WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.679 If you would turn in your Bibles to Matthew 5, we're in the Sermon on the Mount, which 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:12.780 remember is the inaugural address of King Jesus. 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:20.379 And he tackles the very controversial subject of divorce this morning. 00:00:20.379 --> 00:00:27.000 So would you open to Matthew 5, 31 and 32, and let me read. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.840 It was also said, whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. 00:00:39.899 --> 00:00:46.879 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:49.480 makes her commit adultery. 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:55.799 And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 00:00:55.799 --> 00:01:02.619 If this morning you've come into this building wondering if you should divorce your spouse, 00:01:02.879 --> 00:01:03.819 I'm glad that you're here. 00:01:05.140 --> 00:01:07.739 You need to hear what Jesus has to say this morning. 00:01:09.099 --> 00:01:16.780 If you've come into this building this morning, and when you hear the word divorce for only 00:01:16.780 --> 00:01:25.659 the grounds of sexual immorality, and you realize that you've divorced for something other than that, 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:33.420 and then remarried, you may be coming here, and you've got this huge lump in your throat. 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:35.240 Your heart's dropping. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:37.659 You need to hear what Jesus is saying here. 00:01:37.659 --> 00:01:44.140 If you're single, and you're thinking about getting married, hoping to get married, 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:48.000 you need to hear what Jesus is saying here. 00:01:48.759 --> 00:01:54.140 Because Jesus is talking about marriage in a way that we don't hear in our culture. 00:01:55.479 --> 00:02:01.319 He's got something to say about marriage, and He's got something to say about divorce. 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:08.579 And so this morning, Jesus is speaking to us, and He's saying, let me clarify this divorce thing. 00:02:11.859 --> 00:02:22.719 What we're going to see this morning is that marriage is an exclusive, lifelong, one-flesh union 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:29.379 between one man and one woman joined together by God Himself. 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:37.039 Marriage is sacred. 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:42.359 Marriage is sacred. 00:02:43.859 --> 00:02:54.819 The way I want to help you see this this morning is by introducing you to a debate that was taking place in first century Palestine. 00:02:54.819 --> 00:03:02.840 It gives some backdrop to the situation historically that Jesus was speaking into. 00:03:03.819 --> 00:03:06.180 And so, I want to help you to understand the debate. 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:10.319 We're going to go way back to Deuteronomy 24 to help you see that. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:17.900 And then, I want to help you see where the Pharisees came down, these teachers of the law in Jesus' day, 00:03:18.299 --> 00:03:21.000 where they came down on this very debate. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:28.139 And so, in order to help you see that, we're going to go to Matthew 19, 3-9. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:33.360 And then, we're going to bring it all together back in Matthew 5. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:38.199 And we're going to learn what Jesus has to say about all things. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:41.099 We're going to spend a lot of time in Matthew 19 this morning. 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:42.319 I'll explain why in a little bit. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:44.719 But Jesus puts on a clinic. 00:03:46.239 --> 00:03:51.400 He has something to say about marriage, and He's got something to say about divorce. 00:03:53.379 --> 00:03:57.739 You know, just let me pray one more time as we turn to what Jesus says here. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:05.379 Lord Jesus, we're here to listen to what You say. 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:16.139 And as Your followers, we are coming not to weigh what You say, decide whether we should obey, 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:19.360 but we're coming to obey. 00:04:20.219 --> 00:04:22.379 We're listening so that we can obey. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:28.199 Lord, this is part of the teaching with which we are to instruct all the disciples 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.199 when we make nations, disciples of the nations, 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:34.420 instructing them in all that You have commanded, and this is part of that. 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:38.379 And so, Lord, would You help us to not only hear, 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:44.319 but to hear with hearts eager to obey, eager to understand. 00:04:45.180 --> 00:04:46.939 And it's Your name I pray once again. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:47.920 Amen. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.480 Alright, you guys ready to go back to first century Palestine? 00:04:52.719 --> 00:04:53.360 Here we go. 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:57.620 If you'd open up your Bibles all the way back to Deuteronomy 24. 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:01.139 Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament. 00:05:01.139 --> 00:05:04.719 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 00:05:06.159 --> 00:05:07.480 Why are we going there? 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:10.439 In Matthew 5.31, Jesus says this, 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:18.360 It was said, whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:21.240 He's not talking about something in the Ten Commandments. 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:27.659 He's raising something that was an issue out of Deuteronomy 24, 1-4. 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:37.100 And so, I want to bring you there so that you can see what the debate in the first century was over among Jewish religious leaders. 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:40.060 And so, let's go there now. 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:42.819 Deuteronomy 24. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:42.860 Deuteronomy 24. 00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:48.639 And we read this. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:06:02.419 When a man takes a wife and marries her, if, then, she finds no favor in his eyes because he's found some indecency. 00:06:02.420 --> 00:06:05.420 Those two words are going to be the center of the debate. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:26.680 If, then, if, then, if she goes and becomes another man's wife, and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:38.240 or if, the latter man dies who took her to be his wife, then, her former husband who sent her away may not take her again to be his wife after she has been defiled, 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:40.280 for that is an abomination before the Lord. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:45.800 And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. 00:06:46.280 --> 00:06:47.160 There's a lot there. 00:06:47.280 --> 00:06:47.899 A lot of ifs. 00:06:47.960 --> 00:06:48.980 Did you notice the ifs? 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:50.300 A lot of ifs. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:52.740 And then the word then shows up in verse 4. 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:58.160 This passage is there really to establish the point of verse 4. 00:06:58.840 --> 00:07:09.319 And the specific situation it's addressing is if a guy divorces a woman, that woman remarries, and for whatever reason that second marriage dissolves, 00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:12.420 the first husband can't take the wife again. 00:07:12.840 --> 00:07:13.819 That's why this is here. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:17.519 It doesn't say whether divorce is right or wrong. 00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:20.939 What it's getting at is what if this happens? 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:22.720 It's known as case law. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.680 And so it's addressing a specific situation. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:31.620 That's kind of the background on Deuteronomy 24, the passage itself. 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:34.519 Now let's look at the issue of the debate. 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:37.400 The debate wasn't about verse 4. 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:41.120 The debate was over something in verse 1. 00:07:42.259 --> 00:07:47.360 And it was those two words, some indecency in the ESV. 00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:49.079 And so here's what was going on. 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:56.399 There were two camps, two schools of rabbinical thought, of the teachers of the law of the day. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:00.199 And the first school was the school of Shammai. 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:06.399 And Shammai would interpret those two words, some indecency, very narrowly, very rigidly. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:09.899 And they would say the some indecency is adultery. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:13.939 It's some grave, marital, physical, sexual event. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:18.019 That is the some indecency that allows for divorce. 00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:19.959 And so that's the school of Shammai over here. 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:22.719 The other school is the school of Hillel. 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:33.240 And the school of Hillel interpreted some indecency not narrowly, not rigidly, but very broadly, very generally. 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:43.379 So what that meant was some rabbis would say some indecency would include divorcing a wife because she spoiled her husband's dinner. 00:08:44.460 --> 00:08:45.159 It's there. 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:51.620 Or because a husband has found someone fairer than his wife. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:56.879 Those would become grounds for divorcing her and handing her a certificate of divorce. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:03.700 Now, if you're a woman in the room and you're like thinking, I could not believe living underneath something like that. 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:04.080 You know what? 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:09.000 I just might spoil this guy's dinner so he would hand me a certificate of divorce. 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:19.460 But whether you believe we're part of the school of Shammai, the rigid approach, or part of the school of Hillel, the loose approach, 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:22.820 both would say you have to give a certificate of divorce. 00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:31.440 And what a certificate of divorce was at that time was a way to protect a wife from a husband who was just very capricious, 00:09:31.560 --> 00:09:36.400 just like whatever, on a whim, get out of my face, you spoiled my dinner, 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:40.540 or without having to give her some kind of legal protection. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:45.200 And so a certificate of divorce set out the right for a wife to remarry. 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:52.120 And so the background of what's happening in Matthew 5 is this debate. 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:56.660 And the question's going to become, where does Jesus come down? 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.940 Is he school of Shammai or is he school of Hillel? 00:10:00.180 --> 00:10:01.560 Where does he fall down? 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:02.560 Where does he come to? 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:06.220 Before we get there, we've got to see where the Pharisees come down, 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.100 because this is setting the whole thing up. 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:13.740 And so if you would, knowing that the debate is over some indecency, 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:18.519 and knowing the sides of the debate, would you now flip your Bibles to Matthew 19? 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:22.139 Matthew 19. 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.620 And we're going to be looking at 3 through 9. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:31.759 And just to give you a little help in understanding, this passage. 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:36.340 In Matthew 19, 3 through 9, Jesus takes up the issue of divorce again. 00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:37.700 But there's a difference. 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.960 It's in who he's talking to. 00:10:40.060 --> 00:10:42.019 In Matthew 5, it's his inaugural address. 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:43.500 He's speaking to his disciples. 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:48.860 In Matthew 19, he's speaking to Pharisees. 00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:54.800 They've asked him, what do you think about Deuteronomy 24.1? 00:10:55.840 --> 00:11:01.100 And so in Matthew 19, 3 through 9, we're going to spend most of our time there, 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:06.000 because it reveals Jesus' mind on the matter more. 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:07.960 It's more expansive. 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:12.379 He explains more in Matthew 19, 3 through 9, on marriage and divorce, 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:14.379 than he does in Matthew 5. 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:19.639 So what we're going to do is we're going to use Matthew 19 to help us understand Matthew 5. 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:23.639 And so what we see is what Jesus thinks about marriage and divorce. 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:29.259 And we also learn where the Pharisees come down on Deuteronomy 24. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:32.980 Look at verse 3 of chapter 19 in Matthew. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:39.019 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him, which I always think is pretty funny, 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:42.059 because they're testing the incarnate God of the universe. 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:45.960 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:50.439 is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:11:51.439 --> 00:11:53.179 Do you know why they're asking him the question? 00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:56.159 So what's the background of that question? 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:58.620 Deuteronomy 24, 1 through 4. 00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:03.939 And so they want to know where Jesus is coming down on this whole divorce thing. 00:12:04.739 --> 00:12:05.979 Is it biblical? 00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:11.739 Is it okay that a husband divorces his wife for pretty much any cause? 00:12:12.319 --> 00:12:14.139 Jesus, where are you coming down on this debate? 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:23.340 Now, what this kind of shows is the Pharisees' hand, where they actually are. 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:31.120 And so what we'll see is that the Pharisees actually adhere to the school of Hillel. 00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:38.319 That they are holding to a position on divorce that is broad and loose. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:44.940 And so this should be somewhat of a surprise, because so far, on the issue of murder, 00:12:45.280 --> 00:12:47.780 and on the issue of adultery, they've been rather tight. 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:50.040 Because it suited their purpose. 00:12:50.800 --> 00:12:54.720 And now when we get to this issue of when can you divorce, 00:12:55.140 --> 00:12:58.200 they go loose, because it served their purpose. 00:12:59.160 --> 00:13:01.900 And so Jesus is going to speak right into that. 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:07.039 And all week long, I've been like, Jesus, you are so awesome. 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:09.419 To speak like this. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:15.679 So Matthew 19, 3 through 9, what I'd like you to do, 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:21.240 just to walk through each verse to help us understand what's being said, 00:13:21.579 --> 00:13:24.939 so that we can see what Jesus means. 00:13:25.579 --> 00:13:26.879 What Jesus is saying. 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:30.379 So that we can hear our Savior and King speak. 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:33.059 So we can walk after His ways. 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:34.919 We can live in the light of His teaching. 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:41.980 So, 19, 3, is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:45.039 The any cause is back to 24-1. 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:50.399 This any kind of sense, any kind of reason, 00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:56.620 any kind of spoiling your dinner, anything like that. 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:59.740 They're asking for a no-fault divorce. 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.820 Some indecency. 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:08.120 Jesus, do you agree with us? 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.940 Would you just quickly flip back to 531? 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:14.019 I want to help you understand what's being said in 531. 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:20.360 Jesus says it was also said, 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:21.879 and what you need to hear there is, 00:14:22.199 --> 00:14:27.100 it was also said by the Pharisees who've been teaching on this in our culture, 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:33.019 that whoever divorces his wife for any cause, 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:36.539 let him give her a certificate of divorce. 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:43.959 And so Jesus is addressing the present teaching and understanding of this issue of divorce of the day. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:46.959 And so these dovetail very nicely. 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:53.339 What, just for a little background, 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:56.159 what had happened at this point is, 00:14:56.699 --> 00:15:04.799 the Pharisees were more concerned about getting the legal writing correct on the certificate of divorce. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.959 They wanted to make sure it was accurate, 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:09.159 rather than asking, 00:15:09.719 --> 00:15:11.179 is the grounds right? 00:15:13.099 --> 00:15:15.219 And so what they were doing is they're asking, 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:19.599 they want justification for no-fault divorce, 00:15:20.099 --> 00:15:23.279 a divorce that they can declare for any reason they want, 00:15:23.839 --> 00:15:26.779 but the wife really has no say in the matter. 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:31.279 What we're looking here at is a sad situation. 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.539 Heartbreaking. 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:33.879 Difficult for a woman. 00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:38.679 It'd be a very difficult place to live and feel like you have a voice. 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:43.579 So the Pharisees were adherents to the school of Hillel, 00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:48.079 the sum and decency that they thought about when they were interpreting loose and broad. 00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:51.319 And so they're asking Jesus in verse 3, 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:53.820 hey, are you for us or against us? 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:57.120 And this is where I want to turn to Jesus now, 00:15:57.680 --> 00:16:00.720 and I want to occupy our time with what does Jesus say? 00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:05.360 The first thing I want you to notice is in verse 4, 4 through 6, 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.660 is where Jesus begins. 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:12.719 Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? 