
 and she is given

00:37:56.759 --> 00:37:57.779
 legal rights

00:37:57.779 --> 00:37:58.639
 so that she can

00:37:58.639 --> 00:37:59.219
 remarry

00:37:59.219 --> 00:38:00.399
 because apart

00:38:00.399 --> 00:38:01.399
 from that

00:38:01.399 --> 00:38:02.919
 in that day

00:38:02.919 --> 00:38:03.279
 and age,

00:38:03.399 --> 00:38:03.899
 she may not

00:38:03.899 --> 00:38:04.500
 have the means

00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.139
 to provide for

00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:06.059
 herself and survive.

00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:10.159
 I've used

00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:10.759
 this illustration

00:38:10.759 --> 00:38:11.139
 before,

00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.619
 but if you

00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:12.940
 deliver a box

00:38:12.940 --> 00:38:14.079
 of clean syringes

00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:14.840
 to a neighborhood

00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:15.759
 wracked by

00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:17.000
 drug addiction

00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:18.320
 so that people

00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:18.860
 don't kill

00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:19.920
 themselves using

00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:21.239
 contaminated syringes,

00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.480
 can those drug

00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:23.039
 addicts then

00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:23.599
 turn around

00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.420
 and claim to be

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.000
 law-abiding

00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:25.639
 citizens?

00:38:26.199 --> 00:38:26.559
 Oh, we're

00:38:26.559 --> 00:38:27.000
 law-abiding

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.380
 citizens.

00:38:27.579 --> 00:38:28.219
 Look at this.

00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:28.880
 Look at these

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.480
 syringes that we're

00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:29.719
 using.

00:38:29.799 --> 00:38:30.239
 They're provided

00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:30.820
 for by the

00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.139
 government.

00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:32.759
 No, of course

00:38:32.759 --> 00:38:33.119
 not.

00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:34.400
 They're still

00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.420
 doing illegal

00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:35.960
 drugs.

00:38:36.059 --> 00:38:38.460
 The syringes

00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:39.000
 are merely

00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:40.119
 a concession

00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:41.179
 to the human

00:38:41.179 --> 00:38:41.500
 evil,

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.159
 to mitigate

00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:43.380
 human evil,

00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:45.539
 not to establish

00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:46.099
 the ethical

00:38:46.099 --> 00:38:46.559
 standard.

00:38:49.079 --> 00:38:49.679
 Notice the

00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:50.880
 contrast between

00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:51.539
 the way the

00:38:51.539 --> 00:38:52.440
 Pharisees allude

00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:52.820
 to the law

00:38:52.820 --> 00:38:53.199
 of Moses

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:54.079
 in verse 7

00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:54.460
 and the way

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.179
 Jesus speaks

00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:55.539
 of it in

00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:55.980
 verse 8.

00:38:56.619 --> 00:38:57.259
 The Pharisees

00:38:57.259 --> 00:38:57.559
 say,

00:38:58.460 --> 00:38:59.119
 why then did

00:38:59.119 --> 00:39:00.360
 Moses command

00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:01.320
 one to give

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:01.880
 a certificate

00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:02.380
 of divorce

00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:02.860
 and to send

00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:03.279
 her away?

00:39:04.119 --> 00:39:04.619
 But Jesus

00:39:04.619 --> 00:39:05.239
 responds,

00:39:05.239 --> 00:39:06.259
 because of

00:39:06.259 --> 00:39:06.679
 your hardness

00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:07.119
 of heart,

00:39:07.299 --> 00:39:08.639
 Moses allowed

00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.779
 you to

00:39:09.779 --> 00:39:10.279
 divorce your

00:39:10.279 --> 00:39:10.659
 wives.

00:39:11.099 --> 00:39:11.699
 But from the

00:39:11.699 --> 00:39:12.019
 beginning,

00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:12.899
 it was not

00:39:12.899 --> 00:39:13.299
 so.

00:39:14.359 --> 00:39:14.819
 In the

00:39:14.819 --> 00:39:15.599
 original context

00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:16.099
 of Deuteronomy

00:39:16.099 --> 00:39:16.699
 24,

00:39:16.959 --> 00:39:17.539
 1 to 4,

00:39:17.619 --> 00:39:18.119
 the divorce

00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:19.199
 is described,

00:39:19.439 --> 00:39:20.379
 not prescribed.

00:39:21.859 --> 00:39:22.679
 The command

00:39:22.679 --> 00:39:23.359
 of the passage

00:39:23.359 --> 00:39:24.179
 is not to

00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:24.599
 divorce,

00:39:25.419 --> 00:39:25.959
 but that the

00:39:25.959 --> 00:39:26.819
 one who has

00:39:26.819 --> 00:39:27.519
 been divorced

00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:28.359
 and then

00:39:28.359 --> 00:39:28.899
 subsequently

00:39:28.899 --> 00:39:29.559
 remarries,

00:39:29.899 --> 00:39:30.439
 may not,

00:39:30.759 --> 00:39:31.500
 after that

00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:32.259
 marriage fails

00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:33.800
 or is widowed,

00:39:34.080 --> 00:39:34.780
 cannot return

00:39:34.780 --> 00:39:35.340
 to the first

00:39:35.340 --> 00:39:36.140
 original spouse.

00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:36.980
 That's the

00:39:36.980 --> 00:39:37.440
 command of

00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:37.740
 Deuteronomy

00:39:37.740 --> 00:39:38.140
 24,

00:39:38.220 --> 00:39:38.660
 verse 4.

00:39:39.280 --> 00:39:39.860
 A second

00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.340
 marriage

00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:41.340
 defiles the

00:39:41.340 --> 00:39:42.060
 original marriage

00:39:42.060 --> 00:39:42.780
 so that God

00:39:42.780 --> 00:39:43.480
 forbids

00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:44.900
 reunification

00:39:44.900 --> 00:39:45.380
 with the

00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:45.940
 first spouse.

00:39:46.700 --> 00:39:47.100
 So Jesus

00:39:47.100 --> 00:39:47.480
 is right.

00:39:47.600 --> 00:39:48.400
 Mosaic law

00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:49.500
 made concessions

00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:50.260
 to the reality

00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:50.840
 of divorce,

00:39:51.120 --> 00:39:51.780
 but it never

00:39:51.780 --> 00:39:52.300
 commanded

00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:52.860
 divorce.

00:39:54.220 --> 00:39:54.980
 God's command

00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:55.420
 from the

00:39:55.420 --> 00:39:55.760
 beginning

00:39:55.760 --> 00:39:56.700
 was not

00:39:56.700 --> 00:39:57.160
 so.

00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:59.719
 Then with

00:39:59.719 --> 00:40:00.480
 the formal

00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:01.460
 kind of

00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:03.039
 serious

00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:03.719
 gravity,

00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:04.279
 with the

00:40:04.279 --> 00:40:04.599
 formal

00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:05.379
 asseveration,

00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.359
 Jesus summarizes

00:40:06.359 --> 00:40:06.819
 his teaching

00:40:06.819 --> 00:40:07.139
 in Matthew

00:40:07.139 --> 00:40:07.519
 19,

00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:08.039
 verse 9.

00:40:08.659 --> 00:40:09.159
 And I

00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:09.659
 say to

00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:10.000
 you,

00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:10.639
 this is his

00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:11.139
 authoritative

00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:11.799
 pronouncement,

00:40:12.779 --> 00:40:13.039
 whoever

00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:13.899
 divorces his

00:40:13.899 --> 00:40:14.699
 wife except

00:40:14.699 --> 00:40:15.420
 for sexual

00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:15.920
 immorality

00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:16.440
 and marries

00:40:16.440 --> 00:40:17.279
 another commits

00:40:17.279 --> 00:40:17.960
 adultery.

00:40:19.399 --> 00:40:20.379
 This verse,

00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:21.519
 at first glance,

00:40:21.759 --> 00:40:22.299
 appears to

00:40:22.299 --> 00:40:22.899
 throw a wrench

00:40:22.899 --> 00:40:23.519
 into what Jesus

00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.099
 has been saying

00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:25.139
 all along about

00:40:25.139 --> 00:40:26.119
 the indissolubility

00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:26.619
 of marriage.

00:40:27.159 --> 00:40:29.379
 not only does

00:40:29.379 --> 00:40:29.980
 he seem to

00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:30.500
 say that

00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.079
 divorce is

00:40:31.079 --> 00:40:31.779
 allowed in

00:40:31.779 --> 00:40:32.239
 the case of

00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:33.039
 sexual immorality,

00:40:33.259 --> 00:40:34.179
 he also seems

00:40:34.179 --> 00:40:34.699
 to say that

00:40:34.699 --> 00:40:35.500
 remarriage is

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:36.619
 allowed if

00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.279
 the divorce

00:40:37.279 --> 00:40:37.940
 was due to

00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:38.819
 sexual immorality.

00:40:39.559 --> 00:40:39.799
 Whoever

00:40:39.799 --> 00:40:40.599
 divorces his

00:40:40.599 --> 00:40:41.019
 wife and

00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:41.579
 marries another

00:40:41.579 --> 00:40:42.599
 commits adultery,

00:40:42.739 --> 00:40:43.219
 that's easy

00:40:43.219 --> 00:40:43.539
 enough to

00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:43.960
 understand,

00:40:44.379 --> 00:40:45.199
 but what's

00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:45.460
 hard to

00:40:45.460 --> 00:40:45.899
 understand is

00:40:45.899 --> 00:40:46.460
 the exception

00:40:46.460 --> 00:40:46.819
 clause,

00:40:46.920 --> 00:40:47.739
 except for

00:40:47.739 --> 00:40:48.819
 sexual immorality.

