WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.900
 Do sit and in your series sheet you should have an outline of tonight's sermon.

00:00:04.980 --> 00:00:08.439
! It's the same structure over the four weeks of the series on marriage.

00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:12.980
! I think it'll help you in some ways. I think it's the only way you'll keep track tonight.

00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:14.720
 So do keep that open before you.

00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:16.660
 And Matthew chapter 19.

00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:22.679
 I want to start tonight by stating the obvious.

00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:28.679
 That between Genesis chapter 2, which we looked at last week, and Matthew chapter 19,

00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:31.280
 a lot of water has passed under the bridge.

00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:38.480
 Last week, we looked at what God said about marriage and singleness at the very beginning.

00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:43.719
 But between then and when Jesus arrives on the scene many years later,

00:00:44.820 --> 00:00:47.960
 in that time we hear about lots of marriages in the Old Testament.

00:00:49.260 --> 00:00:53.719
 Some are described in the Bible in very positive terms.

00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:59.420
 But many of the marriages we read about in the Old Testament are downright terrible.

00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:04.719
 And yet even in the midst of husbands and wives hurting each other and acting wickedly,

00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:09.439
 God is working out his gracious promises and purposes for his people.

00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:13.879
 In particular in the Old Testament, he works out his purposes through children.

00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:20.379
 He promises to Abraham and to David, depend utterly on the future generations.

00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:28.159
 And likewise, God's promise of a Messiah will be fulfilled, won't it, through a significant birth.

00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:36.019
 So from the perspective of the Old Testament, God's blessings for the world largely come through families who procreate.

00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:44.939
 And in that context, being childless or unmarried is usually seen in the Old Testament in a largely negative light.

00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:53.900
 To be unable to procreate in the New Testament was a source of great grief and shame.

00:01:55.719 --> 00:02:01.560
 And so there is little or no evidence in the Old Testament of anyone voluntarily choosing singleness.

00:02:03.259 --> 00:02:07.739
 There is, however, mention a number of times of those who are involuntarily single.

00:02:08.079 --> 00:02:08.819
 They didn't choose it.

00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:11.560
 The Old Testament speaks of eunuchs.

00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:19.099
 Men who are either born without the ability to reproduce or have had their genitalia removed by some kind of overload.

00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:24.359
 And of course, eunuchs did not have much status in society.

00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:27.120
 They were generally used rather than loved.

00:02:28.180 --> 00:02:29.599
 But not so with God.

00:02:30.859 --> 00:02:34.000
 There's a really famous chapter of Isaiah, chapter 56.

00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:45.520
 And God promises that in the days to come, even eunuchs who obey his word will be welcomed and they'll be included.

00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:51.099
 In God's house, Isaiah says, and they will be given a name that is better than sons and daughters.

00:02:51.460 --> 00:02:53.159
 A name that will endure forever.

00:02:55.139 --> 00:03:01.379
 Probably the other thing to say about the years since the beginning from Genesis 2 to Matthew 19

00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:04.039
 is that they included the giving of the law.

00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:10.019
 And the law of Moses addressed issues which might arise in the course of a marriage.

00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:14.120
 Even in the circumstances of how divorce was to happen.

00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:17.199
 And how remarriage should be seen and handled.

00:03:18.419 --> 00:03:23.819
 And so all of that is the setting into which Jesus comes and speaks.

00:03:23.819 --> 00:03:32.539
 But of course, another key factor of the context and the setting in which Jesus speaks is this conflict.

00:03:33.219 --> 00:03:35.599
 That he's in with the Jewish establishment.

00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:41.199
 You don't have to read just more than a few verses in the Gospels to pick that up.

00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:45.120
 The Jewish religious leaders, they are jealous of Jesus right from the start.

00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:49.039
 They see Jesus undermining what they stand for.

00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.579
 And in many ways, I guess he is, isn't he?

00:03:53.639 --> 00:03:58.039
 But as a result, the Pharisees and the chief priests, the scribes,

00:03:58.699 --> 00:04:01.399
 they are always on the lookout for ways to discredit him.

00:04:03.079 --> 00:04:06.560
 And so once again, you see in Matthew 19 that.

00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:09.979
 Ultimately, they're looking to get rid of him.

00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:15.099
 The Jewish leaders in Matthew 19 are trying to trip Jesus up.

00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:18.819
 And Matthew makes it very clear to us in verse 4

00:04:18.819 --> 00:04:25.939
 that the questions about divorce do not flow from a genuine or a humble inquiry.

00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:29.240
 They come from a desire to test Jesus and to embarrass him.

00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.600
 And so whilst the Jewish leaders were seeking to undo Jesus,

00:04:34.740 --> 00:04:36.500
 many of the other people couldn't get enough of him.

00:04:37.959 --> 00:04:39.839
 Crowds followed Jesus wherever he went.

00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.839
 They may not have all been disciples.

00:04:42.980 --> 00:04:43.439
 They weren't.

00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:45.120
 But they were certainly fascinated by him.

00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:51.600
 In our day, I wonder, it's a little bit like when people follow a celebrity online, on Twitter.

00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:55.759
 Do you remember when all those millions followed Donald Trump?

00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:58.019
 They didn't follow Donald Trump.

00:04:58.079 --> 00:04:59.160
 Maybe you followed Donald Trump.

00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:02.079
 You didn't follow Donald Trump because he was supportive of all his tweets.

00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:06.100
 But you just couldn't wait to find out, well, what's he going to say next?

00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:08.779
 And so it is with Jesus here.

00:05:09.159 --> 00:05:12.659
 Jesus has just finished teaching the people in parables.

00:05:12.660 --> 00:05:15.040
 And we come to chapter 19, verses 1 and 2.

00:05:16.580 --> 00:05:19.860
 Now when Jesus finished these things, the parables, he went away from Galilee.

00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:22.280
 He entered into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan.

00:05:22.640 --> 00:05:24.340
 And large crowds followed him.

00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:26.160
 And he healed them there.

00:05:27.340 --> 00:05:29.240
 They're thinking, what will Jesus say next?

00:05:29.300 --> 00:05:30.120
 What will he do next?

00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:34.939
 Well, let's think carefully about how Matthew answers that question.

00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:37.300
 Point 2 on your outlines is out of an exposition.

00:05:38.899 --> 00:05:41.939
 So it begins in verse 3 with a question from the Pharisees.

00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:47.980
 Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?

00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:52.240
 Now that question is as silly as it sounds, isn't it?

00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:55.500
 Any cause is a lot of causes.

00:05:56.540 --> 00:06:00.519
 Anything from she killed my mother to she burnt the toast.

00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:05.839
 And they must have known that it was unlikely that Jesus would say yes.

00:06:07.479 --> 00:06:08.899
 But of course they could only hope.

00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:11.859
 Because this was the set-up question, wasn't it?

00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:15.060
 They were planning to sting him with their follow-up question.

00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:19.160
 But even though it wasn't a very serious question,

00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:21.399
 Jesus responds with a very serious answer.

00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:22.100
 Look at verse 4.

00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:26.019
 Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning

00:06:26.019 --> 00:06:28.259
 made them male and female and said,

00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:32.019
 therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife.

00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:34.560
 And the two shall become one flesh.

00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:36.920
 So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:41.240
 And what therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:45.019
 Oh, there's a little barb, isn't there?

00:06:45.100 --> 00:06:46.040
 Look at the start of verse 4.

00:06:47.180 --> 00:06:47.879
 Haven't you read?

00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:53.340
 No, he's saying the answer to your question

00:06:53.340 --> 00:06:55.840
 is there in black and white on the pages of the Bible.

00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:58.600
 Genesis chapter 2, actually.

00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:03.100
 And not only is this the best of ancient wisdom,

00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:04.540
 these are the words of your creator.

00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:08.860
 Effectively, Jesus answers their question

00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:10.819
 with a very strong and emphatic no.

00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:16.180
 It is not lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason.

00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:22.620
 So God created marriages to be a profound and sacred union

00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:24.100
 between a man and a woman.

00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:29.699
 So profound, in fact, that God describes them as being one flesh.

00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:33.300
 And what is more, Jesus says they are one flesh

00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:36.139
 because they are joined by God,

00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:38.920
 joined for a lifetime,

00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:41.160
 not to be separate.

00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:44.900
 And Jesus is basically saying

00:07:44.900 --> 00:07:46.120
 divorce is never good.

00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:49.980
 If God has joined two people together,

00:07:50.620 --> 00:07:53.180
 then divorce is man

00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:54.939
 undoing the work of God.

00:07:56.400 --> 00:07:58.819
 Therefore, what God has joined together,

00:07:58.960 --> 00:08:01.120
 let no one separate.

00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:05.780
 Well, you see the Pharisees,

00:08:05.899 --> 00:08:07.000
 they think they've caught Jesus.

00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:08.819
 They're happy with his answer

00:08:08.819 --> 00:08:11.840
 because they think Jesus has just contradicted Moses.