00:16:13.079 --> 00:16:14.480 Our Savior King says, 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:19.059 have you not read that He who created them from the beginning 00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:22.699 made them male and female and said, 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:26.600 therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.480 and they shall become one flesh? 00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:30.819 So they're no longer two but one flesh. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.899 What therefore God has joined together, 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:37.299 let not man separate. 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:40.199 Did you notice where Jesus starts? 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.639 He doesn't start in Deuteronomy 24. 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.779 He starts in Genesis 1 and 2. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.480 In the beginning. 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:54.360 Jesus goes back to the very start 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:57.419 when God established marriage. 00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:59.819 That's where Jesus goes. 00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:01.899 And so in 19.4 when He says, 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:04.619 have you not read that He who created them from the beginning 00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:06.460 made them male and female? 00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:09.119 He's talking about Genesis 1.26 and 27. 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:11.019 God created man in His image. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:12.559 Male and female He created them. 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:15.099 They are of the same value, 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:18.480 but they're distinct in who they are physically in their roles, 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.299 but the same value. 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:22.759 God created them male and female. 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:25.460 And then in verse 19.5 we read this. 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:28.139 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother 00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:29.259 and hold fast to his wife 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.700 and thou shalt become one flesh. 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:33.319 He's talking about Genesis 2.24. 00:17:33.580 --> 00:17:35.799 The divine institution of marriage 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:38.299 where God gives Eve to Adam 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.500 and declares them, 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.860 you're one flesh. 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:47.299 It was the divine institution of marriage. 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:49.259 Did you notice the one flesh language? 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.840 Jesus is emphasizing that for a reason. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.919 Verse 6. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.759 So they are no longer two, 00:17:56.879 --> 00:17:58.659 but one flesh. 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:02.619 What therefore God has joined together, 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:05.539 let not man separate. 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:09.039 Jesus is making explicit 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:12.639 what's implied in Genesis 2.24 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.759 in that it is God 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.740 who is joining the first husband 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:19.360 and the first wife. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.140 That's God at work. 00:18:24.340 --> 00:18:26.960 And so essentially what Jesus is saying here is, 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:29.520 hey, divorce wasn't part of the original design. 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:32.460 Wasn't part of the original design. 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:33.920 In the beginning, 00:18:34.080 --> 00:18:35.060 God created, 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.160 then joined one man and one woman 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.160 in an exclusive, 00:18:39.540 --> 00:18:40.120 lifelong, 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:42.300 one flesh union. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:44.880 And so the case that Jesus is making here 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:47.880 is that marriage is sacred. 00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:49.880 And what the Pharisees were doing 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:52.840 were they were trivializing marriage. 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:55.259 That's the culture we live in today. 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:58.100 You remove God from the equation 00:18:58.100 --> 00:19:00.000 and everything trivializes. 00:19:00.540 --> 00:19:01.800 You've got a lot more options. 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:07.720 Jesus is returning God to marriage. 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.480 And what He's saying is, 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:11.399 what is normal and binding 00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:12.680 from the beginning 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:14.139 is an exclusive, 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:15.359 lifelong, 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:16.639 one flesh union 00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:19.240 joined by God. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.319 Here's what Jesus is doing. 00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:23.000 It's very helpful. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.759 He's saying, 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:26.319 let's not start with the exception. 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:27.980 Deuteronomy 24. 00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:30.099 Let's start with the norm. 00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:32.659 Let's understand the norm 00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:34.179 so that we can understand the exception. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:36.399 And what He's making out to be the norm 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:39.659 is Genesis 1 and 2. 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.379 That marriage is sacred. 00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:45.419 It's a joining of one man and one woman 00:19:45.419 --> 00:19:47.000 by God Himself. 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:51.559 He is fulfilling the intent of the law here. 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.539 He's saying this is what it really means. 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:58.559 The Pharisees had trivialized marriage, 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:01.480 but Jesus is returning God's design 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:04.220 and intent to marriage. 00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:06.700 He's returning the sacredness, 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:10.559 the divine design of marriage. 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:13.799 I know I've said it a lot, 00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:15.179 but marriage is God 00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:17.220 joining one man and one woman 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:20.599 together exclusively for life. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:23.379 And so He answers the question 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:24.159 by saying, 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.259 you're not starting in the right place. 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:28.240 You're not starting. 00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.920 Divorce is never part of the design 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.720 to begin with. 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.920 And then look at verse 7. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.379 They, the Pharisees, said to Him, 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.180 why then did Moses command one 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:40.339 to give a certificate of divorce 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:42.000 and to send her away? 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.599 It's kind of like, 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:44.500 but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.559 but what about this? 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:45.579 What about this? 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:53.379 What about Deuteronomy 24, Jesus? 00:20:54.699 --> 00:20:57.279 The Pharisees were seeking to trap Jesus 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:00.079 by pitting one part of the law 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:01.699 against another. 00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:06.279 And Jesus just totally dismantles them. 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:09.259 He says, you guys are misguided. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.679 You're misguided. 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.980 You've got misguided notions 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.119 of Deuteronomy 24. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:15.500 And so let's turn to verse 8. 00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.839 There's, there's some things in it 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:18.459 that are really important to see. 00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:20.859 Let me read it. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.579 He said to them, 00:21:22.719 --> 00:21:24.139 because of your hardness of heart, 00:21:24.719 --> 00:21:27.239 Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.500 but from the beginning, 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.759 it was not so. 00:21:30.179 --> 00:21:32.199 So, he starts with this phrase, 00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.619 hardness of heart. 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:37.839 Jesus is, is essentially saying this. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:41.199 Deuteronomy 24, 1 through 4, 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.740 wasn't written to the humble of heart. 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:44.380 That was written for the calloused of heart. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:48.120 And so, this was a problem 00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:49.720 that was rising because 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:51.660 husbands with callous hearts 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:53.080 were divorcing their wives 00:21:53.080 --> 00:21:54.400 any way they saw fit. 00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:56.059 And so this was, 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:58.380 this is there to slow it down, 00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.640 to protect wives. 00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:04.360 And so, what the Pharisees were doing 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:05.840 and what Jesus is exposing is, 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:08.620 you're basing your whole system of divorce 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:11.819 on a passage that assumes 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:13.299 hardness of heart. 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:19.399 You'd think that they would be suspect 00:22:19.399 --> 00:22:22.239 that this passage was being used 00:22:22.239 --> 00:22:24.299 to address a sin problem. 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:28.279 But they were using it to justify 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.619 what they wanted. 00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:32.500 And so, it was written 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.479 not to soft hearts, 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:35.839 but to calloused hearts. 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:38.399 Those with a hardened heart. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:40.500 And Jesus is going after the Pharisees. 00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:43.599 Because of your hardness of heart, 00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:46.619 Moses allowed. 00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:49.819 That's the second thing in verse 8 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.699 I want you to notice. 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:54.199 Moses allowed divorce. 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.599 He never commanded it. 00:22:57.199 --> 00:22:58.319 Look back in verse 7. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:01.599 The Pharisees said to Him, 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:05.119 why then did Moses command one 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:06.659 to give a certificate of divorce 00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.740 and to send her away? 00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:10.419 Jesus, because of your hardness of heart, 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:15.000 Moses allowed you to divorce your wives. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.439 What Jesus is saying is, 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:18.139 Deuteronomy 24 is there 00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:19.220 because of hardness on heart. 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.299 And it's not a command. 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.359 It's a concession. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:27.740 And so, these Pharisees were building 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.519 a whole misguided view of divorce 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.859 on this vague concession 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:34.059 pertaining to a specific situation 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.839 that was actually about 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:37.559 a husband's hardness of heart. 00:23:37.719 --> 00:23:39.000 Do you follow what's going on here? 00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:43.379 And then Jesus, 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.779 the last thing, 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.759 He says, 00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:47.639 it's not so in the beginning. 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:49.820 He returns us to creation. 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:52.460 He returns us to Genesis 1 and 2. 00:23:53.340 --> 00:23:54.840 You shouldn't be building your view 00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:56.980 of divorce off a concession, 00:23:57.460 --> 00:24:01.080 but on God's clear and obvious, 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:05.140 normal and binding word on marriage. 00:24:05.280 --> 00:24:06.640 It's exclusive and it's for life. 00:24:08.020 --> 00:24:10.040 It's a union that God joins. 00:24:12.280 --> 00:24:13.440 Marriage is sacred. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.100 You see Jesus? 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:17.139 He's dismantling them. 00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:19.159 Isn't it so helpful to see Him doing it? 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.219 Verse 9, 00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:26.500 we read, 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.639 And I say to you, 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:32.519 and I say to you, 00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:34.939 whoever divorces his wife 00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:36.579 except for sexual immorality 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:38.399 and marries another commits adultery, 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.699 and I say to you. 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.719 It's emphatic. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.900 Jesus is saying, 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.819 this is what the Word says, 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:47.339 and I say to you, 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.180 Pharisees, 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:50.259 let's get this thing right. 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.100 Now, 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:52.600 that, 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.600 and I say to you, 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.839 should ring a little bit of a bell. 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:58.920 If you flip back to Matthew 5.32, 00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:01.299 we read, 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.980 And it was also said, 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:04.299 whoever divorces his wife, 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.940 let him give her a certificate of divorce, 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:08.059 but I say to you, 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.620 disciples, 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:11.360 that everyone who divorces his wife 00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:13.059 except on the ground of sexual immorality 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.440 makes her commit adultery, 00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:16.220 and whoever marries a divorced woman 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.519 commits adultery. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.519 Jesus is saying the same thing 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:21.400 in chapter 5 and chapter 19. 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.779 In chapter 19, 00:25:23.860 --> 00:25:25.080 He just simply expands. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.080 That's why it's so helpful 00:25:26.080 --> 00:25:27.259 to see 19 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:30.759 explaining chapter 5. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:36.420 That little phrase in 5.32, 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.980 if you would just turn there now, 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.839 chapter 5.32, 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.700 But I say to you 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:43.259 that everyone who divorces his wife 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:45.660 except on the ground of sexual immorality 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:48.259 makes her commit adultery. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.119 Did you see that? 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.900 Here's what you need to realize 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.660 in the first century. 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:56.359 It was assumed 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:58.500 that a divorced woman, 00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:00.200 in order to survive, 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:02.220 would have to do one of two things. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.660 She would either have to go back 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:05.740 to her father's house in shame, 00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:08.100 or she would have to find someone else to marry 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:10.299 regardless of why she was divorced. 00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:12.299 Neither was a good option. 00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:15.660 And so what Jesus is saying is 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:18.920 if you divorce your wife 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:20.279 for any other reason 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.580 besides sexual immorality, 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.720 and I'll get to that in a second, 00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:24.019 but if you do that, 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:26.100 you make her commit adultery. 00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:32.039 This was a time when a single woman, 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:32.859 a single mom, 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:35.319 was not a viable economic unit. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.779 She didn't have many choices. 00:26:40.199 --> 00:26:42.359 And so what Jesus is getting at is 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:44.059 you've got to slow down 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:45.500 if you're thinking about divorce. 