00:40:50.139 --> 00:40:50.960
 Because that

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:51.759
 exception clause

00:40:51.759 --> 00:40:52.460
 sits between

00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:53.259
 whoever divorces

00:40:53.259 --> 00:40:54.259
 his wife and

00:40:54.259 --> 00:40:55.119
 marries another,

00:40:56.339 --> 00:40:56.899
 and because

00:40:56.900 --> 00:40:57.480
 it's the

00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:58.280
 remarriage that

00:40:58.280 --> 00:40:58.880
 constitutes

00:40:58.880 --> 00:40:59.460
 adultery,

00:40:59.960 --> 00:41:00.599
 many people

00:41:00.599 --> 00:41:01.519
 and most

00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:02.320
 interpreters

00:41:02.320 --> 00:41:02.860
 nowadays,

00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:03.820
 most evangelical

00:41:03.820 --> 00:41:05.019
 interpreters

00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:05.519
 nowadays,

00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:06.380
 take this to

00:41:06.380 --> 00:41:06.840
 mean that the

00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:07.660
 exception clause

00:41:07.660 --> 00:41:08.860
 must apply to

00:41:08.860 --> 00:41:09.420
 both the

00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:10.220
 divorce and

00:41:10.220 --> 00:41:10.820
 the remarriage.

00:41:11.680 --> 00:41:12.760
 Remarriage after

00:41:12.760 --> 00:41:13.300
 divorce is

00:41:13.300 --> 00:41:13.860
 adultery,

00:41:14.240 --> 00:41:15.579
 except if the

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:16.260
 divorce was

00:41:16.260 --> 00:41:16.960
 finalized on

00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:17.680
 the grounds of

00:41:17.680 --> 00:41:18.519
 sexual immorality.

00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:19.440
 Then the

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.340
 divorce is legal

00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:21.039
 and valid,

00:41:21.240 --> 00:41:21.840
 and therefore

00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:22.700
 subsequent marriage

00:41:22.700 --> 00:41:23.500
 is also legal

00:41:23.500 --> 00:41:24.000
 and valid.

00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:25.780
 that's the

00:41:25.780 --> 00:41:26.420
 majority view

00:41:26.420 --> 00:41:27.659
 of Protestant

00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:28.420
 scholars nowadays.

00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:30.719
 I would also

00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:32.199
 interpret verse

00:41:32.199 --> 00:41:33.440
 nine as they

00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:36.039
 do if this

00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:36.860
 were the

00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:37.559
 Bible's only

00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:38.199
 teaching on

00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:38.659
 divorce and

00:41:38.659 --> 00:41:39.079
 remarriage.

00:41:41.579 --> 00:41:42.340
 But it's

00:41:42.340 --> 00:41:42.639
 not.

00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:46.159
 First,

00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:48.000
 this flies in

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:48.400
 the face,

00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:49.039
 this interpretation

00:41:49.039 --> 00:41:49.639
 of verse nine

00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:50.679
 flies in the face

00:41:50.679 --> 00:41:51.880
 of all the

00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:52.480
 passages that

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:52.900
 we've looked at

00:41:52.900 --> 00:41:53.280
 so far.

00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:55.059
 Romans 7,

00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:55.679
 1-3,

00:41:55.920 --> 00:41:56.900
 1 Corinthians 7,

00:41:57.199 --> 00:41:57.699
 Mark 10,

00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:58.320
 11-12,

00:41:58.579 --> 00:41:59.239
 Luke 16,

00:41:59.300 --> 00:41:59.599
 18,

00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:00.960
 about how only

00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:01.840
 death dissolves

00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:02.280
 the marriage

00:42:02.280 --> 00:42:03.099
 covenant.

00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:04.420
 Second,

00:42:05.079 --> 00:42:06.139
 a good hermeneutical

00:42:06.139 --> 00:42:07.099
 interpreted principle

00:42:07.099 --> 00:42:07.900
 is that Scripture

00:42:07.900 --> 00:42:08.780
 interprets Scripture.

00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:11.840
 Even though the

00:42:11.840 --> 00:42:12.480
 Bible has many

00:42:12.480 --> 00:42:13.119
 human authors,

00:42:13.239 --> 00:42:14.039
 it also has a

00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:15.000
 single divine

00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:16.300
 author who is

00:42:16.300 --> 00:42:17.179
 above them and

00:42:17.179 --> 00:42:17.699
 in and through

00:42:17.699 --> 00:42:18.179
 them all.

00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:19.239
 Therefore,

00:42:19.239 --> 00:42:20.199
 Scripture is never

00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:21.099
 going to contradict

00:42:21.099 --> 00:42:21.619
 itself.

00:42:22.440 --> 00:42:23.059
 So then a good

00:42:23.059 --> 00:42:23.840
 practice when you're

00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:24.639
 interpreting God's

00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:25.299
 Word is to let

00:42:25.299 --> 00:42:26.460
 the clear passages

00:42:26.460 --> 00:42:27.400
 of Scripture

00:42:27.400 --> 00:42:29.299
 illuminate,

00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:29.960
 elucidate,

00:42:30.119 --> 00:42:31.480
 classify the

00:42:31.480 --> 00:42:32.360
 obscure and

00:42:32.360 --> 00:42:33.159
 difficult passages

00:42:33.159 --> 00:42:33.659
 of Scripture.

00:42:34.579 --> 00:42:35.380
 And this verse

00:42:35.380 --> 00:42:35.679
 nine,

00:42:35.779 --> 00:42:36.299
 Matthew 19,

00:42:36.360 --> 00:42:36.559
 nine,

00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:37.860
 is the most

00:42:37.860 --> 00:42:38.880
 difficult verse

00:42:38.880 --> 00:42:39.639
 when it comes to

00:42:39.639 --> 00:42:40.320
 ascertaining the

00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:40.920
 Bible's teaching

00:42:40.920 --> 00:42:41.639
 on divorce and

00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:42.059
 remarriage.

00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:44.079
 And good news

00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:45.460
 for us is that

00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:47.099
 there is a far

00:42:47.099 --> 00:42:48.079
 clearer verse,

00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:49.719
 not far away

00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:50.159
 from here,

00:42:50.159 --> 00:42:51.719
 right here in

00:42:51.719 --> 00:42:52.239
 the Gospel of

00:42:52.239 --> 00:42:52.539
 Matthew.

00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:54.460
 And it's

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.000
 Matthew 5,

00:42:55.039 --> 00:42:55.399
 32.

00:42:57.799 --> 00:42:58.699
 Everyone who

00:42:58.699 --> 00:42:59.420
 divorces his

00:42:59.420 --> 00:43:00.359
 wife except on

00:43:00.359 --> 00:43:00.879
 the ground of

00:43:00.879 --> 00:43:01.639
 sexual immorality

00:43:01.639 --> 00:43:02.519
 makes her commit

00:43:02.519 --> 00:43:03.000
 adultery.

00:43:03.659 --> 00:43:04.219
 And whoever

00:43:04.219 --> 00:43:04.960
 marries a

00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:05.460
 divorced woman

00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:06.219
 commits adultery.

00:43:07.219 --> 00:43:08.179
 A man who

00:43:08.179 --> 00:43:08.980
 divorces his

00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:10.799
 wife makes her

00:43:10.799 --> 00:43:12.000
 commit adultery.

00:43:12.099 --> 00:43:13.019
 How is that so?

00:43:14.319 --> 00:43:15.799
 In a culture where

00:43:15.799 --> 00:43:16.739
 most women do

00:43:16.739 --> 00:43:17.279
 not work,

00:43:18.219 --> 00:43:18.940
 marriage and

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:20.300
 child rearing are

00:43:20.300 --> 00:43:21.220
 their primary

00:43:21.220 --> 00:43:21.880
 vocation.

00:43:21.980 --> 00:43:22.480
 That's their

00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:22.940
 work.

00:43:24.039 --> 00:43:24.720
 In such a

00:43:24.720 --> 00:43:25.519
 culture, a

00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:26.240
 divorced woman

00:43:26.240 --> 00:43:26.780
 would usually

00:43:26.780 --> 00:43:28.099
 have no recourse

00:43:28.099 --> 00:43:29.039
 for survival

00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:30.099
 and would promptly

00:43:30.099 --> 00:43:30.780
 have to seek

00:43:30.780 --> 00:43:31.300
 remarriage.

00:43:32.420 --> 00:43:33.480
 For this reason,

00:43:33.579 --> 00:43:34.079
 if a man

00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:34.980
 divorces his

00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:36.320
 wife, he

00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:37.500
 would be guilty

00:43:37.500 --> 00:43:38.599
 of making her

00:43:38.599 --> 00:43:39.340
 commit adultery

00:43:39.340 --> 00:43:40.200
 since she has

00:43:40.200 --> 00:43:40.760
 to remarry.

00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:41.960
 And that

00:43:41.960 --> 00:43:42.460
 constitutes

00:43:42.460 --> 00:43:42.920
 adultery.