00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:16.539
 Is Jesus saying that Moses got it wrong?

00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:17.679
 So in verse 7,

00:08:17.679 --> 00:08:19.819
 they refer Jesus back to Deuteronomy,

00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:21.219
 chapter 4,

00:08:21.299 --> 00:08:22.359
 and this is their second question.

00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:24.919
 Why then did Moses command one

00:08:24.919 --> 00:08:26.799
 to give a certificate of divorce

00:08:26.799 --> 00:08:27.679
 and send her away?

00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:30.620
 And Jesus responds to them, doesn't he,

00:08:30.620 --> 00:08:31.239
 in verse 8,

00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:32.340
 and the first thing he does

00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:34.600
 is correct the Pharisees'

00:08:35.180 --> 00:08:36.139
 understanding of the law.

00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:40.240
 He tells them Moses didn't command

00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:41.519
 divorce.

00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:42.360
 Very carefully,

00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:43.799
 Jesus uses the word permitted

00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:45.779
 or allowed.

00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:47.740
 Verse 8,

00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:49.139
 because of your hardness of heart,

00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:50.799
 Moses allowed you

00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:52.480
 to divorce your wives,

00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:53.420
 but from the beginning,

00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:55.360
 it was not so.

00:08:56.920 --> 00:08:57.860
 And Jesus' explanation

00:08:57.860 --> 00:08:59.180
 is that the law of God

00:08:59.180 --> 00:09:01.019
 permitted divorce for sin.

00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:03.460
 I think that means

00:09:03.460 --> 00:09:04.480
 for hardness of heart.

00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:08.500
 But the law wasn't turning its back

00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:09.320
 on Genesis 2.

00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:12.279
 The law was making provision

00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:13.700
 for human sinfulness.

00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:16.159
 Since marriages were ending

00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:19.360
 and men were sending away their wives,

00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:21.180
 there needed to be legislation.

00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:23.740
 There needed to be protection

00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.920
 for the defenseless

00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:27.120
 to regulate how those

00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.840
 sort of tragic circumstances

00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:29.460
 be handled.

00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:30.820
 But Jesus says,

00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:31.840
 it wasn't like that

00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:32.360
 in the beginning.

00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:35.539
 He's reminding them again

00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:36.519
 of Genesis chapter 2.

00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:38.700
 And I don't think Jesus' argument

00:09:38.700 --> 00:09:40.399
 is very difficult for us at all.

00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.620
 If somebody breaks into your house

00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.480
 to steal your computer

00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:47.340
 and you happen to catch them red-handed,

00:09:47.980 --> 00:09:49.580
 the law may allow you, I think,

00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:50.779
 to detain that person,

00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:52.980
 but it prevents you

00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.399
 from using excessive force.

00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:57.679
 There are laws like this today

00:09:57.679 --> 00:09:59.600
 that describe how people

00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:01.379
 should react in unfortunate

00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:03.039
 or difficult circumstances.

00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:05.220
 So just because there's a law

00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:07.240
 about how to treat a burglar,

00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:09.199
 it doesn't mean that the law

00:10:09.199 --> 00:10:10.559
 thinks burglary is okay, does it?

00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:13.360
 In the same way,

00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:15.000
 just because the Old Testament law

00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:16.579
 described how to respond

00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:18.000
 to the ending of a marriage,

00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.019
 it doesn't mean that the ending

00:10:20.019 --> 00:10:20.919
 of a marriage is fine.

00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:23.500
 In fact, Jesus says

00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:24.360
 the ending of a marriage

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.220
 is not fine.

00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:28.340
 It is not what God wants.

00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:32.019
 It is not how God designed us.

00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:34.620
 And he underlines that again

00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:35.200
 in verse 9.

00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:35.779
 Look what he says.

00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.080
 He says,

00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:45.900
 He's saying that in the eyes of God,

00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:47.360
 there's no difference between a man

00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:48.639
 having sex with another woman

00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:49.580
 behind his wife's back

00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:52.520
 and formally divorcing her

00:10:52.520 --> 00:10:53.400
 and then going to have sex

00:10:53.400 --> 00:10:54.040
 with another woman,

00:10:54.160 --> 00:10:55.139
 even if the other woman

00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:55.879
 becomes his wife.

00:10:59.080 --> 00:10:59.480
 Now, of course,

00:10:59.540 --> 00:11:00.680
 Jesus' position on this matter

00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:01.659
 isn't actually

00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:03.379
 that black and white.

00:11:04.859 --> 00:11:06.120
 Because as you'll notice

00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:07.299
 in verse 9,

00:11:07.439 --> 00:11:08.500
 he allows an exception.

00:11:11.599 --> 00:11:13.439
 The verdict that he's just given

00:11:13.439 --> 00:11:14.799
 doesn't apply universally,

00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:15.419
 he says.

00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:18.879
 He's not saying

00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:20.759
 remarriage after divorce

00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.679
 is adulterous in every case.

00:11:24.599 --> 00:11:25.979
 He seems to be saying

00:11:25.979 --> 00:11:28.139
 in the case of sexual immorality,

00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:30.139
 divorce is not a sin.

00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:33.219
 And by extension,

00:11:33.459 --> 00:11:35.139
 remarriage after divorce

00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:36.079
 on those grounds

00:11:36.079 --> 00:11:38.239
 is not adulterous before God.

00:11:39.939 --> 00:11:41.399
 Now, what are these grounds

00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.239
 that he's talking about?

00:11:42.339 --> 00:11:45.259
 What does sexual immorality mean

00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:45.779
 in this passage?

00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:48.579
 Sexual immorality

00:11:48.579 --> 00:11:50.500
 is any sexual conduct

00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:52.859
 which exists outside

00:11:52.859 --> 00:11:55.079
 the boundaries of moral sex

00:11:55.079 --> 00:11:56.539
 between a married man

00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:56.959
 and a woman.

00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:59.719
 So it certainly refers

00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:00.820
 to adultery.

00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:03.519
 But it also refers,

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:03.820
 I think,

00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:05.000
 to a wider category

00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:06.019
 of sexual unfaithfulness

00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:06.560
 as well.

00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:10.160
 So Jesus is saying,

00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:10.960
 if your marriage

00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:12.180
 comes to an end

00:12:12.180 --> 00:12:13.240
 because your spouse

00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:14.480
 betrays you sexually,

00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:17.180
 then there is something

00:12:17.180 --> 00:12:18.680
 about that act

00:12:18.680 --> 00:12:20.180
 which unravels

00:12:20.180 --> 00:12:21.720
 what God has done

00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:22.560
 in a unique way.

00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:26.079
 And under those circumstances,

00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:27.539
 God permits divorce

00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:29.539
 and does not consider

00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:30.219
 adultery,

00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:32.879
 remarriage adultery,

00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:34.179
 adulterous.

00:12:36.079 --> 00:12:36.859
 Now, notice he's not

00:12:36.859 --> 00:12:37.679
 commanding divorce

00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:40.579
 in those terrible circumstances.

00:12:42.579 --> 00:12:43.199
 No doubt,

00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:44.339
 God would be delighted

00:12:44.339 --> 00:12:45.379
 to find that two followers

00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:45.859
 of Jesus

00:12:45.859 --> 00:12:47.619
 that suffered

00:12:47.619 --> 00:12:48.699
 the worst kind

00:12:48.699 --> 00:12:49.379
 of betrayal

00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:51.879
 could still show

00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:52.720
 each other repentance

00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:54.299
 and real forgiveness

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:55.039
 so that the marriage

00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:55.639
 could be saved.

00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:58.720
 I'm aware

00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.080
 that would be

00:12:59.080 --> 00:12:59.379
 very,

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.000
 very hard.

00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:02.679
 But it would also

00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:03.419
 be very wonderful.

00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:05.700
 But it's not always

00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:06.059
 possible,

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:06.340
 is it?

00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:08.899
 And Jesus is acknowledging

00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:09.919
 that where that is

00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:10.860
 not possible,

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.899
 this exception

00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:12.600
 can apply.

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:15.639
 I just want to

00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:16.340
 take a step back

00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:16.960
 here for a moment.

00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:19.759
 And I want to acknowledge

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.580
 how hard

00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.680
 Jesus' words are

00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:22.159
 here.

00:13:24.300 --> 00:13:25.379
 And for many of us

00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.440
 who are here tonight

00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:27.840
 and maybe you are watching,

00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:29.279
 how painful.

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.320
 There'll be some people

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:33.080
 here tonight

00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:34.940
 who've lived through

00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:36.180
 the aching sorrow

00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:37.180
 of a broken marriage.

00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:40.100
 Others of you

00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:41.000
 will have experienced it

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.540
 as a child

00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:42.379
 in a broken home.

00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:44.960
 others of you

00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.879
 have supported people

00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.820
 that they love

00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:48.379
 as they go through

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.180
 divorce.