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:47.799 You've got to realize 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.839 there's a lot at stake. 00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:50.699 The sacredness of marriage. 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:53.880 God has joined two together as one. 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:57.180 And if you do this step, 00:26:57.620 --> 00:27:00.240 you're going to cause your former wife 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:02.279 to commit adultery. 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:05.580 Which is incredibly ironic 00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:07.360 because the Pharisees 00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.680 were trying to get around it. 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:14.580 And so what Jesus is doing here 00:27:14.580 --> 00:27:16.840 is given the sanctity of marriage, 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:19.940 it's exclusive, lifelong, 00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:22.240 one flesh, joined by God. 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:24.320 If you divorce your wife 00:27:24.320 --> 00:27:28.080 for a reason other than sexual immorality, 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.580 you make her commit adultery 00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:32.080 by marrying another. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:35.259 And so what is behind this 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:38.160 is what God is thinking about a marriage. 00:27:39.060 --> 00:27:41.620 Remember this language of one flesh? 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.940 If there's a divorce 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:47.600 without grounds of sexual immorality, 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:52.799 that remarriage takes place 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:54.860 and God is still thinking about 00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.900 that first marriage 00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:57.220 as a one flesh union. 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.779 That's why the second marriage 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:02.279 becomes an act of adultery. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:06.620 And the weight of what Jesus is saying here 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:08.579 is not on the wife 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:12.079 who's being made to commit adultery. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.719 It's on the husband 00:28:13.719 --> 00:28:16.039 who's causing her to do that. 00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:20.719 Jesus is saying, 00:28:21.159 --> 00:28:23.159 don't make this about her. 00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:26.279 This is about your hardness of heart. 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:34.319 Let's look at this exception clause. 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.539 The exception clause 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:39.180 is the clause 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:40.879 that begins with the word accept. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.980 In 532, 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.240 accept on the ground 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:46.039 of sexual immorality. 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.319 In 19.9, 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:49.759 accept for sexual immorality. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.819 So for us, 00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:51.839 what this means is this. 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.940 There's other passages, 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.859 1 Corinthians 7, 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.779 that raise other possibilities 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:58.259 of separation 00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:00.000 and possibly remarriage. 00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:02.079 But what I want to do this morning 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:03.299 is focus in 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:05.259 on what Jesus is saying here 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.379 so that we're all clear 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.519 on what Jesus is saying. 00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:08.879 So we're not covering 00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:09.680 the whole waterfront 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.660 of what the Bible says, 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:12.759 but let's just get 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:14.120 what Jesus is saying here. 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:17.580 And so what Jesus is saying 00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.800 is the only exception 00:29:18.800 --> 00:29:19.860 He allows for, 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.000 for divorce, 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.300 is in the case 00:29:22.300 --> 00:29:23.540 of sexual immorality. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.340 So the question 00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:25.620 we need to ask is, 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.100 what does that mean? 00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:29.800 What is sexual immorality 00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:30.759 and what is a cover? 00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:33.600 And so the Greek word 00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:35.259 behind sexual immorality 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:36.880 is the word porneia. 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.279 And it's a word 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.920 that includes all kinds 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:42.079 of physical, 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:44.460 sexual irregularity. 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:47.240 Things that would grieve God. 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.680 And so, 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:52.119 in the case of a husband 00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:54.259 being unfaithful to a wife, 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.599 whether that husband 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.079 is sexually, 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.339 physically unfaithful 00:29:58.339 --> 00:29:59.819 with someone else 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.579 who is married or unmarried, 00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:02.420 it's still porneia. 00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:04.899 Whether it is someone 00:30:04.899 --> 00:30:07.460 who is of the opposite sex 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.759 or same sex, 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.599 it's porneia. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:12.039 So whether it's another adult 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.819 or a minor, 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.660 it's porneia. 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:15.200 So whether it's another human 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.119 or an animal, 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.039 it's porneia. 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.619 And so what Jesus is doing 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:20.980 is saying sexual immorality 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:22.920 covers the gamut, 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.000 porneia, 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.500 of sexual, 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:27.000 physical wrongdoing 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.799 in God's eyes. 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.140 And Jesus is saying 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.779 that becomes grounds 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.279 for divorce. 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:37.599 and it's the sole exception 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:38.759 that Jesus allows 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.200 here in the book of Matthew. 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:44.819 I 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:49.279 have been weighing 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:49.779 whether or not 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:51.000 I should raise this point, 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.319 but I think it would be helpful. 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.899 Because I'm guessing 00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:56.519 some of you are in your pew 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.059 asking, 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.240 well, 00:30:58.299 --> 00:31:00.059 why just sexual immorality? 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:03.220 Why not physical 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.419 or verbal abuse? 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:07.440 Surely that was a horrific event 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:08.879 in the first century Palestine 00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:11.379 as it is in 21st century Kenosha. 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.659 Well, 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.779 I just want to humbly say 00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.980 here's my best understanding 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.539 of why 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:19.119 Jesus limits 00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:21.339 the grounds for divorce 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:23.339 to just sexual immorality. 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.559 Physical and verbal abuse 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:31.240 are horrific in a marriage. 