00:43:44.700 --> 00:43:45.519
 So then,

00:43:45.780 --> 00:43:46.519
 what does the

00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:47.340
 exception clause

00:43:47.340 --> 00:43:47.980
 mean in this

00:43:47.980 --> 00:43:48.360
 instance?

00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:50.059
 Except on the

00:43:50.059 --> 00:43:50.460
 ground of

00:43:50.460 --> 00:43:51.300
 sexual immorality.

00:43:52.099 --> 00:43:52.679
 If the man

00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:53.380
 divorced his

00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:53.980
 wife because

00:43:53.980 --> 00:43:54.980
 of her

00:43:54.980 --> 00:43:56.000
 sexual immorality,

00:43:56.480 --> 00:43:58.220
 then he is

00:43:58.220 --> 00:43:59.179
 not guilty of

00:43:59.179 --> 00:43:59.740
 making her

00:43:59.740 --> 00:44:00.720
 commit adultery.

00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:01.559
 Why is that?

00:44:02.340 --> 00:44:02.960
 It's obvious.

00:44:03.740 --> 00:44:04.820
 Because she

00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:05.800
 already committed

00:44:05.800 --> 00:44:06.400
 adultery.

00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:09.579
 You guys

00:44:09.579 --> 00:44:09.980
 following what

00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.300
 I'm saying?

00:44:12.179 --> 00:44:13.240
 Because of her

00:44:13.240 --> 00:44:14.099
 own sexual

00:44:14.099 --> 00:44:14.700
 immorality,

00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:15.380
 and that's why

00:44:15.380 --> 00:44:16.159
 she was divorced,

00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:17.139
 the husband then

00:44:17.139 --> 00:44:18.240
 is not guilty of

00:44:18.239 --> 00:44:19.019
 making her

00:44:19.019 --> 00:44:19.679
 commit adultery

00:44:19.679 --> 00:44:20.419
 by divorcing

00:44:20.419 --> 00:44:20.639
 her.

00:44:21.099 --> 00:44:21.819
 The exception

00:44:21.819 --> 00:44:22.259
 clause,

00:44:22.359 --> 00:44:22.959
 the purpose

00:44:22.959 --> 00:44:24.099
 of the exception

00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:25.219
 clause is to

00:44:25.219 --> 00:44:26.659
 exempt the

00:44:26.659 --> 00:44:27.739
 husband or the

00:44:27.739 --> 00:44:28.359
 wife, whoever is

00:44:28.359 --> 00:44:28.619
 doing the

00:44:28.619 --> 00:44:30.039
 divorcing, from

00:44:30.039 --> 00:44:30.939
 the guilt of

00:44:30.939 --> 00:44:31.819
 making their

00:44:31.819 --> 00:44:32.659
 spouse commit

00:44:32.659 --> 00:44:35.059
 adultery when

00:44:35.059 --> 00:44:35.679
 they had already

00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:36.639
 committed adultery.

00:44:37.479 --> 00:44:38.519
 Now, keep that

00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:39.039
 in mind because

00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:39.759
 that's very helpful

00:44:39.759 --> 00:44:40.659
 for making sense

00:44:40.659 --> 00:44:40.979
 of Matthew

00:44:40.979 --> 00:44:41.339
 19.

00:44:41.340 --> 00:44:41.539
 19.

00:44:42.539 --> 00:44:43.180
 This is my

00:44:43.180 --> 00:44:43.420
 take.

00:44:43.500 --> 00:44:44.140
 Matthew 19

00:44:44.140 --> 00:44:44.860
 is an

00:44:44.860 --> 00:44:46.380
 abbreviated

00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:47.059
 form of

00:44:47.059 --> 00:44:48.140
 Matthew 5.32.

00:44:50.620 --> 00:44:51.260
 In other

00:44:51.260 --> 00:44:51.780
 words, there's

00:44:51.780 --> 00:44:52.579
 an ellipsis

00:44:52.579 --> 00:44:53.420
 here, which

00:44:53.420 --> 00:44:53.840
 is an

00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:54.780
 omission from

00:44:54.780 --> 00:44:56.300
 a sentence

00:44:56.300 --> 00:44:56.960
 of words that

00:44:56.960 --> 00:44:57.500
 would otherwise

00:44:57.500 --> 00:44:58.320
 complete a

00:44:58.320 --> 00:44:58.700
 thought or

00:44:58.700 --> 00:44:59.480
 clarify a

00:44:59.480 --> 00:44:59.940
 construction.

00:45:00.900 --> 00:45:01.140
 And we

00:45:01.140 --> 00:45:02.940
 often employ

00:45:02.940 --> 00:45:03.559
 ellipsis in

00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:04.240
 common speech,

00:45:04.360 --> 00:45:04.740
 and I think

00:45:04.740 --> 00:45:05.180
 this is an

00:45:05.180 --> 00:45:05.680
 instance of

00:45:05.680 --> 00:45:06.240
 ellipsis.

00:45:06.840 --> 00:45:07.260
 In other

00:45:07.260 --> 00:45:07.880
 words, Matthew

00:45:07.880 --> 00:45:09.200
 19.9 is a

00:45:09.200 --> 00:45:10.320
 shorter, spliced

00:45:10.320 --> 00:45:11.200
 together version

00:45:11.200 --> 00:45:11.700
 of Matthew

00:45:11.700 --> 00:45:13.180
 5.32, and

00:45:13.180 --> 00:45:13.940
 it assumes

00:45:13.940 --> 00:45:14.700
 the context

00:45:14.700 --> 00:45:15.140
 of Matthew

00:45:15.140 --> 00:45:16.140
 5.32, since

00:45:16.140 --> 00:45:16.580
 Jesus has

00:45:16.580 --> 00:45:17.320
 already taught

00:45:17.320 --> 00:45:18.320
 on this issue

00:45:18.320 --> 00:45:19.000
 once before in

00:45:19.000 --> 00:45:19.360
 the same

00:45:19.360 --> 00:45:19.820
 gospel.

00:45:20.740 --> 00:45:21.160
 And so if

00:45:21.160 --> 00:45:21.640
 we were to

00:45:21.640 --> 00:45:23.140
 fill out the

00:45:23.140 --> 00:45:23.960
 missing ellipsis,

00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:24.539
 it would read

00:45:24.539 --> 00:45:25.120
 like this,

00:45:26.660 --> 00:45:27.320
 and I say

00:45:27.320 --> 00:45:27.800
 to you,

00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:29.080
 whoever

00:45:29.080 --> 00:45:30.000
 divorces his

00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:30.960
 wife, except

00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:31.500
 for sexual

00:45:31.500 --> 00:45:32.000
 immorality,

00:45:32.360 --> 00:45:33.160
 makes her

00:45:33.160 --> 00:45:34.160
 commit adultery,

00:45:34.760 --> 00:45:35.740
 and if he

00:45:35.740 --> 00:45:36.460
 marries another,

00:45:36.920 --> 00:45:37.740
 regardless of

00:45:37.740 --> 00:45:38.260
 whether he

00:45:38.260 --> 00:45:38.980
 divorced her for

00:45:38.980 --> 00:45:39.519
 that reason or

00:45:39.519 --> 00:45:39.820
 not,

00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:41.680
 commits adultery.

00:45:43.640 --> 00:45:44.559
 The exception

00:45:44.559 --> 00:45:45.800
 clause applies

00:45:45.800 --> 00:45:46.660
 only to the

00:45:46.660 --> 00:45:47.960
 divorce in

00:45:47.960 --> 00:45:48.640
 this construction,

00:45:49.700 --> 00:45:51.140
 and it's

00:45:51.140 --> 00:45:51.840
 there then once

00:45:51.840 --> 00:45:52.320
 again serving

00:45:52.320 --> 00:45:52.780
 the same

00:45:52.780 --> 00:45:53.620
 purpose as

00:45:53.620 --> 00:45:54.660
 Matthew 5.32,

00:45:55.019 --> 00:45:56.140
 to exempt the

00:45:56.140 --> 00:45:57.559
 husband or the

00:45:57.559 --> 00:45:58.160
 wife, whoever's

00:45:58.160 --> 00:45:58.539
 doing the

00:45:58.539 --> 00:45:59.200
 divorcing, from

00:45:59.200 --> 00:45:59.980
 the charge of

00:45:59.980 --> 00:46:00.600
 making their

00:46:00.600 --> 00:46:01.360
 spouse commit

00:46:01.360 --> 00:46:02.400
 adultery in

00:46:02.400 --> 00:46:02.980
 the event that

00:46:02.980 --> 00:46:03.640
 they divorced

00:46:03.640 --> 00:46:04.380
 him or her

00:46:04.380 --> 00:46:05.180
 because of

00:46:05.180 --> 00:46:05.680
 their sexual

00:46:05.680 --> 00:46:06.200
 immorality.

00:46:06.199 --> 00:46:06.239
 adultery.

00:46:07.939 --> 00:46:08.759
 So the

00:46:08.759 --> 00:46:09.659
 second half of

00:46:09.659 --> 00:46:10.679
 Matthew 19.9

00:46:10.679 --> 00:46:11.259
 actually

00:46:11.259 --> 00:46:12.679
 complements the

00:46:12.679 --> 00:46:14.000
 second half of

00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:14.899
 Matthew 5.32.