00:13:51.040 --> 00:13:52.120
 I'd be really surprised

00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:53.580
 if the vast majority

00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:54.560
 of us have not been

00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:55.120
 affected

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.200
 by the pain

00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:56.639
 of divorce

00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.500
 in some way or another.

00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.000
 And for some here

00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.300
 tonight,

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.639
 the very mention

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.320
 of the word

00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.500
 brings a sick feeling

00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.180
 to your stomach.

00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:06.100
 Tears to the back

00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:06.580
 of your eyes.

00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:09.100
 And I'm conscious

00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:10.220
 of those

00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:10.940
 in our church family

00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:12.040
 who will be listening

00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:12.379
 to this

00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:12.919
 and finding it

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.459
 very difficult.

00:14:15.099 --> 00:14:15.899
 I don't find

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.740
 any joy

00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.599
 in stirring up

00:14:17.599 --> 00:14:18.199
 those emotions.

00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.759
 But we must hear

00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.500
 what Jesus says

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:20.899
 to us.

00:14:23.099 --> 00:14:24.039
 The sheep need

00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:24.699
 to hear the voice

00:14:24.699 --> 00:14:25.319
 of the Good Shepherd.

00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:27.360
 And this is what

00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:27.839
 the Good Shepherd

00:14:27.839 --> 00:14:28.599
 says to us.

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.199
 On the one hand,

00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:30.819
 he says something

00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:32.339
 very black and white

00:14:32.339 --> 00:14:33.439
 which is his

00:14:33.439 --> 00:14:34.159
 major point.

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:34.659
 Marriage

00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:35.519
 is for life.

00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:37.059
 All divorce

00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:39.039
 is a terrible

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.519
 departure

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.099
 from God's

00:14:40.099 --> 00:14:40.539
 intention.

00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:44.479
 And for the record,

00:14:44.599 --> 00:14:45.359
 I think those

00:14:45.359 --> 00:14:46.339
 who've maybe

00:14:46.339 --> 00:14:47.459
 experienced divorce

00:14:47.459 --> 00:14:48.199
 first hand

00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:48.659
 would probably

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:49.279
 be the first

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.219
 to agree with that.

00:14:51.719 --> 00:14:52.459
 They know

00:14:52.459 --> 00:14:53.519
 all too

00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.459
 painfully

00:14:54.459 --> 00:14:56.219
 that that is not

00:14:56.219 --> 00:14:56.799
 how things were

00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.399
 meant to be.

00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.119
 But Jesus

00:15:00.119 --> 00:15:00.879
 also says something

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.539
 that is less

00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.219
 black and white

00:15:02.219 --> 00:15:02.739
 and more great.

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.479
 Here is his

00:15:03.479 --> 00:15:04.119
 minor point.

00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:05.799
 He says in the

00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:06.620
 case of a marriage

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:08.019
 being torn apart

00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:08.980
 by sexual

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.560
 immorality,

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.919
 there is an

00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.659
 exception to

00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:12.320
 this principle.

00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:15.360
 Let's move on

00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:15.820
 to verses 10

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:16.320
 to 12.

00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.120
 Because there

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:19.879
 we hear from

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.720
 Jesus' disciples.

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:21.580
 They are listening

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.560
 to Jesus

00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:24.500
 and they answer

00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:26.679
 the Pharisees'

00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.060
 question.

00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.460
 They've got a

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.180
 question of their

00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:28.299
 own.

00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:28.680
 Look at verse

00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:29.440
 10.

00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:31.019
 They say if this

00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:31.759
 is the situation

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.460
 between a husband

00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:32.940
 and wife,

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:33.740
 it's better not

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.200
 to marry.

00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:36.740
 It's not

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.759
 entirely clear

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.320
 what the

00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:38.860
 disciples are

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.539
 referring to,

00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:40.580
 reacting to.

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.360
 But they seem

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:42.919
 to be saying

00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:44.100
 if this is the

00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.159
 kind of commitment

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:46.700
 that God

00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:47.460
 expects,

00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:48.720
 that if God

00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.840
 is really serious

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.259
 about this

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:52.080
 lifelong faithfulness

00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:52.620
 thing,

00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:53.820
 then wouldn't

00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:54.180
 it be better

00:15:54.180 --> 00:15:54.700
 just to stay

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.019
 single?

00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:57.820
 In verse 11,

00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:58.799
 Jesus seems

00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.480
 to allow that

00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:00.200
 there's a strong

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:00.879
 logic in what

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.299
 the disciples

00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:01.720
 say.

00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.060
 Jesus says

00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:04.800
 in verse 11,

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:05.639
 some can't

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:07.500
 accept that

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.279
 logic that

00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:08.740
 is.

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:09.840
 There are

00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.360
 those who

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.460
 won't choose

00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.040
 singleness

00:16:12.040 --> 00:16:12.779
 because God

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.259
 hasn't given

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:13.620
 them a life

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.040
 of singleness.

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.379
 But there are

00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:16.800
 others who've

00:16:16.800 --> 00:16:17.399
 been given a

00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.259
 single life,

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:18.980
 verse 12,

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:19.680
 and Jesus

00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.740
 says there in

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.080
 that verse,

00:16:21.160 --> 00:16:21.660
 there are some

00:16:21.660 --> 00:16:22.519
 also who are

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.000
 born incapable

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.580
 of a sexual

00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:25.040
 relationship.

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:27.960
 There are some

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:28.320
 who've been

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.180
 cruelly made

00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:30.339
 that way at

00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:30.699
 the hands of

00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:30.979
 other men,

00:16:31.099 --> 00:16:31.620
 and there are

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.120
 still others

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.839
 who willingly

00:16:32.839 --> 00:16:34.299
 choose a

00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:34.779
 life of

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:35.099
 singleness

00:16:35.099 --> 00:16:35.379
 so they

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:35.819
 might serve

00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.239
 the kingdom.

00:16:38.599 --> 00:16:39.179
 And in

00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:39.719
 any of those

00:16:39.719 --> 00:16:40.219
 situations,

00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:41.059
 God has

00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:41.579
 given them

00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:41.979
 singleness.

00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:44.259
 And so

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:44.979
 Jesus says

00:16:44.979 --> 00:16:46.319
 to the one

00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:46.799
 to whom

00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:47.179
 has been

00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:47.579
 given,

00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:49.779
 the one

00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:50.000
 who can

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:50.479
 accept it

00:16:50.479 --> 00:16:50.959
 should accept

00:16:50.959 --> 00:16:51.179
 it.

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:54.979
 The culture

00:16:54.979 --> 00:16:55.419
 that we live

00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:55.979
 in today hates

00:16:55.979 --> 00:16:56.519
 celibacy.

00:16:56.979 --> 00:16:57.599
 Can't understand

00:16:57.599 --> 00:16:57.819
 it.

00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:59.980
 But once

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.180
 again,

00:17:00.260 --> 00:17:00.800
 we find

00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:01.340
 the Lord

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:01.620
 Jesus

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.160
 butting

00:17:02.160 --> 00:17:02.540
 heads

00:17:02.540 --> 00:17:02.879
 with our

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.200
 culture.

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.400
 He describes

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:06.860
 people who've

00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:07.279
 been given

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.120
 a life of

00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:09.200
 celibacy

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:09.720
 by God,

00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.400
 some by

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:10.799
 virtue of

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.299
 their birth,

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:12.640
 some by

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.039
 virtue of

00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:13.820
 the circumstances

00:17:13.820 --> 00:17:16.360
 by which

00:17:16.360 --> 00:17:17.019
 they live.

00:17:19.120 --> 00:17:19.420
 And there

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:19.940
 are some,

00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:20.600
 Jesus says,

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.640
 who voluntarily

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.940
 choose singleness

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.740
 for a time,

00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:25.299
 either for a

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:25.539
 time or

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:25.880
 permanently,

00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:27.360
 in order to

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.019
 devote themselves

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.500
 to God's

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:28.779
 work.

00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:31.079
 Jesus

00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:31.699
 himself would

00:17:31.699 --> 00:17:32.179
 be an

00:17:32.179 --> 00:17:32.639
 example of

00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:33.059
 that last

00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.439
 category,

00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.119
 wouldn't he?

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.319
 Jesus

00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.699
 lives like

00:17:37.699 --> 00:17:38.219
 a eunuch,

00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:39.939
 to use his

00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:40.240
 phrase,

00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:40.759
 for the sake

00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.199
 of the king.

00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.379
 And so

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:43.899
 by the words

00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:44.559
 he speaks

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.099
 here,

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:45.639
 and his

00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:46.039
 own

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.679
 celibate

00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:47.240
 singleness,

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.299
 Jesus affirms

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:49.859
 what we saw

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.500
 in Genesis 2

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.039
 last week,

00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.979
 that marriage

00:17:52.979 --> 00:17:53.659
 is not the

00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:54.399
 ultimate thing,

00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:55.319
 sex is not

00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:55.740
 the ultimate

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.159
 thing.