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:34.619 But there seems to be 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:36.240 a difference in our Savior's mind 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:38.539 between that kind of wrongdoing 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:40.359 and the kind of breach 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:42.339 that is wrought upon a marriage 00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:44.159 through porneia. 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.539 And so, 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:48.179 all are wrong. 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:52.000 But Jesus seems to say 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.320 that there is something 00:31:53.320 --> 00:31:55.820 to this physical sexual act 00:31:55.820 --> 00:31:57.920 that has a unique 00:31:57.920 --> 00:32:00.039 devastating effect 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:00.759 on a marriage. 00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:06.220 Sexual immorality 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:08.640 disjoins 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:11.500 the one flesh union 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:14.940 God has joined together. 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:21.000 What God has joined together. 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:25.120 Let not man separate. 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:33.279 Jesus is being very specific. 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:39.080 If sexual immorality takes place, 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.660 a marriage has suffered 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:44.019 a kind of physical unjoining 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:46.420 that can actually end 00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.200 a marriage 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:48.779 in God's eyes. 00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:51.059 That's how serious 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.259 Jesus sees 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.559 sexual immorality. 00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:57.039 It's not to diminish 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:59.480 the sinfulness 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.680 of physical 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.259 and verbal abuse, 00:33:02.639 --> 00:33:04.579 but it's heightening 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:06.759 this issue of sexual fidelity 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.900 in a marriage. 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:11.639 So if there is sexual immorality, 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:14.320 God allows 00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:15.120 for the one 00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:15.940 sinned against 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:17.080 to remarry 00:33:17.080 --> 00:33:18.460 without being 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.740 an adulterer. 00:33:20.540 --> 00:33:22.420 Without committing adulterer. 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.960 The sinning spouse 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:25.160 has already 00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:26.500 committed adultery 00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.660 because of their 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:29.460 sexual immorality. 00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.960 So what we see 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.660 in chapter 5 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:32.259 verse 32 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.180 in 19.9 00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:34.700 is a kind of warning 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.860 that divorcing 00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:37.800 without biblical grounds, 00:33:38.020 --> 00:33:38.980 the grounds 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:40.320 of sexual immorality, 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:42.220 causes the remarriage 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:43.519 of the 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:47.339 divorcing husband 00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:48.779 and wife 00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.759 to start 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:52.379 as an adulterous act 00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:54.379 because that marriage 00:33:54.379 --> 00:33:55.179 in God's eyes 00:33:55.179 --> 00:33:56.279 is still one flesh. 00:33:58.539 --> 00:34:00.000 So let me try to summarize 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.579 what Jesus is saying here. 00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:05.779 And it's really instructive 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.240 for us. 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:10.400 Jesus starts 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.019 in the beginning. 00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:14.460 Jesus starts 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.619 with what's normal. 00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:18.039 God's design 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.800 and creation. 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:19.980 Genesis 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:21.199 chapter 1 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:21.659 and 2. 00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:23.719 Much of our lives 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.760 depend on Genesis 00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.840 chapter 1 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.219 and 2. 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:26.760 It is 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.840 vital 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.599 scripture 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.900 to our everyday living. 00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:32.700 What's normal 00:34:32.700 --> 00:34:33.639 is to see a marriage 00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.780 as an exclusive, 00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:36.440 lifelong, 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:38.240 one flesh union 00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:39.420 joined together 00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.760 by God. 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.700 It's normal 00:34:41.700 --> 00:34:42.559 and binding 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.940 and it's where 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:46.039 we must start 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.180 in our everyday 00:34:47.180 --> 00:34:48.039 conversations 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:49.280 in the 21st century. 00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:50.980 Jesus starts 00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.680 with the norm, 00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:53.160 not the exception. 00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:55.019 John Stott, 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.619 his pastoral practice, 00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:58.980 when a couple 00:34:58.980 --> 00:34:59.880 who was considering 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.360 divorce 00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:01.300 would come to him, 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:02.400 he insisted 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:03.659 that before they 00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.639 talk about divorce, 00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.800 they first talk about 00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:07.400 the nature of marriage 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.179 and the nature 00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:08.960 of reconciliation. 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:11.519 Good practice. 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.480 The second thing 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.539 I want to help you see here 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.480 is that 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:19.639 nowhere does God 00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.760 require divorce. 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.639 Nowhere does He 00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:23.039 command divorce. 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.659 Divorce, 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:26.820 both in 00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:27.860 Deuteronomy 24 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:29.340 and even here 00:35:29.340 --> 00:35:30.920 in Matthew 5 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:31.440 and 19 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.120 it's 00:35:32.120 --> 00:35:33.940 a concession, 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:34.680 it's provisional. 00:35:35.260 --> 00:35:36.380 It's not a requirement. 00:35:36.700 --> 00:35:37.559 It's not a command. 00:35:40.059 --> 00:35:41.079 And what we saw 00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:42.519 in 19 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.240 is that Jesus 00:35:43.240 --> 00:35:44.360 totally dismantles 00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:45.019 the Pharisees' 00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:46.160 false understanding 00:35:46.160 --> 00:35:47.000 of it being a command. 00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.720 God allowed for it, 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:50.700 not required it. 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:54.699 Do you know what's 00:35:54.699 --> 00:35:55.379 baked into 00:35:55.379 --> 00:35:56.279 Genesis 1 and 2? 00:35:57.379 --> 00:35:58.279 This is what I love 00:35:58.279 --> 00:35:59.000 about my Bible. 00:36:01.239 --> 00:36:02.719 God took that example 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:03.439 of one man 00:36:03.439 --> 00:36:04.059 and one woman 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:05.679 and He ran it 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:06.359 through your Bible. 00:36:07.799 --> 00:36:08.699 From the beginning 00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:09.639 God had an idea. 