00:46:15.559 --> 00:46:16.699
 In Matthew 5.32,

00:46:17.399 --> 00:46:17.939
 it says that

00:46:17.939 --> 00:46:18.779
 whoever marries a

00:46:18.779 --> 00:46:19.500
 divorced woman

00:46:19.500 --> 00:46:20.359
 commits adultery.

00:46:21.239 --> 00:46:22.319
 Matthew 19.9

00:46:22.319 --> 00:46:23.319
 says that the

00:46:23.319 --> 00:46:24.699
 man who marries

00:46:24.699 --> 00:46:25.539
 another after

00:46:25.539 --> 00:46:26.539
 divorcing also

00:46:26.539 --> 00:46:27.239
 commits adultery.

00:46:27.239 --> 00:46:28.539
 So by putting

00:46:28.539 --> 00:46:29.079
 this picture

00:46:29.079 --> 00:46:30.259
 together, it's

00:46:30.259 --> 00:46:30.779
 saying that the

00:46:30.779 --> 00:46:32.319
 charge applies

00:46:32.319 --> 00:46:33.259
 equally to the

00:46:33.259 --> 00:46:34.039
 man who did

00:46:34.039 --> 00:46:35.459
 the divorcing and

00:46:35.459 --> 00:46:36.259
 to the woman who

00:46:36.259 --> 00:46:37.119
 was divorced.

00:46:40.199 --> 00:46:41.299
 Because this is a

00:46:41.299 --> 00:46:42.399
 minority view among

00:46:42.399 --> 00:46:43.879
 modern Protestant

00:46:43.879 --> 00:46:45.979
 scholars, initially

00:46:45.979 --> 00:46:46.619
 when I came to

00:46:46.619 --> 00:46:47.359
 this conclusion in

00:46:47.359 --> 00:46:48.119
 my exegesis,

00:46:48.439 --> 00:46:48.979
 studying this

00:46:48.979 --> 00:46:49.479
 passage for

00:46:49.479 --> 00:46:51.219
 several years, I

00:46:51.219 --> 00:46:52.739
 was very hesitant

00:46:52.739 --> 00:46:53.919
 and insecure about

00:46:53.919 --> 00:46:55.279
 my position, and

00:46:55.279 --> 00:46:56.239
 I started surveying

00:46:56.239 --> 00:46:57.219
 church history to

00:46:57.219 --> 00:46:58.779
 see what Christians,

00:46:59.039 --> 00:47:00.000
 faithful teachers of

00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:00.579
 God's word throughout

00:47:00.579 --> 00:47:03.099
 history have said, and

00:47:03.099 --> 00:47:05.599
 every single church

00:47:05.599 --> 00:47:08.079
 father, every single

00:47:08.079 --> 00:47:11.779
 one, has taught the

00:47:11.779 --> 00:47:12.279
 view that I'm

00:47:12.279 --> 00:47:12.839
 presenting here.

00:47:14.119 --> 00:47:15.059
 The earliest church

00:47:15.059 --> 00:47:16.819
 fathers from the

00:47:16.819 --> 00:47:18.500
 time of Jesus in

00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:19.480
 Western Christianity

00:47:19.480 --> 00:47:21.139
 for the first 1,600

00:47:21.139 --> 00:47:22.480
 years of Western

00:47:22.480 --> 00:47:23.919
 Christianity, this was

00:47:23.919 --> 00:47:24.659
 the majority view.

00:47:25.859 --> 00:47:27.000
 This was the only

00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:27.239
 view.

00:47:31.699 --> 00:47:32.559
 Let me give you some

00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:32.940
 examples.

00:47:33.079 --> 00:47:35.460
 This is from 80 A.D.

00:47:36.780 --> 00:47:38.239
 within the lifetime of

00:47:38.239 --> 00:47:39.500
 Jesus' own disciples.

00:47:41.980 --> 00:47:42.940
 From the shepherd of

00:47:42.940 --> 00:47:44.139
 Hermas, it says,

00:47:44.559 --> 00:47:45.300
 what then shall the

00:47:45.300 --> 00:47:45.900
 husband do?

00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:47.219
 If the wife continues in

00:47:47.219 --> 00:47:48.440
 this disposition of

00:47:48.440 --> 00:47:49.980
 adultery, let him

00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:51.500
 divorce her, and let the

00:47:51.500 --> 00:47:52.519
 husband remain single.

00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:54.159
 But if he divorces his

00:47:54.159 --> 00:47:55.059
 wife and marry another,

00:47:55.059 --> 00:47:56.320
 he too commits adultery.

00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:01.199
 Look at Clement of

00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:01.900
 Alexandria.

00:48:02.199 --> 00:48:02.880
 This is from A.D.

00:48:02.960 --> 00:48:03.420
 208.

00:48:04.460 --> 00:48:05.519
 That scripture counsels

00:48:05.519 --> 00:48:06.360
 marriage, however, and

00:48:06.360 --> 00:48:08.400
 never allows any release

00:48:08.400 --> 00:48:09.259
 from the union, is

00:48:09.259 --> 00:48:10.440
 expressly contained in the

00:48:10.440 --> 00:48:10.619
 law.

00:48:10.699 --> 00:48:11.739
 You shall not divorce a

00:48:11.739 --> 00:48:13.019
 wife except for reason

00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:14.039
 of immorality.

00:48:14.980 --> 00:48:16.500
 And regards as adultery

00:48:16.500 --> 00:48:17.539
 the marriage of a spouse

00:48:17.539 --> 00:48:18.659
 while the one from whom a

00:48:18.659 --> 00:48:19.859
 separation was made is still

00:48:19.859 --> 00:48:20.379
 alive.

00:48:28.139 --> 00:48:29.399
 Whoever takes a divorced

00:48:29.399 --> 00:48:31.519
 woman as wife commits

00:48:31.519 --> 00:48:32.559
 adultery, it says, for if

00:48:32.559 --> 00:48:33.859
 anyone divorces his wife, he

00:48:33.859 --> 00:48:34.719
 debauches her.

00:48:35.440 --> 00:48:36.719
 That is, he compels her to

00:48:36.719 --> 00:48:37.319
 commit adultery.

00:48:37.799 --> 00:48:38.940
 And not only does he that

00:48:38.940 --> 00:48:40.159
 divorce her become the cause

00:48:40.159 --> 00:48:42.559
 of this, but he that takes

00:48:42.559 --> 00:48:43.500
 the woman and gives her the

00:48:43.500 --> 00:48:45.139
 opportunity of sinning, for if

00:48:45.139 --> 00:48:46.319
 he did not take her, she

00:48:46.319 --> 00:48:47.299
 would return to her husband.

00:48:47.300 --> 00:48:52.460
 But, Augustine says the

00:48:52.460 --> 00:48:53.700
 same thing in several places

00:48:53.700 --> 00:48:54.300
 in his writing.

00:48:54.840 --> 00:48:55.720
 He says, neither can it

00:48:55.720 --> 00:48:56.740
 rightly be held that a

00:48:56.740 --> 00:48:57.800
 husband who dismisses his

00:48:57.800 --> 00:48:59.080
 wife because of fornication

00:48:59.080 --> 00:49:00.580
 and marries another does not

00:49:00.580 --> 00:49:01.260
 commit adultery.

00:49:01.760 --> 00:49:03.200
 For there is also adultery on

00:49:03.200 --> 00:49:04.519
 the part of those who, after

00:49:04.519 --> 00:49:05.740
 the repudiation of their

00:49:05.740 --> 00:49:06.840
 former wives because of

00:49:06.840 --> 00:49:08.680
 fornication, marry others.

00:49:11.140 --> 00:49:12.400
 Again and again and again.

00:49:13.600 --> 00:49:15.120
 And I find it very hard to

00:49:15.120 --> 00:49:16.420
 dismiss the consistent

00:49:16.420 --> 00:49:17.280
 testimony of the

00:49:17.280 --> 00:49:17.900
 church fathers.

00:49:19.260 --> 00:49:21.340
 Because they, it's, we can't

00:49:21.340 --> 00:49:22.660
 dismiss them saying like, oh,

00:49:22.720 --> 00:49:23.820
 these church fathers, they

00:49:23.820 --> 00:49:25.480
 didn't understand God's word

00:49:25.480 --> 00:49:26.400
 because they were so

00:49:26.400 --> 00:49:27.240
 ascetic.

00:49:27.640 --> 00:49:29.140
 They had these views against,

00:49:29.300 --> 00:49:30.620
 and they didn't like marriage.

00:49:30.760 --> 00:49:31.700
 They liked celibacy.

00:49:31.820 --> 00:49:33.460
 And so, they, you can't trust

00:49:33.460 --> 00:49:35.460
 them to preach effectively on

00:49:35.460 --> 00:49:35.900
 these issues.

00:49:36.160 --> 00:49:37.220
 That's not the case.

00:49:39.180 --> 00:49:40.300
 Hermes was, Hermes was

00:49:40.300 --> 00:49:40.660
 married.

00:49:42.880 --> 00:49:44.540
 Clement speaks very positively

00:49:44.540 --> 00:49:45.519
 and highly of marriage.

00:49:45.519 --> 00:49:49.380
 And yet, they held a view that

00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:52.219
 is so contradictory to anything

00:49:52.219 --> 00:49:53.719
 else that they have ever seen

00:49:53.719 --> 00:49:55.639
 in Jewish society and in

00:49:55.639 --> 00:49:56.759
 Greco-Roman society.