00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.220
 sexual

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:58.900
 intimacy is

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.840
 not ultimate.

00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:01.800
 For some,

00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.740
 marriage is a

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.640
 precious and

00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.380
 wonderful gift

00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.120
 from God,

00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:06.060
 but for

00:18:06.060 --> 00:18:06.500
 others,

00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:07.700
 the unmarried

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.800
 life is

00:18:08.800 --> 00:18:09.420
 God's gift.

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.480
 Now,

00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:14.340
 let's take

00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:14.980
 some time to

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.640
 kind of pause

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:15.980
 and think

00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.279
 through the

00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:16.920
 implications of

00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.120
 this.

00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.120
 What is

00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:19.860
 Jesus saying

00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.540
 for both

00:18:20.540 --> 00:18:21.759
 marriage and

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.240
 for singleness?

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:24.720
 So,

00:18:24.800 --> 00:18:25.080
 two things

00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:25.580
 about marriage.

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.160
 number one,

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.220
 Jesus teaches

00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.300
 that marriage

00:18:30.300 --> 00:18:31.600
 is a

00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:32.019
 joining

00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:33.160
 by God.

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.120
 I think

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:36.460
 Jesus is

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:36.920
 taking something

00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.259
 that's

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.060
 implicit in

00:18:38.060 --> 00:18:38.660
 Genesis 2

00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.080
 and making

00:18:39.080 --> 00:18:39.820
 it explicit

00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:40.200
 in Matthew

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.620
 19.

00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:44.180
 Jesus

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:44.640
 thinks it's

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.300
 really crucial

00:18:45.300 --> 00:18:45.600
 that you

00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:45.980
 don't miss

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.540
 this tonight.

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:46.659
 marriage.

00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:48.859
 And I

00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.220
 think this

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.019
 conclusion is

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.680
 central to

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.180
 the whole

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:51.720
 way that

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:53.200
 Jesus thinks

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:54.079
 about marriage

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.759
 and everything

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.200
 else he's

00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:55.879
 saying in

00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:56.399
 these verses.

00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.480
 I don't

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:58.899
 think it's

00:18:58.899 --> 00:18:59.200
 saying,

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.339
 I don't

00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:00.619
 think it's

00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.779
 overstating to

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.759
 say that the

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.680
 crucial five

00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.579
 words of this

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.819
 passage are

00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.240
 there in

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.859
 verse 6.

00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:09.619
 What God

00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.500
 has joined

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:10.980
 together.

00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.039
 together.

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.759
 What God

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.539
 has joined

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.079
 together.

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.279
 It's really

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:18.720
 struck me this

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.099
 week as I've

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.599
 studied this,

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.279
 that when a

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.120
 man and a

00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:22.799
 woman get

00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.279
 married,

00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.220
 they are not

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.299
 just joined by

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:26.940
 their mutual

00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.839
 consent and

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.319
 promise.

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:30.339
 They are

00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.019
 certainly not

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.799
 just joined by

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.319
 the words that

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:32.700
 a minister

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.319
 pronounces.

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:35.879
 when a man

00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:36.399
 and a woman

00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:37.619
 get married,

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:37.939
 they are

00:19:37.939 --> 00:19:38.619
 joined by

00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:39.220
 God.

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.439
 When you go

00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:43.019
 to a wedding,

00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:43.659
 what do you

00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:43.899
 see?

00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.500
 You see,

00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:46.000
 you witness a

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.460
 couple making

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.000
 vows to each

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.240
 other,

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.539
 joining hands,

00:19:50.139 --> 00:19:50.639
 exchanging

00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:51.000
 rings,

00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:51.599
 kissing each

00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:51.859
 other,

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.519
 being given

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.599
 away by

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.079
 parents,

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:55.960
 being pronounced

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.720
 man and

00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.579
 wife by the

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:57.939
 person who

00:19:57.939 --> 00:19:58.539
 officiates.

00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.599
 But the most

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.539
 significant thing

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.819
 that happens at

00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:02.119
 a wedding,

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.599
 you can't

00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:02.859
 see.

00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:06.299
 there is a

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:06.779
 somber,

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:08.279
 really serious,

00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:09.439
 quite terrifying

00:20:09.439 --> 00:20:10.859
 moment that

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.679
 is invisible at

00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:12.299
 every wedding,

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.379
 which is the

00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:14.659
 thing that

00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:15.240
 matters most.

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.759
 The God who

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:18.119
 imagined marriage

00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:18.839
 and who

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:20.799
 created it to

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.480
 be a profound

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.519
 and intimate

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.039
 union,

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.019
 the God who

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.879
 is the author

00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.819
 of love,

00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:27.000
 that God

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.279
 joins people

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:28.639
 together.

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.539
 And so,

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:32.960
 if you're

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.740
 married tonight,

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.660
 God has

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.079
 done something

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.500
 to you.

00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.079
 He has

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.779
 glued you

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.779
 together with

00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.380
 your husband

00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:40.940
 or wife.

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.340
 And it's

00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:43.799
 on that

00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.440
 basis that

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:44.740
 you must

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.039
 think of

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.519
 your marriage

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:48.360
 as lifelong,

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.519
 not to be

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.519
 unjoined.

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.500
 It is because

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.299
 your lives

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:53.720
 have been

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.600
 merged by

00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:55.380
 God himself

00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:55.860
 that you

00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:56.340
 must not

00:20:56.340 --> 00:20:56.900
 unmerge

00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:57.100
 them.

00:20:57.099 --> 00:21:00.480
 God has

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.779
 joined

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.219
 together.

00:21:01.219 --> 00:21:01.740
 Let no

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.000
 man

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.659
 separate.

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:05.719
 Now,

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.000
 as we've

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.179
 seen,

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:06.559
 that's a

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:06.799
 really

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.299
 black and

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:07.459
 white

00:21:07.459 --> 00:21:07.839
 statement.

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.859
 But there's

00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:10.299
 also some

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.559
 gray,

00:21:10.699 --> 00:21:10.980
 isn't there?

00:21:12.719 --> 00:21:13.459
 And the

00:21:13.459 --> 00:21:14.259
 gray we see

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.599
 here is

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.039
 because of

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.299
 sin.

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.559
 And Jesus

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:17.919
 speaks

00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:18.599
 specifically

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.219
 about sin

00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:19.519
 on two

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.099
 occasions here,

00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:20.339
 I think.

00:21:20.419 --> 00:21:20.879
 Verse 8,

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.219
 where he

00:21:21.219 --> 00:21:22.199
 says that the

00:21:22.199 --> 00:21:22.759
 relevant Old

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.339
 Testament laws

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:23.559
 have been

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.019
 given because

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.980
 of hard-heartedness.

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.079
 And then

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.779
 secondly in

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.519
 verse 9,

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.079
 where he

00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:29.759
 acknowledges that

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.639
 marriages are

00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:32.579
 shipwrecked by

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.059
 the sin of

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.819
 sexual immorality.

00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:36.940
 Yes,

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.379
 there is

00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:37.720
 sin.

00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.319
 And sin

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:40.799
 brings with

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.500
 it all sorts

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.400
 of brokenness

00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.259
 and complexity.

00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.639
 And so

00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.400
 life is not

00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:47.139
 always to be

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.539
 lived with

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:47.980
 just the

00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.379
 black and

00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:48.839
 the white

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.920
 in view.

00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:52.579
 And sometimes

00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:53.160
 we need

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:53.940
 God's help

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.539
 to find

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:54.860
 the best

00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:55.160
 thing to

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:55.400
 do in

00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:55.920
 a terribly

00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.279
 broken

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:56.920
 situation.

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.059
 And the

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.559
 scriptures give

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.019
 us guidance

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.340
 here in

00:22:00.340 --> 00:22:00.799
 verse 9,

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.279
 as we're

00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:01.400
 going to

00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:01.580
 see in

00:22:01.580 --> 00:22:01.900
 1 Corinthians

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.380
 7 next

00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:02.539
 week.

00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:02.759
 But I

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:02.980
 want to

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.259
 focus

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.180
 tonight on

00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.539
 the black

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:04.920
 and white

00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.460
 because that

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:05.820
 is Jesus'

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.820
 major point.

00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.539
 And I

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:09.740
 want to

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.299
 tease out the

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:10.960
 implications of

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.180
 Jesus'

00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:11.779
 major point.

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.240
 Whether we're

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.920
 divorced or

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.519
 married or

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.140
 single or

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.580
 looking to

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:14.860
 marry,

00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:16.640
 and I

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:16.799
 want to

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.080
 speak to

00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:17.279
 each of

00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.880
 those groups

00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:18.380
 in turn.

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.100
 Firstly,

00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:21.400
 to the

00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:21.860
 divorced.

00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:26.420
 because life

00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.160
 is messy

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.420
 and broken

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.019
 as a result

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.539
 of sin,

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.980
 some of

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:33.039
 us may

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.440
 have lived

00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:33.799
 through the

00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.320
 tragedy of

00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:34.620
 a broken

00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.039
 marriage.