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:10.679 He says, 00:36:10.759 --> 00:36:11.739 I'm going to use this 00:36:11.739 --> 00:36:12.519 to communicate 00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:13.559 my relationship 00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.379 to my people. 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.279 And so all throughout 00:36:16.279 --> 00:36:16.879 the Old Testament, 00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:18.199 you see it in Ezekiel 16, 00:36:18.439 --> 00:36:19.079 you see it in the book 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.619 of Hosea, 00:36:20.299 --> 00:36:21.860 God takes on the role 00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:23.599 of a husband groom. 00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:25.259 And His people 00:36:25.259 --> 00:36:26.739 take on the role 00:36:26.739 --> 00:36:28.460 of the bride, 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.239 the wife. 00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:30.940 And then when we turn 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:31.819 to the New Testament, 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.539 what we see is 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:35.639 Jesus takes the role 00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:37.179 of the groom. 00:36:38.799 --> 00:36:40.759 And the church 00:36:40.759 --> 00:36:42.219 takes the role 00:36:42.219 --> 00:36:43.799 of the bride. 00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:45.639 And what we see 00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.699 over and over again 00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:48.699 used in this picture 00:36:49.079 --> 00:36:51.039 throughout the whole Bible 00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:53.759 is a faithful husband 00:36:53.759 --> 00:36:57.900 who lovingly forgives 00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:59.199 and reconciles 00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:00.960 with his wayward wife 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:03.139 over and over 00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:04.860 and over again. 00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:09.019 Our God is a faithful husband. 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:11.920 And it informs 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:13.820 how we are to approach 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:15.119 this issue of divorce 00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:16.199 even when 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:19.239 the requirements 00:37:19.239 --> 00:37:19.800 are met. 00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.639 You see, 00:37:21.780 --> 00:37:22.239 above all, 00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:23.139 we're peacemakers. 00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:25.619 Blessed are the peacemakers. 00:37:28.259 --> 00:37:29.519 And so if I were 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.159 to be approached 00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:30.860 by a person 00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:32.440 who was considering 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:32.840 divorce 00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:34.019 and that person 00:37:34.019 --> 00:37:35.159 had biblical grounds, 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:35.579 do you know 00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:36.119 what I would say? 00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:38.699 have you considered 00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:39.420 making peace? 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:42.000 Have you considered 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.299 forgiving the sin? 00:37:47.339 --> 00:37:48.519 This is good news 00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:49.460 for struggling marriages. 00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:52.319 What this essentially does 00:37:52.319 --> 00:37:54.119 is it removes divorce 00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:54.980 from the equation. 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:57.059 It says we're going 00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:58.259 to work things out 00:37:58.259 --> 00:38:00.099 regardless how hard it gets. 00:38:00.099 --> 00:38:02.739 So if there's no grounds, 00:38:02.839 --> 00:38:03.500 there's no grounds. 00:38:04.819 --> 00:38:06.099 God has joined you together. 00:38:07.259 --> 00:38:08.440 There's work to be done. 00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:14.380 Another thing I want you to see 00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:15.360 in just kind of summary 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:17.440 is that sexual immorality 00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:19.079 is the only grounds here 00:38:19.079 --> 00:38:19.980 that Jesus makes 00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:20.759 as an exception 00:38:20.759 --> 00:38:22.199 for divorce. 00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:25.440 So a spouse 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:26.559 who has been sinned against 00:38:26.559 --> 00:38:27.299 sexually 00:38:27.299 --> 00:38:28.839 through this physical 00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:30.019 act of immorality, 00:38:31.100 --> 00:38:32.240 Jesus would allow you 00:38:32.240 --> 00:38:33.100 to end the marriage. 00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:34.600 It is provision. 00:38:34.740 --> 00:38:35.360 It is real. 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:38.180 But once you choose 00:38:38.180 --> 00:38:38.700 to stay, 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:40.019 if you choose to stay, 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.300 the way forward 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:43.039 is to forgive 00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:44.360 and to reconcile. 00:38:46.200 --> 00:38:46.980 And so you're 00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:48.519 no longer choosing 00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:49.539 to hold that sin 00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.500 over your spouse. 00:38:50.600 --> 00:38:51.500 You can't reclaim it 00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:52.260 in five years. 00:38:52.740 --> 00:38:53.500 You've forgiven him. 00:38:54.500 --> 00:38:55.100 Forgiven her. 00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:55.739 Now, 00:38:57.860 --> 00:38:58.739 if your spouse, 00:38:58.839 --> 00:38:59.480 that spouse, 00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.199 was to be 00:39:00.199 --> 00:39:02.299 sexually unfaithful again, 00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:04.519 you would need to weigh 00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:06.500 the same provision again. 00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:08.860 But it's a real provision. 00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:12.539 And we would love to help you. 00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:14.679 We'd love to help you 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:16.299 navigate these hard waters. 00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:20.660 Back to this issue 00:39:20.660 --> 00:39:21.519 of physical abuse 00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:22.380 and verbal abuse. 00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:24.720 If it's not 00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:25.900 grounds for divorce, 00:39:26.140 --> 00:39:26.640 according to what 00:39:26.640 --> 00:39:27.600 Jesus is saying here, 00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:28.960 then how do we 00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:29.580 think about it? 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:32.580 We've got to 00:39:32.580 --> 00:39:33.380 take it seriously. 00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:35.440 We've got to 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:37.860 take steps of separation 00:39:37.860 --> 00:39:38.640 if need be. 00:39:39.060 --> 00:39:39.840 We've got to 00:39:39.840 --> 00:39:41.180 involve the authorities 00:39:41.180 --> 00:39:41.940 if required. 00:39:42.539 --> 00:39:43.340 But we're going to 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.519 pursue reconciliation. 00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:46.139 We're going to 00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:47.179 seek to be peacemakers 00:39:47.179 --> 00:39:48.139 despite how 00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:49.239 hard and 00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:50.059 heart aching 00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:50.860 it becomes. 00:39:52.059 --> 00:39:52.739 We've got to 00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:53.280 be wise. 00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:54.039 We've got to 00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:54.500 live in what 00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:55.480 God allows 00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:56.440 and does not allow. 00:39:57.759 --> 00:39:58.599 And I would 00:39:58.599 --> 00:39:59.380 only humbly 00:39:59.380 --> 00:40:00.039 recommend that 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:00.599 if you find 00:40:00.599 --> 00:40:01.280 yourself in a 00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:01.900 situation 00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:04.699 where you don't 00:40:04.699 --> 00:40:05.199 have grounds 00:40:05.199 --> 00:40:06.059 but it is hard, 00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:08.880 seek help. 00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:11.219 Ask for help. 00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:13.659 The elders of our 00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:14.480 church would love 00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:14.920 to help. 00:40:16.099 --> 00:40:16.960 We have people 00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.500 that can help 00:40:17.500 --> 00:40:17.980 as well. 00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:21.300 Seek help. 00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.699 If you are in 00:40:25.699 --> 00:40:26.240 the room and 00:40:26.240 --> 00:40:27.800 you have been 00:40:27.800 --> 00:40:28.840 divorced and 00:40:28.840 --> 00:40:29.199 you got a 00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:29.940 divorce without 00:40:29.940 --> 00:40:31.179 the grounds 00:40:31.179 --> 00:40:32.139 Jesus allows for 00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:32.679 here and then 00:40:32.679 --> 00:40:33.500 you got remarried, 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:36.300 what Jesus is 00:40:36.300 --> 00:40:37.159 saying is that 00:40:37.159 --> 00:40:38.320 that was an 00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:39.199 act of adultery 00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:41.119 because in God's 00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:42.079 eyes this first 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:42.940 marriage, your 00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:43.460 first marriage 00:40:43.460 --> 00:40:43.639 marriage was 00:40:43.639 --> 00:40:44.800 still a one 00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:45.599 flesh union. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:48.900 But you've got 00:40:48.900 --> 00:40:50.019 to see, Jesus 00:40:50.019 --> 00:40:51.059 chooses his words 00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:51.800 very carefully. 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:54.360 In both 00:40:54.360 --> 00:40:56.099 chapter 5, 32 00:40:56.099 --> 00:40:57.039 and 19, 9, 00:40:58.039 --> 00:40:59.000 Jesus talks 00:40:59.000 --> 00:40:59.900 about whoever 00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:01.880 marries someone 00:41:01.880 --> 00:41:02.340 who's been 00:41:02.340 --> 00:41:02.960 divorced without 00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:03.440 grounds. 00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:05.220 It's a real 00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:05.760 marriage. 00:41:05.760 --> 00:41:05.800 marriage. 00:41:08.760 --> 00:41:09.500 The second 00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:10.040 marriage. 00:41:11.160 --> 00:41:11.860 Your second 00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:12.520 marriage is a 00:41:12.520 --> 00:41:14.300 real marriage. 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:15.480 And Jesus 00:41:15.480 --> 00:41:17.320 doesn't call the 00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:18.000 one who does 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:18.520 that an 00:41:18.520 --> 00:41:19.800 adulteress or 00:41:19.800 --> 00:41:20.600 an adulterer. 00:41:20.720 --> 00:41:21.420 He says they 00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:23.240 commit adultery. 00:41:24.920 --> 00:41:26.000 And so though the 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:26.820 second marriage 00:41:26.820 --> 00:41:27.740 started on 00:41:27.740 --> 00:41:29.320 illegitimate grounds, 00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:30.600 it's still a real 00:41:30.600 --> 00:41:32.480 marriage in God's 00:41:32.480 --> 00:41:34.139 eyes and it's 00:41:34.139 --> 00:41:34.559 not the 00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.240 unforgivable 00:41:35.240 --> 00:41:35.659 sin. 00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:37.900 God has grace 00:41:37.900 --> 00:41:38.679 even for that. 00:41:40.679 --> 00:41:41.400 And I would 00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:41.900 just suggest 00:41:41.900 --> 00:41:42.320 this. 00:41:43.360 --> 00:41:44.079 If you find 00:41:44.079 --> 00:41:44.740 yourself in that 00:41:44.740 --> 00:41:45.380 situation, 00:41:47.380 --> 00:41:48.679 just simply 00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:50.840 go to Jesus, 00:41:51.260 --> 00:41:51.900 call it what 00:41:51.900 --> 00:41:52.659 he calls it, 00:41:53.280 --> 00:41:54.079 and then call it 00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:54.519 forgiven. 00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:56.000 Because your 00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:57.079 faithful husband 00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:58.199 died for it. 00:41:58.199 --> 00:41:59.939 Jesus did. 00:42:02.939 --> 00:42:03.679 And then what 00:42:03.679 --> 00:42:04.199 you want to do 00:42:04.199 --> 00:42:05.059 is move forward 00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:06.019 in your present 00:42:06.019 --> 00:42:06.879 marriage for 00:42:06.879 --> 00:42:07.859 his name's sake. 00:42:08.259 --> 00:42:08.939 You don't need 00:42:08.939 --> 00:42:09.639 to divorce the 00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:10.159 person you're 00:42:10.159 --> 00:42:10.960 presently married 00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:11.299 to. 00:42:11.779 --> 00:42:12.599 Stay as you 00:42:12.599 --> 00:42:13.639 are, but 00:42:13.639 --> 00:42:14.639 faithfully live 00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:15.879 out your 00:42:15.879 --> 00:42:16.859 vows before 00:42:16.859 --> 00:42:17.699 God and your 00:42:17.699 --> 00:42:18.219 spouse. 00:42:18.839 --> 00:42:19.460 What God 00:42:19.460 --> 00:42:20.859 has brought 00:42:20.859 --> 00:42:22.339 together, let 00:42:22.339 --> 00:42:23.139 not man 00:42:23.139 --> 00:42:24.439 separate. 00:42:28.199 --> 00:42:29.579 If you're 00:42:29.579 --> 00:42:30.139 thinking about 00:42:30.139 --> 00:42:30.619 getting a 00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:33.639 divorce, you 00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:34.099 need to slow 00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:34.399 down. 00:42:35.839 --> 00:42:36.500 You need to 00:42:36.500 --> 00:42:37.399 ask some really 00:42:37.399 --> 00:42:38.319 important questions. 00:42:39.759 --> 00:42:40.359 What does 00:42:40.359 --> 00:42:40.980 Jesus say? 00:42:42.339 --> 00:42:43.159 Do you have 00:42:43.159 --> 00:42:43.719 grounds? 00:42:44.799 --> 00:42:45.319 Do you need 00:42:45.319 --> 00:42:45.679 help? 00:42:46.839 --> 00:42:47.579 If you need 00:42:47.579 --> 00:42:48.379 help, help is 00:42:48.379 --> 00:42:48.839 available. 00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:50.699 I'd be glad to 00:42:50.699 --> 00:42:51.179 help you. 00:42:51.599 --> 00:42:52.279 Rick, other 00:42:52.279 --> 00:42:53.139 elders, other 00:42:53.139 --> 00:42:53.939 godly people of 00:42:53.939 --> 00:42:54.480 this church will 00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:55.099 be glad to help 00:42:55.099 --> 00:42:55.279 you. 00:42:55.699 --> 00:42:56.859 I'd only suggest 00:42:56.859 --> 00:42:57.239 this. 00:42:58.199 --> 00:42:59.000 You go to 00:42:59.000 --> 00:42:59.719 someone who's 00:42:59.719 --> 00:43:00.139 going to tell 00:43:00.139 --> 00:43:00.599 you what you 00:43:00.599 --> 00:43:01.359 need to hear 00:43:01.359 --> 00:43:02.539 instead of what 00:43:02.539 --> 00:43:03.139 you want to 00:43:03.139 --> 00:43:03.359 hear. 00:43:04.179 --> 00:43:05.019 Go to someone 00:43:05.019 --> 00:43:05.460 who's going to 00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:06.079 direct you to 00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:06.779 the scriptures 00:43:06.779 --> 00:43:08.539 and all of what 00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:10.279 they say, not 00:43:10.279 --> 00:43:10.819 what you just 00:43:10.819 --> 00:43:11.480 want them to 00:43:11.480 --> 00:43:11.739 say. 00:43:14.399 --> 00:43:15.179 There's a last 00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:15.799 group of people 00:43:15.799 --> 00:43:16.719 that I want to 00:43:16.719 --> 00:43:17.519 address this 00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:17.819 morning. 00:43:20.399 --> 00:43:21.259 Single people 00:43:21.259 --> 00:43:22.099 thinking about 00:43:22.099 --> 00:43:22.539 marriage. 00:43:25.339 --> 00:43:25.819 Please 00:43:25.819 --> 00:43:27.419 realize 00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:29.220 the sacredness 00:43:29.220 --> 00:43:30.460 of what you 00:43:30.460 --> 00:43:30.920 desire. 00:43:32.320 --> 00:43:32.960 That this 00:43:32.960 --> 00:43:33.960 is a union 00:43:33.960 --> 00:43:34.780 joined together 00:43:34.780 --> 00:43:35.460 by God. 00:43:36.180 --> 00:43:37.440 It's not to be 00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:38.360 entered into 00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:39.460 lightly. 00:43:42.680 --> 00:43:43.500 So if you've 00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:43.880 never been 00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:44.200 married, 00:43:45.659 --> 00:43:46.440 do you 00:43:46.440 --> 00:43:47.300 understand 00:43:47.300 --> 00:43:48.539 marriage as 00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:49.940 Jesus understands 00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:50.200 it? 00:43:51.740 --> 00:43:52.400 Exclusive, 00:43:52.599 --> 00:43:53.039 lifelong, 00:43:53.220 --> 00:43:53.639 one-flesh 00:43:53.639 --> 00:43:54.760 union that God 00:43:54.760 --> 00:43:55.300 unites, 00:43:55.440 --> 00:43:55.940 that God 00:43:55.940 --> 00:43:56.480 joins. 00:43:58.300 --> 00:43:59.179 Marriage is 00:43:59.179 --> 00:43:59.480 sacred. 00:44:02.320 --> 00:44:03.320 Let me end 00:44:03.320 --> 00:44:03.740 by saying 00:44:03.740 --> 00:44:04.119 this. 00:44:07.420 --> 00:44:08.480 We live in a 00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:09.480 culture that 00:44:09.480 --> 00:44:10.179 has trivialized 00:44:10.179 --> 00:44:11.039 marriage and 00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:11.800 made divorce 00:44:11.800 --> 00:44:12.820 very easy. 00:44:14.280 --> 00:44:15.659 When we live 00:44:15.659 --> 00:44:16.920 out our lives 00:44:16.920 --> 00:44:17.880 in marriages 00:44:17.880 --> 00:44:19.480 as Jesus 00:44:19.480 --> 00:44:20.760 called us 00:44:20.760 --> 00:44:22.320 to, do you 00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:22.780 know what we're 00:44:22.780 --> 00:44:23.280 going to be in 00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:23.780 this culture? 00:44:23.780 --> 00:44:25.519 we're going 00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:26.220 to be salt 00:44:26.220 --> 00:44:27.460 and light. 00:44:28.600 --> 00:44:29.420 We're going 00:44:29.420 --> 00:44:29.920 to stand 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:30.240 out. 00:44:31.960 --> 00:44:32.980 And our 00:44:32.980 --> 00:44:33.760 marriages are 00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:34.580 going to reflect 00:44:34.580 --> 00:44:36.040 that relationship 00:44:36.040 --> 00:44:37.460 between God 00:44:37.460 --> 00:44:38.400 and His 00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:38.840 people. 00:44:40.300 --> 00:44:40.860 God be 00:44:40.860 --> 00:44:41.320 praised. 00:44:42.480 --> 00:44:43.160 This is what 00:44:43.160 --> 00:44:43.980 marriage is 00:44:43.980 --> 00:44:45.820 that Jesus 00:44:45.820 --> 00:44:46.420 calls an 00:44:46.420 --> 00:44:46.880 exceeding 00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:47.360 righteousness. 00:44:48.519 --> 00:44:49.160 A 00:44:49.160 --> 00:44:49.500 righteousness 00:44:49.500 --> 00:44:50.300 that fulfills 00:44:50.300 --> 00:44:50.760 the law and 00:44:50.760 --> 00:44:51.200 the prophets. 00:44:52.240 --> 00:44:52.760 Let's pray. 00:44:52.760 --> 00:45:10.560 ин 00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:11.200 going