00:49:57.000 --> 00:49:58.980
 Why did they hold such crazy

00:49:58.980 --> 00:49:59.500
 views?

00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:01.280
 They came up with it all of

00:50:01.280 --> 00:50:01.920
 their own accord.

00:50:02.579 --> 00:50:04.579
 For the first 1600 years of

00:50:04.579 --> 00:50:05.639
 Western Christianity, I don't

00:50:05.639 --> 00:50:06.139
 think so.

00:50:07.019 --> 00:50:08.159
 I think they held that

00:50:08.159 --> 00:50:09.360
 counter-cultural view because

00:50:09.360 --> 00:50:10.240
 Jesus taught it.

00:50:16.640 --> 00:50:18.780
 But why is it sexual immorality

00:50:18.780 --> 00:50:22.280
 that provides the only grounds

00:50:22.280 --> 00:50:23.360
 for divorce in this case?

00:50:24.760 --> 00:50:26.700
 1 Corinthians 6, 15 to 18

00:50:26.700 --> 00:50:27.579
 shed some light on that.

00:50:27.620 --> 00:50:28.800
 Do you know, do you not know

00:50:28.800 --> 00:50:30.519
 that your bodies are members

00:50:30.519 --> 00:50:31.120
 of Christ?

00:50:31.760 --> 00:50:33.019
 Shall I then take the members

00:50:33.019 --> 00:50:34.519
 of Christ and make them members

00:50:34.519 --> 00:50:35.460
 of a prostitute?

00:50:36.059 --> 00:50:36.460
 Never.

00:50:36.460 --> 00:50:38.519
 Or do you not know that he

00:50:38.519 --> 00:50:39.760
 who is joined to a prostitute

00:50:39.760 --> 00:50:41.159
 becomes one body with her?

00:50:41.480 --> 00:50:42.880
 For as it is written, the two

00:50:42.880 --> 00:50:44.240
 will become one flesh.

00:50:44.679 --> 00:50:45.960
 But he who is joined to the

00:50:45.960 --> 00:50:47.340
 Lord becomes one spirit with

00:50:47.340 --> 00:50:47.539
 him.

00:50:47.840 --> 00:50:49.260
 Flee from sexual immorality.

00:50:49.400 --> 00:50:50.579
 Every other sin a person

00:50:50.579 --> 00:50:51.940
 commits is outside the body,

00:50:52.039 --> 00:50:53.019
 but the sexually immoral

00:50:53.019 --> 00:50:55.300
 person sins against his own

00:50:55.300 --> 00:50:55.720
 body.

00:50:56.820 --> 00:50:58.119
 Paul here makes the distinction

00:50:58.119 --> 00:50:59.960
 between sexual immorality and

00:50:59.960 --> 00:51:01.280
 every other sin.

00:51:01.280 --> 00:51:04.600
 He says only sexual immorality

00:51:04.600 --> 00:51:07.160
 is a sin against your own body.

00:51:07.460 --> 00:51:08.800
 And that's a curious thing

00:51:08.800 --> 00:51:09.840
 because there are other things

00:51:09.840 --> 00:51:11.080
 that negatively affect our

00:51:11.080 --> 00:51:13.140
 bodies like gluttony and

00:51:13.140 --> 00:51:15.060
 drunkenness and self-injury

00:51:15.060 --> 00:51:16.880
 and cutting and drug abuse.

00:51:16.960 --> 00:51:18.600
 These are also against our own

00:51:18.600 --> 00:51:19.400
 body, are they not?

00:51:19.860 --> 00:51:22.100
 And yet, in Paul's sense, no,

00:51:22.180 --> 00:51:23.340
 they are not against the body

00:51:23.340 --> 00:51:24.560
 in the same way that sexual

00:51:24.560 --> 00:51:26.580
 immorality is because every

00:51:26.580 --> 00:51:28.000
 other sin a person commits is

00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:29.120
 outside the body.

00:51:29.119 --> 00:51:33.500
 sexual immorality does violence

00:51:33.500 --> 00:51:35.759
 to your spiritual union,

00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:38.279
 your union with Christ himself.

00:51:39.559 --> 00:51:41.539
 You've been united to Christ

00:51:41.539 --> 00:51:43.139
 through faith and now you are

00:51:43.139 --> 00:51:46.099
 going to unite him by becoming

00:51:46.099 --> 00:51:47.599
 one flesh with a prostitute.

00:51:47.779 --> 00:51:49.059
 With a prostitute, it's an

00:51:49.059 --> 00:51:50.759
 unthinkable thing, Paul is saying.

00:51:55.880 --> 00:51:57.839
 Because of the one flesh union

00:51:57.840 --> 00:51:59.100
 between husband and wife,

00:51:59.420 --> 00:52:01.400
 sexual immorality does violence

00:52:01.400 --> 00:52:03.400
 to that commitment and covenant

00:52:03.400 --> 00:52:05.740
 in a way that no other sin does,

00:52:06.160 --> 00:52:07.500
 which is why it is the only

00:52:07.500 --> 00:52:09.160
 grounds for divorce that Jesus

00:52:09.160 --> 00:52:10.000
 specifies.

00:52:12.539 --> 00:52:14.120
 However, I still don't think

00:52:14.120 --> 00:52:15.600
 that this means that if you

00:52:15.600 --> 00:52:17.400
 divorce because of your spouse's

00:52:17.400 --> 00:52:18.880
 sexual immorality that you may

00:52:18.880 --> 00:52:21.160
 divorce them and remarry.

00:52:22.360 --> 00:52:24.100
 Even though it serves somewhat

00:52:24.100 --> 00:52:25.420
 as a grounds for divorce,

00:52:25.420 --> 00:52:27.599
 Jesus never commands divorce,

00:52:27.960 --> 00:52:29.800
 even when you are hurt by

00:52:29.800 --> 00:52:31.400
 sexual immorality of your spouse.

00:52:32.400 --> 00:52:34.039
 And I can think of two

00:52:34.039 --> 00:52:35.440
 pragmatic reasons,

00:52:35.619 --> 00:52:36.960
 practical reasons why you

00:52:36.960 --> 00:52:37.519
 don't want to do that.

00:52:37.559 --> 00:52:39.940
 Because one, if you remarry,

00:52:40.039 --> 00:52:41.440
 it forecloses the possibility

00:52:41.440 --> 00:52:42.740
 of reconciliation, which we

00:52:42.740 --> 00:52:44.320
 were told in 1 Corinthians 7

00:52:44.320 --> 00:52:45.920
 is a goal when you are

00:52:45.920 --> 00:52:46.840
 divorced from your spouse.

00:52:48.099 --> 00:52:49.340
 Once you remarry, you can't go

00:52:49.340 --> 00:52:50.280
 back to your first spouse.

00:52:50.280 --> 00:52:55.400
 Secondly, in a strange way,

00:52:56.400 --> 00:52:58.580
 saying that you can

00:52:58.580 --> 00:53:00.140
 remarry someone after divorce

00:53:00.140 --> 00:53:01.320
 only if there is sexual

00:53:01.320 --> 00:53:02.420
 immorality involved almost

00:53:02.420 --> 00:53:04.360
 incentivizes sexual immorality.

00:53:05.660 --> 00:53:07.120
 Because if you think about it,

00:53:07.280 --> 00:53:09.519
 there's people who hold the view

00:53:09.519 --> 00:53:11.660
 that you may divorce and

00:53:11.660 --> 00:53:13.660
 remarry in the case of

00:53:13.660 --> 00:53:15.620
 sexual immorality often argue

00:53:15.620 --> 00:53:17.080
 that only the innocent party

00:53:17.080 --> 00:53:17.700
 may remarry.

00:53:17.699 --> 00:53:21.339
 But it's hard to make that case

00:53:21.339 --> 00:53:22.859
 because if, in their view,

00:53:23.460 --> 00:53:24.919
 it's the sex itself,

00:53:25.019 --> 00:53:26.299
 the sexual immorality itself

00:53:26.299 --> 00:53:27.699
 that dissolves the marriage

00:53:27.699 --> 00:53:28.139
 covenant,

00:53:28.899 --> 00:53:31.379
 then both the guilty and

00:53:31.379 --> 00:53:33.239
 the innocent party are freed

00:53:33.239 --> 00:53:34.339
 from that marriage bond.

00:53:34.619 --> 00:53:35.239
 Are they not?

00:53:36.279 --> 00:53:37.719
 If the sexual immorality is

00:53:37.719 --> 00:53:38.819
 what dissolves the marriage

00:53:38.819 --> 00:53:40.719
 bond, so then you can't

00:53:40.719 --> 00:53:41.859
 rightly hold that only the

00:53:41.859 --> 00:53:43.039
 innocent party may remarry.

00:53:44.439 --> 00:53:45.859
 Both the innocent party and

00:53:45.859 --> 00:53:47.019
 the guilty party should be

00:53:47.019 --> 00:53:47.639
 free to remarry,

00:53:47.699 --> 00:53:49.379
 because their first covenant

00:53:49.379 --> 00:53:50.159
 is dissolved.

00:53:52.619 --> 00:53:53.879
 And yet, that's not what

00:53:53.879 --> 00:53:54.679
 God's word says.