00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.440
 I want to

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:38.860
 point out to

00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:39.160
 you tonight

00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:39.559
 that Jesus

00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.039
 did not

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.720
 speak these

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.100
 words to

00:22:42.100 --> 00:22:42.720
 make divorced

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.259
 people feel

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.580
 guilty.

00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:46.839
 Jesus

00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.519
 knows the

00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.099
 circumstances

00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:48.699
 of every

00:22:48.699 --> 00:22:49.279
 divorce.

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.899
 And Jesus

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:52.539
 is able,

00:22:53.139 --> 00:22:53.759
 well able,

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.220
 to look

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.960
 compassionately

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.240
 on his

00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:55.699
 people who

00:22:55.699 --> 00:22:55.980
 have lived

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.339
 through that

00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:56.679
 pain.

00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:00.019
 As you

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.240
 know,

00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:00.699
 God has

00:23:00.699 --> 00:23:01.139
 made a

00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:01.659
 way for

00:23:01.659 --> 00:23:02.079
 people to

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.579
 be forgiven

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.220
 for every

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.599
 sin.

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.220
 And

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:06.659
 depending on

00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.119
 the reasons

00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:07.480
 for your

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:07.759
 divorce,

00:23:07.919 --> 00:23:08.599
 it may be

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.159
 that you

00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:09.559
 need to

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.019
 repent of

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.379
 having gone

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:10.859
 down that

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.099
 road.

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:14.159
 may not

00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:14.419
 be the

00:23:14.419 --> 00:23:14.639
 case,

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.179
 but some

00:23:15.179 --> 00:23:16.519
 may have

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.139
 divorced for

00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:17.659
 reasons that

00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:18.119
 Jesus does

00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.539
 not permit.

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.279
 And if

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.839
 that is true

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:22.359
 for you,

00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.039
 your divorce

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.399
 was not

00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:23.699
 right.

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.299
 And you

00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:26.559
 ought to

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.000
 confess it

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.379
 to God.

00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:29.719
 If there's

00:23:29.719 --> 00:23:30.339
 any way to

00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:31.139
 be reconciled

00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:31.439
 to your

00:23:31.439 --> 00:23:32.019
 former spouse,

00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:32.339
 then you

00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.879
 should consider

00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:33.459
 that seriously

00:23:33.459 --> 00:23:33.759
 too.

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.000
 Now,

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.259
 of course,

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.699
 in many

00:23:36.699 --> 00:23:37.059
 cases,

00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:37.619
 that is not

00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.059
 possible.

00:23:39.179 --> 00:23:39.719
 And it

00:23:39.719 --> 00:23:40.199
 may not be

00:23:40.199 --> 00:23:40.539
 possible,

00:23:40.699 --> 00:23:41.079
 maybe because

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.319
 you've

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:41.500
 married

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.000
 again.

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:43.759
 And if

00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:43.980
 that is

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.240
 the case,

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:44.659
 God certainly

00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:45.000
 wants you

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.240
 to be

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.659
 faithful to

00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.000
 your new

00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.299
 spouse.

00:23:46.419 --> 00:23:46.759
 The Bible

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.879
 never advocates

00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.419
 a repentance

00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:49.579
 for divorce

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.039
 that involves

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.359
 divorcing

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:50.980
 someone else.

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.480
 There may

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:53.740
 be other

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.439
 reasons why

00:23:54.439 --> 00:23:55.179
 reconciliation

00:23:55.179 --> 00:23:56.119
 isn't

00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:56.659
 possible.

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.099
 Whether it

00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.539
 is or not,

00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.000
 a Christian

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.299
 who is

00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.419
 divorced when

00:24:03.419 --> 00:24:03.799
 they should

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.159
 not have

00:24:04.159 --> 00:24:04.799
 divorced needs

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.419
 to trust

00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:07.939
 God for

00:24:07.939 --> 00:24:08.579
 his forgiveness

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.000
 and for

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.500
 his cleansing.

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:12.839
 unforgiveness

00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.460
 may not

00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.439
 mean that

00:24:14.439 --> 00:24:14.759
 you're free

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.119
 to marry

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.480
 again.

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.240
 It may

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.519
 not mean

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:19.759
 that you

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.199
 can avoid

00:24:20.199 --> 00:24:20.639
 some of

00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.319
 the painful

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.059
 consequences

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:22.399
 of your

00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:22.839
 decisions.

00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.599
 But it

00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.199
 certainly does

00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:26.639
 mean this,

00:24:26.699 --> 00:24:26.919
 that you

00:24:26.919 --> 00:24:27.579
 can rest

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:29.259
 in the arms

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:29.519
 of the

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.000
 unqualified

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.439
 love of

00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:30.679
 God.

00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:33.699
 The blood

00:24:33.699 --> 00:24:34.359
 of Jesus

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:35.699
 spilt on

00:24:35.699 --> 00:24:36.379
 the cross

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:38.240
 means there

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.600
 is grace

00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:38.820
 without

00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:39.280
 exception.

00:24:40.820 --> 00:24:41.420
 And we

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:41.940
 are clean

00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.260
 in his

00:24:42.260 --> 00:24:42.580
 sight.

00:24:44.060 --> 00:24:44.260
 And so

00:24:44.260 --> 00:24:44.780
 God does

00:24:44.780 --> 00:24:45.360
 not hold

00:24:45.360 --> 00:24:45.880
 your past

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.440
 against you.

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.100
 And nothing

00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:48.580
 can change

00:24:48.580 --> 00:24:48.840
 that.

00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:51.760
 And

00:24:51.760 --> 00:24:52.040
 secondly,

00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:52.340
 to the

00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:52.620
 married.

00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:55.000
 Because the

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.840
 primary application

00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:56.200
 of Matthew

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.120
 19 is towards

00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:57.640
 those who are

00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.160
 married,

00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:58.840
 and to us

00:24:58.840 --> 00:24:59.280
 he says

00:24:59.280 --> 00:24:59.540
 this,

00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.040
 he says,

00:25:00.320 --> 00:25:00.840
 what God

00:25:00.840 --> 00:25:01.420
 has joined

00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:02.440
 don't

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.060
 unjoin.

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:05.500
 and what

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:05.980
 God has

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.259
 knitted

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.779
 together

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.339
 don't

00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:07.799
 unravel.

00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.619
 And he

00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:11.000
 wants us

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.460
 to work

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.259
 tirelessly

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:14.200
 at an

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:14.799
 extreme

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.519
 cost,

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.179
 if necessary,

00:25:16.179 --> 00:25:16.799
 to protect

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.359
 our marriages

00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:17.940
 from harm.

00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:20.339
 And so

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.599
 tonight,

00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:20.940
 I want to

00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.240
 ask you

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.419
 if you're

00:25:21.419 --> 00:25:21.899
 doing that,

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.339
 that's not

00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:23.720
 a light

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:23.980
 thing,

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.259
 it's not

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:24.579
 a little

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:24.940
 thing.

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.179
 You've

00:25:27.179 --> 00:25:27.720
 been joined

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.240
 together,

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.940
 not just

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.359
 by a

00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:29.740
 minister,

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.839
 or your

00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.319
 shared

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:31.980
 consent,

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.659
 but by

00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:32.920
 God

00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.340
 himself.

00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:35.700
 A

00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.080
 one

00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:36.640
 flesh

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.360
 relationship

00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:37.920
 like this

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.240
 is to

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:38.380
 be

00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:38.800
 treasured,

00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:39.060
 it's a

00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:39.480
 very

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.019
 precious

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.500
 gift.

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.779
 But if

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:42.940
 it's

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.140
 something

00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:43.480
 to be

00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.380
 treasured,

00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:44.820
 it's

00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:45.000
 also

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.240
 something

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.500
 to be

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:45.940
 protected,

00:25:46.060 --> 00:25:46.180
 isn't

00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:46.340
 it?

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.600
 Will

00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:50.880
 you do

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.120
 whatever

00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:51.800
 it takes

00:25:51.800 --> 00:25:52.779
 so that

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.000
 your

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.400
 marriage

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:53.600
 will

00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:54.019
 last

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.320
 a

00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:54.700
 lifetime?

00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.420
 That

00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:58.560
 might

00:25:58.560 --> 00:25:58.720
 mean

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:58.840
 as

00:25:58.840 --> 00:25:59.019
 you've

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.220
 listened

00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.340
 to

00:25:59.340 --> 00:25:59.560
 this

00:25:59.560 --> 00:25:59.900
 sermon,

00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:00.160
 you

00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:00.540
 realize

00:26:00.540 --> 00:26:00.779
 that

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.040
 you need

00:26:01.040 --> 00:26:01.180
 to

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.420
 meet

00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:01.580
 with

00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:01.820
 someone

00:26:01.820 --> 00:26:02.000
 to

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.259
 work

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.460
 through

00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:02.700
 some

00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.079
 issues.