00:53:56.539 --> 00:53:57.659
 And if that's the case,

00:53:57.759 --> 00:53:58.819
 then an innocent party,

00:53:58.939 --> 00:54:00.299
 someone, a woman who was

00:54:00.299 --> 00:54:01.439
 divorced for no good reason

00:54:01.439 --> 00:54:02.939
 at all, may not remarry,

00:54:04.059 --> 00:54:04.939
 but a woman who was

00:54:04.939 --> 00:54:05.919
 divorced because of adultery

00:54:05.919 --> 00:54:06.460
 may remarry.

00:54:11.659 --> 00:54:13.319
 In Luke 16, 18, let's look

00:54:13.319 --> 00:54:13.779
 at it.

00:54:13.779 --> 00:54:14.759
 It said, everyone who

00:54:14.759 --> 00:54:15.799
 divorces his wife and

00:54:15.799 --> 00:54:16.679
 marries another commits

00:54:16.679 --> 00:54:17.099
 adultery.

00:54:17.539 --> 00:54:18.960
 And he who marries a woman

00:54:18.960 --> 00:54:20.039
 divorced from her husband

00:54:20.039 --> 00:54:20.739
 commits adultery.

00:54:21.579 --> 00:54:22.980
 The first half of the verse

00:54:22.980 --> 00:54:24.399
 already has in view a man

00:54:24.399 --> 00:54:25.519
 who divorces his wife and

00:54:25.519 --> 00:54:26.480
 marries someone else.

00:54:27.879 --> 00:54:29.500
 The second half has in view

00:54:29.500 --> 00:54:30.859
 the man who marries the woman

00:54:30.859 --> 00:54:32.179
 who was divorced from that

00:54:32.179 --> 00:54:32.859
 first man.

00:54:33.819 --> 00:54:35.719
 And if the first clause has in

00:54:35.719 --> 00:54:37.259
 view a man who has already

00:54:37.259 --> 00:54:38.779
 divorced and married another

00:54:38.779 --> 00:54:39.940
 and has therefore committed

00:54:39.940 --> 00:54:41.279
 adultery against his original

00:54:41.279 --> 00:54:43.419
 wife, then doesn't that wife

00:54:43.420 --> 00:54:44.920
 now have valid biblical grounds

00:54:44.920 --> 00:54:45.980
 to remarry?

00:54:47.420 --> 00:54:48.680
 Shouldn't she then be permitted

00:54:48.680 --> 00:54:49.780
 legally to remarry?

00:54:50.139 --> 00:54:51.420
 But Jesus simply says, he who

00:54:51.420 --> 00:54:52.760
 marries a woman divorced from

00:54:52.760 --> 00:54:53.940
 her husband commits adultery.

00:54:54.519 --> 00:54:56.200
 He does not say, he who marries a

00:54:56.200 --> 00:54:57.380
 woman divorced from her husband

00:54:57.380 --> 00:55:00.019
 before he remarries commits adultery.

00:55:02.960 --> 00:55:04.780
 So how do you apply this?

00:55:04.840 --> 00:55:07.760
 There's so many ways this cuts into

00:55:07.760 --> 00:55:08.820
 our culture.

00:55:08.820 --> 00:55:11.320
 If you're living with someone,

00:55:11.400 --> 00:55:12.559
 you're cohabiting with someone

00:55:12.559 --> 00:55:13.300
 and you're not married,

00:55:14.700 --> 00:55:18.500
 make it official.

00:55:20.160 --> 00:55:21.039
 Marry the person.

00:55:24.640 --> 00:55:27.380
 Make the covenant that's meant to

00:55:27.380 --> 00:55:30.080
 safeguard the precious gift of that

00:55:30.080 --> 00:55:30.880
 sexual intimacy.

00:55:33.420 --> 00:55:36.380
 If you are single, you're not

00:55:36.380 --> 00:55:37.600
 married, but you're fornicating,

00:55:37.599 --> 00:55:39.079
 you're having premarital sex.

00:55:41.179 --> 00:55:42.759
 Confess that sin to others.

00:55:43.299 --> 00:55:44.880
 Get as much help as you can.

00:55:46.739 --> 00:55:48.839
 Because that sacred gift should

00:55:48.839 --> 00:55:51.139
 not, you should not defraud your

00:55:51.139 --> 00:55:54.199
 partner of that precious gift.

00:55:54.739 --> 00:55:56.559
 You should not take it from them

00:55:56.559 --> 00:55:59.039
 before you have made the covenant

00:55:59.039 --> 00:56:01.759
 and the promise to safeguard them

00:56:01.759 --> 00:56:02.639
 and to steward it.

00:56:02.639 --> 00:56:05.679
 And if you're a married man,

00:56:06.579 --> 00:56:09.379
 follow what 1 Timothy 3 says.

00:56:09.480 --> 00:56:11.199
 In order to be an elder in a church,

00:56:11.319 --> 00:56:12.859
 you have to be a one-woman man.

00:56:14.039 --> 00:56:15.960
 1 Timothy 5 says that if you are going

00:56:15.960 --> 00:56:18.099
 to be a widow, an elderly widow,

00:56:18.099 --> 00:56:20.539
 who deserves to be supported financially

00:56:20.539 --> 00:56:21.779
 fully by the church,

00:56:22.019 --> 00:56:23.339
 then that widow must meet certain

00:56:23.339 --> 00:56:23.920
 qualifications.

00:56:24.099 --> 00:56:25.539
 And one of them is that she must have

00:56:25.539 --> 00:56:28.119
 been, during her time of marriage,

00:56:28.119 --> 00:56:29.880
 a one-man woman.

00:56:31.420 --> 00:56:33.480
 That's the ideal, the Christian ideal,

00:56:33.599 --> 00:56:35.259
 to be a one-woman man

00:56:35.259 --> 00:56:36.699
 or a one-man woman.

00:56:36.799 --> 00:56:37.559
 If you're married,

00:56:37.859 --> 00:56:40.519
 have eyes for one woman only.

00:56:40.920 --> 00:56:43.500
 Have hearts for one woman only.

00:56:43.699 --> 00:56:46.219
 Have bodies for one woman only.

00:56:46.440 --> 00:56:48.239
 That's the teaching of God's word.

00:56:48.239 --> 00:56:56.579
 And when Jesus says this,

00:56:56.859 --> 00:56:58.319
 my goodness, guys, I'm so sorry.

00:57:00.619 --> 00:57:02.319
 I should have been done 15 minutes ago.

00:57:07.699 --> 00:57:08.839
 I'll try to wrap it up.

00:57:10.959 --> 00:57:13.399
 He says in Matthew 19,

00:57:13.539 --> 00:57:14.599
 looking at verse 10,

00:57:14.679 --> 00:57:15.899
 if you think that's an impossibly

00:57:15.899 --> 00:57:16.559
 high standard,

00:57:16.559 --> 00:57:18.699
 I think you're also understanding

00:57:18.699 --> 00:57:19.239
 that correctly.

00:57:20.380 --> 00:57:21.559
 Because look at what the disciples

00:57:21.559 --> 00:57:22.420
 say in verse 10.

00:57:23.980 --> 00:57:25.699
 If such is the case of a man

00:57:25.699 --> 00:57:26.259
 with his wife,

00:57:26.340 --> 00:57:27.639
 it is better not to marry.

00:57:30.559 --> 00:57:32.579
 They're throwing up their hands

00:57:32.579 --> 00:57:33.079
 in the air and saying,

00:57:33.159 --> 00:57:34.000
 it's better not to marry.

00:57:34.059 --> 00:57:34.900
 What is this?

00:57:35.619 --> 00:57:36.059
 It's like,

00:57:36.559 --> 00:57:37.659
 you should have just picked one,

00:57:37.799 --> 00:57:38.739
 Shammai or Hillel.

00:57:38.820 --> 00:57:39.699
 Like, what is this?

00:57:42.639 --> 00:57:43.579
 He said to them,

00:57:43.579 --> 00:57:46.179
 not everyone can receive this saying,

00:57:46.179 --> 00:57:48.819
 but only those to whom it is given.

00:57:50.299 --> 00:57:53.259
 So, there's controversy around this too.

00:57:53.899 --> 00:57:56.399
 What is this saying that Jesus is talking about?

00:57:57.000 --> 00:57:59.480
 Is he talking about what the disciples just said,

00:57:59.519 --> 00:58:00.440
 it is better not to marry?

00:58:01.799 --> 00:58:04.139
 Or is he talking about what he said earlier on

00:58:04.139 --> 00:58:05.239
 about divorce and remarriage?

00:58:06.219 --> 00:58:09.239
 Now, I think he's referring to what he said,

00:58:09.399 --> 00:58:10.839
 what Jesus said earlier on.

00:58:10.840 --> 00:58:13.360
 Why do I think that?

00:58:13.420 --> 00:58:15.380
 Because, as I mentioned to you earlier,

00:58:15.760 --> 00:58:18.000
 the word saying is a key word

00:58:18.000 --> 00:58:19.079
 in the Gospel of Matthew.

00:58:19.960 --> 00:58:21.640
 It refers again and again

00:58:21.640 --> 00:58:23.860
 to Jesus' sayings.

00:58:24.800 --> 00:58:27.600
 Matthew is organized around the sayings of Jesus.