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.259
 It

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.440
 might

00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:05.720
 mean

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.200
 getting

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.400
 some

00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:06.799
 help

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.319
 to

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:07.640
 tackle

00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:07.819
 an

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.099
 addiction.

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.619
 It

00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.039
 might

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.299
 mean

00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:11.740
 dropping

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:11.980
 a

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.359
 friendship

00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:12.700
 if

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:12.920
 that

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.400
 friendship

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:13.759
 is an

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.220
 impediment

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.579
 to your

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.019
 marriage

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.420
 in some

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:15.619
 way.

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.559
 It

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:17.819
 might

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.119
 mean

00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.259
 a

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.839
 complete

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:20.279
 reorientation

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.519
 of your

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.019
 life's

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.400
 priorities.

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:21.940
 It

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.140
 might

00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:22.319
 even

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:22.440
 mean

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:22.559
 a

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:22.700
 new

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.059
 job.

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.180
 Whatever

00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:26.660
 else it

00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:26.839
 means,

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:26.980
 it

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.259
 certainly

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:27.519
 means

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:27.740
 this,

00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.039
 daily

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.339
 hard

00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:28.680
 work,

00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:30.560
 daily

00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:31.440
 thoughtfulness,

00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:33.500
 daily

00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:33.980
 repentance

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.500
 of sin,

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:34.940
 daily

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.539
 prayer,

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.539
 daily

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.200
 grace

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:37.620
 towards

00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:37.840
 your

00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:38.299
 spouse,

00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:38.580
 and

00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:38.900
 daily

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.720
 forbearance,

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:41.539
 and

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.039
 daily

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.840
 attentiveness

00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:44.019
 to this

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.580
 relationship.

00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.120
 Anything

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:48.039
 less than

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.740
 this kind

00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.180
 of commitment

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.620
 will make

00:26:49.620 --> 00:26:50.140
 it very

00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.799
 hard for

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.140
 you to

00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:51.539
 do what

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:51.840
 Jesus

00:26:51.840 --> 00:26:53.120
 asks of

00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:53.460
 you here.

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:56.120
 and

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.380
 anything

00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:57.039
 less than

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.640
 that kind

00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.079
 of commitment

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.620
 leads

00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.319
 you to

00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.680
 become

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:01.400
 another

00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:01.960
 statistic.

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:04.660
 And so

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:04.980
 you probably

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.360
 know that

00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:06.500
 the statistics

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.279
 on divorce

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:07.620
 amongst

00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:08.059
 Christians

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.799
 are horrifying.

00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:11.660
 I read

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.059
 one writer

00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.440
 this week

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:12.880
 who said

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.539
 Jesus would

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.340
 be appalled

00:27:14.340 --> 00:27:14.740
 at the

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.420
 ease and

00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.019
 frequency

00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.400
 with which

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.059
 divorce takes

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.680
 place today.

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.740
 And I

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.240
 suspect he's

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.539
 right.

00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.440
 In fact,

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.019
 I wonder

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.799
 whether future

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.460
 generations

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:26.960
 will look

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.680
 back at

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.299
 this kind

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.700
 of period

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.079
 of church

00:27:29.079 --> 00:27:29.519
 history,

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:30.840
 and what

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.079
 will they

00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.460
 say when

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:31.779
 it comes

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:31.960
 to the

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.220
 issue of

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:32.420
 marriage

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:32.980
 and divorce?

00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:34.799
 You know,

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.519
 we look

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:35.759
 back,

00:27:35.840 --> 00:27:36.059
 don't we,

00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:37.960
 on slavery,

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.279
 and we

00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:38.620
 think to

00:27:38.620 --> 00:27:38.840
 ourselves,

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.819
 how was it

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.140
 that so

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.660
 many Christians

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.120
 did not

00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:41.340
 have a

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:41.539
 problem

00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:41.700
 with

00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:41.960
 Christians

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.180
 owning

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:42.680
 slaves?

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.440
 How was

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.100
 it that

00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:45.460
 so many

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:45.799
 Christians

00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:46.120
 helped

00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:47.019
 perpetuate

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.400
 slavery

00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:47.680
 as an

00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.019
 institution?

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.779
 How blind

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.240
 were they?

00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:51.880
 And I

00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.140
 wonder whether

00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:52.519
 future

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.160
 generations

00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:53.759
 might look

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.060
 at ours

00:27:54.060 --> 00:27:54.380
 and say

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:54.700
 the same

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:54.900
 about

00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:55.400
 marriage.

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.340
 How did

00:27:57.340 --> 00:27:57.940
 so many

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.660
 Christians

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.360
 not have

00:27:59.360 --> 00:27:59.840
 a problem

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.380
 with getting

00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:00.880
 divorced and

00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.440
 marrying again?

00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.560
 How is it

00:28:04.560 --> 00:28:05.220
 that so many

00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:05.500
 Christians

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:05.840
 helped

00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:06.500
 perpetuate

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.120
 a kind

00:28:07.120 --> 00:28:07.660
 of casual

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.000
 attitude

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.940
 to lifelong

00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.759
 enduring

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.220
 marriage?

00:28:12.800 --> 00:28:13.420
 Is the

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.000
 Bible not

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.259
 clear?

00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.320
 Yeah?

00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.560
 How Christians

00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:19.100
 in our day

00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:19.720
 come to see

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.300
 Matthew 19

00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:20.759
 verse 6

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.100
 if you just

00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:21.519
 look at it?

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:23.940
 Do we

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.240
 see that

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:24.759
 maybe more

00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.180
 as an

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.980
 ideal

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.880
 to aim

00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.360
 for

00:28:27.360 --> 00:28:28.880
 but

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.140
 something

00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.380
 that's

00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:29.960
 regrettably

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.300
 beyond

00:28:30.300 --> 00:28:30.660
 us?

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:35.880
 But many

00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:36.160
 of you

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:36.600
 wonderfully

00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.320
 thankfully

00:28:37.320 --> 00:28:38.080
 are living

00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:38.620
 faithfully

00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:38.880
 in your

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.279
 marriages.

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.120
 And so

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:41.440
 I don't

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:41.620
 want to

00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:41.960
 just offer

00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.440
 a challenge

00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:42.759
 to the

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.300
 casualness

00:28:43.300 --> 00:28:43.580
 that might

00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:44.940
 be in

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.259
 our view

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.660
 of marriage.

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.259
 I also

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.519
 want to

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:46.860
 remind you

00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:47.080
 of the

00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:47.340
 beauty

00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:47.779
 and the

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.100
 wisdom

00:28:48.100 --> 00:28:49.060
 of living

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.460
 God's

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:49.740
 way.

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.579
 And so

00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:52.839
 I wish

00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:53.079
 I had

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.399
 ours.

00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:55.879
 I could

00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.220
 tell you

00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.859
 stories

00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:59.220
 about this.

00:28:59.539 --> 00:28:59.960
 I don't

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.059
 have

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.460
 ours but

00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:00.919
 if I

00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:01.259
 did I

00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:01.980
 tell you

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.599
 of Mark

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:04.460
 whose

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:04.980
 wife came

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.259
 home

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:07.059
 and told

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.259
 him of

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:07.379
 the

00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:07.679
 colleague

00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:08.000
 that she

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.379
 betrayed

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:08.799
 him with.

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.379
 And I

00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:11.720
 tell you

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.059
 how he

00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.579
 still lives

00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:12.859
 with the

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:13.179
 hurt

00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:14.919
 and

00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:15.339
 struggles

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.619
 with

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.259
 trust

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:18.220
 but how

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.700
 he stood

00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.259
 by her

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.720
 from then

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.039
 on till

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.359
 now.

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.799
 I could

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:23.980
 tell you

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.379
 of Jennifer

00:29:24.379 --> 00:29:24.980
 whose husband

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.259
 is an

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.599
 alcoholic

00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:28.019
 who hid

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.379
 it from

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:28.720
 her for

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.460
 years

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.119
 and still

00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:30.480
 often

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.059
 lies about

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.440
 it now

00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.299
 who keeps

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:32.680
 forgiving

00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.180
 him and

00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.539
 supporting

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:33.920
 him and

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:34.379
 loving him

00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:34.599
 as he

00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:34.940
 battles

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.480
 his addiction.

00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:38.500
 I tell

00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:38.720
 you about

00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.539
 a man

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:39.700
 called

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.160
 Sam

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:42.779
 a lady

00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.000
 called

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.200
 Sam

00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:43.559
 whose

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:43.859
 husband

00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:44.259
 is a

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.740
 shell

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.119
 of the

00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:45.519
 man she

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:45.900
 married

00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.180
 because

00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:46.400
 of the

00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:46.560
 grip

00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:46.680
 of

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:46.960
 mental

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.340
 illness

00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:47.800
 on his

00:29:47.800 --> 00:29:48.120
 life.