00:58:28.460 --> 00:58:29.660
 And earlier in verse 1,

00:58:29.760 --> 00:58:30.720
 he said,

00:58:31.000 --> 00:58:32.920
 now when Jesus had finished these sayings.

00:58:33.420 --> 00:58:34.200
 And not only that,

00:58:34.240 --> 00:58:34.940
 in verse 9,

00:58:35.059 --> 00:58:38.140
 he officially and formally declared his saying.

00:58:38.139 --> 00:58:38.779
 Saying,

00:58:38.940 --> 00:58:41.000
 and I say to you,

00:58:41.299 --> 00:58:43.139
 which is a verbal form of the word saying,

00:58:44.579 --> 00:58:45.940
 whoever divorces his wife

00:58:45.940 --> 00:58:47.159
 except for sexual immorality

00:58:47.159 --> 00:58:48.799
 and marries another commits adultery.

00:58:50.219 --> 00:58:52.039
 And throughout the Gospel of Matthew,

00:58:53.000 --> 00:58:55.259
 Jesus doesn't give this kind of weight

00:58:55.259 --> 00:58:57.099
 to the things that the disciples say

00:58:57.099 --> 00:58:59.379
 in their bumbling failure to understand.

00:58:59.500 --> 00:59:00.739
 Oh, it's better not to marry.

00:59:01.619 --> 00:59:02.460
 And Jesus is not saying,

00:59:02.539 --> 00:59:03.299
 oh, that saying,

00:59:03.420 --> 00:59:03.599
 you know,

00:59:03.659 --> 00:59:04.639
 no one can receive that

00:59:04.639 --> 00:59:05.519
 unless God helps them.

00:59:05.519 --> 00:59:06.360
 That's not what he's saying.

00:59:07.159 --> 00:59:08.639
 He's talking about what he said

00:59:08.639 --> 00:59:10.360
 in the preceding verses.

00:59:12.559 --> 00:59:15.079
 If you really follow what Jesus is saying,

00:59:15.179 --> 00:59:16.860
 and that's really the standard,

00:59:16.860 --> 00:59:18.360
 the high standard for marriage,

00:59:19.579 --> 00:59:21.960
 and if your wife cheats on you,

00:59:22.219 --> 00:59:23.239
 and then you divorce her,

00:59:23.280 --> 00:59:24.639
 and you cannot get married,

00:59:24.699 --> 00:59:26.719
 you could never have sex again.

00:59:30.800 --> 00:59:31.820
 What, Jesus?

00:59:35.519 --> 00:59:37.300
 Better not to marry.

00:59:38.500 --> 00:59:40.579
 And Jesus understands exactly what they're saying

00:59:40.579 --> 00:59:42.119
 because he then starts talking about eunuchs.

00:59:48.019 --> 00:59:50.500
 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth,

00:59:50.699 --> 00:59:51.599
 they can't help it.

00:59:52.960 --> 00:59:54.079
 They were born that way,

00:59:54.300 --> 00:59:54.920
 genetic defect.

00:59:55.420 --> 00:59:57.500
 And there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men,

00:59:57.759 --> 01:00:00.259
 people who are castrated to serve on royal courts or whatnot

01:00:00.260 --> 01:00:04.180
 so that they don't impregnate the royal wives or whatever.

01:00:04.180 --> 01:00:07.740
 And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs

01:00:07.740 --> 01:00:09.720
 for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

01:00:10.540 --> 01:00:13.320
 Let the one who is able to receive this,

01:00:13.760 --> 01:00:14.600
 receive it.

01:00:15.020 --> 01:00:16.020
 Does that remind you of something?

01:00:16.120 --> 01:00:17.720
 Let the one who is able to receive this,

01:00:17.840 --> 01:00:18.540
 receive it.

01:00:19.380 --> 01:00:21.980
 He was saying stuff like that in chapter 13

01:00:21.980 --> 01:00:23.780
 when he was talking about the parables of the kingdom.

01:00:23.940 --> 01:00:25.940
 And here he mentions kingdom of heaven again

01:00:25.940 --> 01:00:27.560
 for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

01:00:27.900 --> 01:00:28.920
 Matthew 13, verse 9,

01:00:28.920 --> 01:00:30.340
 and he who has ears let him hear.

01:00:30.760 --> 01:00:31.539
 Matthew 13, 11,

01:00:31.619 --> 01:00:32.300
 and he answered them,

01:00:32.340 --> 01:00:33.720
 to you it has been given

01:00:33.720 --> 01:00:35.260
 to know the secrets of the kingdom,

01:00:35.559 --> 01:00:37.539
 but to them it has not been given.

01:00:38.159 --> 01:00:39.420
 Chapter 13, verse 20,

01:00:39.519 --> 01:00:41.880
 as for what was sown on rocky ground,

01:00:41.940 --> 01:00:43.539
 this is the one who hears the word immediately

01:00:43.539 --> 01:00:45.519
 and receives it with joy.

01:00:45.840 --> 01:00:48.500
 Who are the people who can receive this saying?

01:00:48.920 --> 01:00:50.980
 They're the ones to whom God reveals it.

01:00:51.659 --> 01:00:53.180
 They're the chosen people of God.

01:00:53.840 --> 01:00:56.139
 And these bumbling disciples don't get it fully now

01:00:56.139 --> 01:00:57.760
 like they didn't get the previous parables

01:00:57.760 --> 01:00:59.080
 that Jesus taught, but they will

01:00:59.080 --> 01:01:01.080
 because they are one of his people.

01:01:07.740 --> 01:01:10.200
 Even when you don't get to use

01:01:10.200 --> 01:01:12.100
 the natural function of your body

01:01:12.100 --> 01:01:13.100
 in sexual intercourse

01:01:13.100 --> 01:01:15.260
 because you were unfairly divorced

01:01:15.260 --> 01:01:17.780
 by the infidelity of your own spouse,

01:01:18.220 --> 01:01:20.640
 God says you do it to honor God.

01:01:20.720 --> 01:01:22.460
 You do it out of fear of the Lord.

01:01:22.520 --> 01:01:24.520
 You do it to honor the sanctity of marriage.

01:01:24.519 --> 01:01:28.179
 And it's like, almost like castrating yourself

01:01:28.179 --> 01:01:32.599
 as a eunuch for the kingdom,

01:01:32.920 --> 01:01:34.500
 for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

01:01:35.099 --> 01:01:38.360
 And that gives hope to unmarried singles as well.

01:01:39.300 --> 01:01:42.480
 You can't rightly practice that desire

01:01:42.480 --> 01:01:44.239
 for intimacy and sexual intercourse

01:01:44.239 --> 01:01:46.739
 until you get married.

01:01:47.500 --> 01:01:49.159
 You're like a eunuch in that sense.

01:01:49.159 --> 01:01:50.980
 You burn with passion.

01:01:51.460 --> 01:01:52.639
 You long for it.

01:01:52.639 --> 01:01:53.319
 You're lonely.

01:01:53.460 --> 01:01:55.619
 You want that companionship and physical intimacy.

01:01:55.859 --> 01:01:58.799
 And yet, to hold out and to wait and say,

01:01:58.960 --> 01:02:01.879
 I will safeguard and protect the covenant of marriage.

01:02:02.019 --> 01:02:04.119
 I will save myself for marriage.

01:02:05.019 --> 01:02:06.619
 I will be a eunuch

01:02:06.619 --> 01:02:09.159
 for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

01:02:11.199 --> 01:02:12.539
 To people like that,

01:02:12.539 --> 01:02:17.119
 it's this promise that God had given

01:02:17.119 --> 01:02:19.320
 in Isaiah 56 is true.

01:02:19.840 --> 01:02:21.259
 And let not the eunuch say,

01:02:21.400 --> 01:02:23.460
 behold, I am a dry tree.

01:02:24.300 --> 01:02:25.940
 For thus says the Lord to the eunuchs

01:02:25.940 --> 01:02:27.300
 who keep my Sabbaths,

01:02:27.300 --> 01:02:29.139
 who choose the things that please me

01:02:29.139 --> 01:02:30.579
 and hold fast my covenant.

01:02:30.840 --> 01:02:33.320
 I will give in my house and within my walls

01:02:33.320 --> 01:02:34.500
 a monument and a name

01:02:34.500 --> 01:02:36.420
 better than sons and daughters.

01:02:36.759 --> 01:02:38.679
 I will give them an everlasting name

01:02:38.679 --> 01:02:40.559
 that shall not be cut off.

01:02:42.539 --> 01:02:46.199
 Isn't this what we saw in our call to worship

01:02:46.199 --> 01:02:49.000
 from Isaiah chapter 54

01:02:49.000 --> 01:02:52.259
 and our assurance of pardon in Ephesians 5?

01:02:53.159 --> 01:02:54.019
 God says,

01:02:54.539 --> 01:02:56.380
 your maker is your husband to his people.

01:02:59.880 --> 01:03:01.960
 That's God's plan from the beginning.

01:03:02.099 --> 01:03:03.079
 And this is why,

01:03:03.519 --> 01:03:04.820
 even though in the Old Testament

01:03:04.820 --> 01:03:06.779
 the standard was based on Genesis,

01:03:07.199 --> 01:03:08.940
 it is not good for a man to be alone.

01:03:09.219 --> 01:03:10.619
 In the New Testament times,

01:03:10.840 --> 01:03:12.119
 singleness is elevated

01:03:12.119 --> 01:03:13.440
 and they say that it is better

01:03:13.440 --> 01:03:14.799
 if you can remain single

01:03:14.799 --> 01:03:16.000
 to remain single

01:03:16.000 --> 01:03:18.799
 so that you are not anxious

01:03:18.799 --> 01:03:19.920
 about pleasing other people.

01:03:20.000 --> 01:03:21.159
 Rather, you could have a singular,

01:03:21.440 --> 01:03:23.519
 undivided devotion to God.

01:03:23.779 --> 01:03:24.559
 That's what Paul says

01:03:24.559 --> 01:03:25.900
 in 1 Corinthians 7.

01:03:26.159 --> 01:03:27.779
 Why did the standards change?

01:03:27.779 --> 01:03:29.920
 Because Jesus has come

01:03:29.920 --> 01:03:30.980
 right down in the middle

01:03:30.980 --> 01:03:32.279
 and he has fulfilled

01:03:32.279 --> 01:03:34.239
 what marriage was intended to point to

01:03:34.239 --> 01:03:35.179
 from the very beginning.

01:03:35.619 --> 01:03:36.679
 And marriage is meant to be

01:03:36.679 --> 01:03:37.699
 a picture of the Christ

01:03:37.699 --> 01:03:38.960
 and the church.

01:03:42.119 --> 01:03:43.559
 Haven't we sinned?

01:03:44.380 --> 01:03:45.500
 And this is the greatest

01:03:45.500 --> 01:03:46.599
 and most important reason

01:03:46.599 --> 01:03:48.059
 why God holds marriage

01:03:48.059 --> 01:03:49.019
 in such high esteem.

01:03:50.559 --> 01:03:52.480
 Haven't we all sinned against him?

01:03:53.880 --> 01:03:56.440
 Haven't we all whored after idols?

01:03:58.440 --> 01:03:59.920
 That's what God says.

01:03:59.920 --> 01:04:02.579
 We have whored after idols.

01:04:02.579 --> 01:04:07.619
 Isn't that why he tells Hosea,

01:04:08.360 --> 01:04:09.019
 his prophet,

01:04:09.340 --> 01:04:10.460
 to take for himself

01:04:10.460 --> 01:04:11.739
 a wife of whoredom?

01:04:13.940 --> 01:04:15.239
 And what do you expect

01:04:15.239 --> 01:04:16.539
 a wife of whoredom to do?

01:04:16.940 --> 01:04:17.920
 He loved her.

01:04:18.099 --> 01:04:19.440
 He had children with her.

01:04:19.799 --> 01:04:21.699
 And then she prostitutes herself

01:04:21.699 --> 01:04:22.519
 with other men.

01:04:23.679 --> 01:04:24.759
 She sells herself

01:04:24.759 --> 01:04:26.319
 into slavery to pimps.

01:04:27.519 --> 01:04:29.199
 And then God tells Hosea

01:04:29.199 --> 01:04:29.980
 in chapter 3,

01:04:29.980 --> 01:04:30.699
 Go!

01:04:33.960 --> 01:04:34.920
 Go again!

01:04:35.760 --> 01:04:36.760
 Love a woman

01:04:36.760 --> 01:04:38.960
 who is loved by another man

01:04:38.960 --> 01:04:40.340
 and is an adulteress,

01:04:40.619 --> 01:04:42.000
 even as the Lord loves

01:04:42.000 --> 01:04:43.039
 the children of Israel,

01:04:43.780 --> 01:04:45.340
 though they turn to other gods.

01:04:46.960 --> 01:04:48.079
 Can you imagine

01:04:48.079 --> 01:04:50.079
 the betrayal and the pain?

01:04:51.400 --> 01:04:53.240
 The person that you loved

01:04:53.240 --> 01:04:54.280
 more than anyone else,

01:04:54.340 --> 01:04:56.760
 the person you gave everything to,

01:04:57.240 --> 01:04:59.039
 you exposed everything to,

01:04:59.039 --> 01:05:01.579
 that you gave your very self to,

01:05:01.779 --> 01:05:04.539
 to go to another man.

01:05:10.719 --> 01:05:12.599
 That's what we've done to God.

01:05:16.699 --> 01:05:17.920
 And did God

01:05:17.920 --> 01:05:21.000
 summerly dismiss us?

01:05:22.320 --> 01:05:22.960
 No.

01:05:22.960 --> 01:05:27.199
 He came to reclaim

01:05:27.199 --> 01:05:28.220
 his bride.

01:05:28.300 --> 01:05:30.159
 Hosea buys back his wife,

01:05:30.880 --> 01:05:32.260
 redeems her according to

01:05:32.260 --> 01:05:33.340
 the command of the Lord.

01:05:33.539 --> 01:05:34.960
 That's what God has done

01:05:34.960 --> 01:05:36.460
 in sending his own son

01:05:36.460 --> 01:05:37.840
 to come and redeem

01:05:37.840 --> 01:05:38.960
 the bride for himself,

01:05:39.740 --> 01:05:41.579
 to reclaim his bride

01:05:41.579 --> 01:05:42.539
 chosen from before

01:05:42.539 --> 01:05:43.860
 the foundation of the world,

01:05:44.059 --> 01:05:44.699
 to say,

01:05:44.980 --> 01:05:45.639
 you are mine,

01:05:45.740 --> 01:05:46.860
 and just cleanse her

01:05:46.860 --> 01:05:48.220
 and sanctify her

01:05:48.220 --> 01:05:49.579
 with his own blood

01:05:49.579 --> 01:05:51.340
 by dying on the cross

01:05:51.340 --> 01:05:52.480
 for our sins.

01:06:05.079 --> 01:06:05.980
 That means

01:06:05.980 --> 01:06:09.320
 no Christian can say

01:06:09.320 --> 01:06:10.480
 I am unwanted.

01:06:11.620 --> 01:06:13.000
 No Christian can say

01:06:13.000 --> 01:06:14.140
 I am not loved.

01:06:14.579 --> 01:06:15.900
 No Christian can say

01:06:15.900 --> 01:06:17.519
 no one understands.

01:06:17.519 --> 01:06:18.739
 I'm lonely.

01:06:19.139 --> 01:06:20.460
 There's no one besides me.

01:06:20.599 --> 01:06:21.420
 I'm a eunuch.

01:06:21.519 --> 01:06:22.500
 I'm a dry tree.

01:06:22.619 --> 01:06:23.739
 No, you're not.

01:06:25.139 --> 01:06:26.139
 You are loved

01:06:26.139 --> 01:06:27.840
 more than you will ever know.

01:06:28.900 --> 01:06:30.159
 You have been pursued.

01:06:31.599 --> 01:06:33.380
 Our Lord Jesus Christ,

01:06:33.480 --> 01:06:35.659
 he left his father's house

01:06:35.659 --> 01:06:37.320
 to hold fast,

01:06:37.460 --> 01:06:38.139
 to cleave,

01:06:38.280 --> 01:06:39.300
 to stick to,

01:06:39.360 --> 01:06:41.119
 to be welded to his wife.

01:06:41.119 --> 01:06:43.500
 And that is you,

01:06:43.619 --> 01:06:44.539
 the bride of Christ.

01:06:49.480 --> 01:06:51.199
 And if that's the picture

01:06:51.199 --> 01:06:53.000
 God wants to show

01:06:53.000 --> 01:06:54.519
 the watching world,

01:06:55.659 --> 01:06:58.420
 yeah,

01:06:58.559 --> 01:06:59.799
 I'll gladly hold up

01:06:59.799 --> 01:07:01.359
 that impossibly high

01:07:01.359 --> 01:07:02.139
 standard of marriage.

01:07:03.799 --> 01:07:04.739
 If people can see

01:07:04.739 --> 01:07:05.639
 my suffering,

01:07:06.079 --> 01:07:06.940
 my hard life,

01:07:07.179 --> 01:07:07.980
 and they can see,

01:07:07.980 --> 01:07:08.159
 oh,

01:07:08.159 --> 01:07:09.879
 I see how much

01:07:09.879 --> 01:07:11.859
 Jesus loves his bride.

01:07:14.000 --> 01:07:15.139
 That's the point.

01:07:17.539 --> 01:07:18.199
 God,

01:07:18.299 --> 01:07:19.299
 please help us

01:07:19.299 --> 01:07:21.679
 to obey this command.

01:07:23.679 --> 01:07:25.059
 Help us to honor

01:07:25.059 --> 01:07:26.659
 marriage

01:07:26.659 --> 01:07:29.019
 so that in so doing

01:07:29.019 --> 01:07:30.980
 we can hold up

01:07:30.980 --> 01:07:32.500
 the gospel of Jesus Christ

01:07:32.500 --> 01:07:33.980
 for all the world to see.

01:07:35.159 --> 01:07:36.699
 For they are so confused

01:07:36.699 --> 01:07:37.299
 and lost,

01:07:37.480 --> 01:07:37.679
 Lord,

01:07:38.159 --> 01:07:39.519
 reveal to them

01:07:39.519 --> 01:07:40.579
 the love of Christ.

01:07:44.119 --> 01:07:45.299
 In Jesus' name,

01:07:46.039 --> 01:07:46.500
 we pray.

01:07:47.079 --> 01:07:47.379
 Amen.