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.420
 I tell

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:50.660
 you about

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.019
 how much

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.780
 her life

00:29:51.780 --> 00:29:52.380
 has changed

00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:52.720
 in order

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.120
 to care

00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.460
 for him.

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.180
 How few

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:55.720
 of her

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.259
 emotional

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:56.759
 needs

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.400
 are met

00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:57.840
 by him.

00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:58.519
 How she

00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.360
 faithfully

00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.240
 walks her

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:00.740
 lonely

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.160
 road

00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:01.600
 alongside

00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:01.960
 him.

00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:05.500
 I could

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:05.660
 tell you

00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:05.820
 about

00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:06.160
 Tom

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.940
 whose

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.360
 wife has

00:30:08.360 --> 00:30:08.820
 dementia

00:30:08.820 --> 00:30:10.580
 and who

00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:11.280
 now often

00:30:11.280 --> 00:30:11.660
 doesn't

00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.080
 recognise

00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:12.540
 him

00:30:12.540 --> 00:30:13.200
 and

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.620
 forgets

00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:14.000
 his name

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.540
 and regularly

00:30:14.540 --> 00:30:14.900
 shouts

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.480
 abuse at

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:15.680
 him and

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:15.860
 even

00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:16.220
 throws

00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.519
 things

00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:16.700
 at

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:16.880
 him.

00:30:17.560 --> 00:30:17.860
 But I

00:30:17.860 --> 00:30:18.180
 tell you

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.500
 about how

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.140
 he tenderly

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.660
 brushes her

00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:21.700
 hair and

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.039
 how he

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.440
 patiently

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.480
 prays for

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:23.860
 her and

00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:24.320
 reads the

00:30:24.320 --> 00:30:25.019
 Bible to

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.440
 her with

00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:25.720
 her in

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.180
 her calmer

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.560
 moments.

00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:30.460
 I tell

00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:30.660
 you about

00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:31.259
 Jan who

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.820
 comes to

00:30:32.820 --> 00:30:33.380
 terms with

00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:34.019
 the confusion

00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.380
 that she

00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:34.820
 feels about

00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:35.380
 her husband's

00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:36.100
 repeated visits

00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:36.340
 to a

00:30:36.340 --> 00:30:36.759
 prostitute.

00:30:38.860 --> 00:30:39.299
 I could

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:39.500
 tell you

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.680
 what it

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.039
 looks like

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.279
 to be

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.019
 faithful to

00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:41.440
 her husband

00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:41.840
 even though

00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:42.140
 she feels

00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:42.580
 sick to

00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:42.799
 look at

00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.080
 him lots

00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:43.440
 of times.

00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:47.460
 I've

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:47.740
 changed

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:47.940
 the

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.380
 names

00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:50.640
 but the

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.180
 stories are

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.740
 all true.

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.680
 Stories of

00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:55.500
 happy marriages

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.000
 no

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:58.480
 but stories

00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.240
 of Christian

00:30:59.240 --> 00:30:59.860
 brothers and

00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.560
 sisters who

00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:00.940
 are as

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.640
 serious about

00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:02.400
 marriage as

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:03.180
 Jesus is.

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:05.700
 Beautiful

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.340
 stories of

00:31:06.340 --> 00:31:06.880
 Christians who

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.500
 treat Matthew

00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.480
 19 verse 6

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:08.900
 as if it's a

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.519
 non-negotiable.

00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:12.720
 stories of

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.339
 wise people

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:13.539
 who are

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:13.839
 deeply

00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:14.339
 convinced

00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:14.839
 that God's

00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.059
 way is

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.319
 best.

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:18.940
 So finally

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:19.299
 on this

00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:20.740
 point let

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.059
 me speak

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.460
 to those

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.000
 of you

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.220
 who are

00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.660
 single and

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:22.920
 would like

00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.119
 to be

00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.379
 married.

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.700
 To those

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.059
 who hope

00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.279
 for a

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.660
 husband and

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:25.920
 wife.

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:28.759
 If you

00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.220
 don't think

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.079
 that you

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.500
 could stay

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.160
 married to

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:31.839
 someone who

00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:32.440
 developed a

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.379
 serious mental

00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:34.980
 illness and

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.740
 was no longer

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.319
 meeting your

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:38.000
 needs then

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.579
 marriage isn't

00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:38.960
 for you.

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:41.599
 If you

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:41.879
 don't think

00:31:41.879 --> 00:31:42.299
 you could stay

00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:42.759
 married to

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.180
 somebody who

00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.559
 broke their

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.460
 wedding vows then

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.039
 marriage isn't

00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.379
 for you.

00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:47.720
 If you

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.079
 don't think

00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.579
 you could stay

00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:49.019
 married to

00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.420
 someone whose

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.460
 personality really

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.359
 changed and

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.440
 became unkind and

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.500
 unresponsive marriage

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.160
 isn't for you.

00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.579
 If you don't

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.019
 think you could

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:58.720
 stay married to

00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.099
 somebody who

00:31:59.099 --> 00:31:59.759
 started taking

00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.720
 illicit drugs then

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.279
 marriage isn't

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.660
 for you.

00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:05.460
 The thing about

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.319
 getting married is

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.400
 you don't know

00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:07.920
 what the future

00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.319
 holds.

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:11.359
 but you

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.480
 nevertheless make

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.660
 binding promises

00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:14.619
 that bind you to

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.139
 be a certain

00:32:15.139 --> 00:32:15.920
 kind of person.

00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.019
 And so unless

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:21.099
 you're really up

00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:22.400
 for richer or

00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:22.960
 poorer in

00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.660
 sickness or in

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.339
 health for better

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:24.940
 or for worse

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:27.539
 then don't walk

00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:28.000
 down the aisle.

00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.019
 Don't make a

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.440
 liar out of

00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.519
 yourself before

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.180
 your family and

00:32:33.180 --> 00:32:33.839
 friends and before

00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.220
 God.

00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:36.740
 you'd be better

00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.259
 off like the

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:37.880
 disciples

00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:41.120
 not get married

00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:41.440
 at all.

00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:46.000
 Which brings me

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.839
 to point four

00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:49.180
 about singleness.

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.200
 What do the

00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.880
 words of Jesus

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:52.740
 mean for those

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.259
 who are single?

00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.460
 And again two

00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:56.860
 things.

00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:59.299
 I think they

00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.859
 mirror what I

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.699
 said last week

00:33:00.699 --> 00:33:03.179
 from Genesis 2.

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.539
 The first is to

00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:05.159
 acknowledge that

00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:07.740
 singleness in one

00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.500
 sense is a

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.179
 deprivation.

00:33:12.179 --> 00:33:13.599
 What I mean by

00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:14.219
 that is that the

00:33:14.219 --> 00:33:15.439
 single person really

00:33:15.439 --> 00:33:16.839
 is experiencing the

00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:17.740
 absence of something

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.179
 good.

00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:20.799
 Just like Genesis 2

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.459
 taught us.

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:23.860
 Jesus affirms

00:33:23.860 --> 00:33:24.299
 doesn't he the

00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:25.319
 essential goodness

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.120
 of marriage.

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:27.220
 A profound unity

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.279
 of two people

00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:28.819
 becoming one

00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:29.299
 flesh.

00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:32.700
 The rich blessing

00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:34.539
 of what it is to

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.700
 be bound to

00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.640
 another person

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:38.019
 by God.

00:33:40.360 --> 00:33:41.640
 And so to not

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.440
 be married is to

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.519
 be deprived of

00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.100
 one of God's

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.440
 blessings.

00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:48.039
 So it's not a

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.779
 surprise to find

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.700
 Jesus talking about

00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:50.680
 singleness by

00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.319
 discussing the

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.159
 life of eunuchs.

00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:55.339
 Because eunuchs

00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:56.899
 by definition

00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:58.919
 live life with

00:33:58.919 --> 00:33:59.919
 deprivation against

00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.579
 their own will.

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:03.099
 Although Jesus

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:03.839
 acknowledges doesn't

00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:04.599
 he that some

00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:06.960
 eunuchs live

00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:08.079
 voluntarily like

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.519
 that for the

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:08.840
 sake of the

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.059
 kingdom.

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.380
 But even if

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.900
 somebody does

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.139
 choose to live

00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:14.199
 this life they

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.980
 choose to go

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.840
 without something

00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.279
 good.

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.980
 And by doing so

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:21.019
 they testify that

00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:22.360
 God himself is

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.380
 more precious

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.280
 than his

00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:24.940
 gifts.

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.980
 They testify that

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.679
 God can be

00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.860
 trusted utterly

00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.679
 even in the

00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.079
 face of

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.719
 deprivation.

00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:32.759
 deprivation.

00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:40.480
 So Jesus'

00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:41.739
 language affirms

00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:42.259
 here at one

00:34:42.259 --> 00:34:42.959
 level singleness

00:34:42.959 --> 00:34:43.819
 is a deprivation

00:34:43.819 --> 00:34:44.759
 like Genesis 2

00:34:44.759 --> 00:34:45.000
 does.

00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:48.219
 Jesus dignifies

00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:49.879
 the grief that

00:34:49.879 --> 00:34:50.819
 many single

00:34:50.819 --> 00:34:51.779
 people feel in

00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:52.179
 not being

00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.539
 married.

00:34:53.759 --> 00:34:54.759
 And he affirms

00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.519
 the goodness of

00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.319
 the desire to be

00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:56.539
 married.

00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:57.179
 But at the

00:34:57.179 --> 00:34:57.879
 same time

00:34:57.879 --> 00:34:59.299
 Jesus is able

00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:00.019
 to speak about

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:01.559
 how in another

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.579
 way singleness

00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.980
 is better than

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.299
 marriage.

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.440
 You notice

00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:09.820
 that better is

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:10.440
 the word that

00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:10.900
 the disciples

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.639
 use in verse

00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:12.079
 10.

00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:15.900
 It's interesting

00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:16.159
 isn't it?

00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:16.639
 Jesus doesn't

00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.199
 contradict them.

00:35:19.299 --> 00:35:20.199
 What is in the

00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.599
 disciples'

00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:22.039
 mind is that

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:22.980
 singleness might

00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:23.840
 be better than

00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:24.779
 the extremely

00:35:24.779 --> 00:35:25.759
 high commitment

00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:27.380
 that Jesus

00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:28.000
 expects of

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.300
 those who

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.559
 marry?

00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:31.719
 And it

00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:32.199
 seems to me

00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:32.739
 that if the

00:35:32.739 --> 00:35:33.619
 question that

00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.219
 the disciples

00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:34.980
 ask in verse

00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.940
 10 has never

00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:36.960
 found its way

00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.579
 into your

00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:38.280
 heart and

00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:39.139
 to your lips

00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:39.639
 then you

00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.380
 haven't really

00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:41.099
 understood what

00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:41.679
 Jesus is saying

00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:42.239
 about marriage.

00:35:44.699 --> 00:35:45.480
 Because if you

00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:46.800
 haven't grasped

00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.199
 all the

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:47.960
 implications of

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:48.539
 being joined

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.199
 to someone

00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:50.239
 by God

00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:51.139
 then the

00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.539
 disciples'

00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:52.199
 question of

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:52.840
 verse 10

00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:53.659
 is an

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.500
 obvious question

00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:54.920
 to ask.

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:58.960
 Of course

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.639
 Jesus doesn't

00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.440
 challenge the

00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:00.960
 disciples for

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:01.400
 thinking that

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:01.920
 singleness might

00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.360
 be better than

00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:02.599
 marriage.

00:36:02.680 --> 00:36:02.920
 He also

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:03.500
 suggests a

00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:03.800
 reason of

00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:04.039
 his own.

00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:04.760
 He says in

00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:05.340
 verse 12

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.280
 that singleness

00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:06.900
 might be

00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:08.519
 better if you

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:08.940
 want to serve

00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:09.240
 the kingdom

00:36:09.240 --> 00:36:09.680
 of heaven.

00:36:12.700 --> 00:36:13.119
 Now singleness

00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:13.659
 is the first

00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.360
 normal state

00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:14.700
 for every

00:36:14.700 --> 00:36:15.019
 Christian.

00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:18.760
 Everyone is

00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:19.420
 single at some

00:36:19.420 --> 00:36:19.800
 point in their

00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:20.099
 life.

00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:22.240
 Many are

00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:22.900
 single to begin

00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:23.380
 with, then

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:23.900
 they're married,

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:24.340
 and then they're

00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:24.900
 single again.

00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:27.700
 But we often

00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:28.420
 think of, don't

00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:29.680
 we, singleness

00:36:29.680 --> 00:36:30.300
 as a kind of

00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:32.180
 precursor to

00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:32.659
 marriage.

00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:35.059
 One writer

00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:35.960
 calls it a

00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:36.920
 calling in

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:37.599
 incubation.

00:36:39.260 --> 00:36:39.900
 We think

00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:40.420
 singleness, well

00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.000
 it has some

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.800
 value, but only

00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.460
 some value on

00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:42.820
 the way to

00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.420
 something else.

00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:45.420
 It's alright as

00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:46.180
 far as it goes,

00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:47.519
 but it might be

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.740
 better when we

00:36:48.740 --> 00:36:49.300
 graduate to

00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:49.820
 marriage, but

00:36:49.820 --> 00:36:50.300
 that's not how

00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:50.840
 Jesus thinks.

00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:53.099
 In fact, if we

00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:53.680
 had time, we

00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:54.180
 could jump to

00:36:54.180 --> 00:36:54.800
 Matthew 22,

00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.340
 and read the

00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:55.900
 passage where

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:56.460
 Jesus says

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.079
 there'll be no

00:36:57.079 --> 00:36:58.019
 marriage at the

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.420
 resurrection.

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:03.240
 We'd see how

00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:03.800
 it is that Jesus

00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:04.420
 argues the

00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:04.680
 opposite.

00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:07.180
 He tells us

00:37:07.180 --> 00:37:07.800
 that marriage is

00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:08.220
 temporary.

00:37:09.220 --> 00:37:09.740
 In the end,

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:10.340
 singleness is

00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:10.659
 permanent.

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.099
 Marriage might be

00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:14.500
 lifelong, but it's

00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.019
 not eternal.

00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:17.619
 And that reminds us

00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.119
 again of what we

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:18.780
 saw last week.

00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:19.480
 Marriage is not

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:19.840
 ultimate.

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:20.700
 Sex is not

00:37:20.700 --> 00:37:21.099
 ultimate.

00:37:21.099 --> 00:37:21.239
 intimate.

00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:22.000
 There's a

00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:23.019
 greater intimacy

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:24.599
 in the universe

00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:25.920
 than anything that

00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.699
 is possible for

00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:27.420
 two human beings

00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:27.980
 to enjoy.

00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:30.339
 And Jesus

00:37:30.339 --> 00:37:31.380
 seems to suggest

00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:32.219
 in Matthew 22

00:37:32.219 --> 00:37:33.059
 that a day is

00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:34.619
 coming when the

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:36.159
 intimacy of Jesus'

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:37.119
 relationship with

00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:38.299
 his people will

00:37:38.299 --> 00:37:40.420
 utterly dwarf any

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.579
 kind of intimacy

00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:42.420
 we've ever known.

00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:44.860
 on that day, if a

00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:46.000
 husband enjoys an

00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:47.099
 ongoing relationship

00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:48.019
 with their spouse,

00:37:48.220 --> 00:37:49.240
 it won't be based

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:49.860
 on marriage.

00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.920
 It will be based on

00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:52.559
 their shared

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.360
 membership of

00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:54.420
 Christ's church in

00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:54.900
 eternity.

00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:56.039
 Singleness will be

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:56.480
 universal.

00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.220
 And it's because

00:37:59.220 --> 00:38:00.119
 Jesus believes that

00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:00.700
 the kingdom of

00:38:00.700 --> 00:38:02.220
 heaven, that that

00:38:02.220 --> 00:38:02.800
 is the ultimate

00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:03.960
 thing, he can

00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:05.000
 suggest even in the

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:06.200
 here and the now,

00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:07.400
 singleness might be

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:08.099
 better than marriage.

00:38:09.220 --> 00:38:10.119
 Because serving the

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:10.780
 kingdom of God will

00:38:10.780 --> 00:38:11.300
 last forever.

00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:12.880
 the marriage won't.

00:38:14.600 --> 00:38:15.280
 That's really

00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:16.480
 consistent with what

00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.400
 Jesus says in the

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.120
 Gospels, isn't it?

00:38:19.200 --> 00:38:20.120
 How he speaks about

00:38:20.120 --> 00:38:20.980
 family, Mark chapter

00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:21.360
 three.

00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:24.019
 He tells us that his

00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:24.940
 family aren't mother

00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:25.920
 and brothers standing

00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:26.620
 outside the house

00:38:26.620 --> 00:38:27.260
 trying to see him,

00:38:27.320 --> 00:38:28.220
 but his family are all

00:38:28.220 --> 00:38:29.000
 who do God's will.

00:38:30.660 --> 00:38:31.539
 This is Jesus who in

00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.300
 Matthew chapter 10

00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:33.160
 says he's come to turn

00:38:33.160 --> 00:38:33.960
 a son against his

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:35.019
 father and a daughter

00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:35.660
 against his mother.

00:38:36.660 --> 00:38:37.519
 And that anyone who

00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.700
 loves their father or

00:38:38.700 --> 00:38:39.380
 mother more than him

00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:40.320
 is not worthy of him.

00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:42.680
 This is Jesus when

00:38:42.680 --> 00:38:44.260
 Luke chapter 9 told a

00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:45.240
 would-be disciple if he

00:38:45.240 --> 00:38:45.900
 wanted to go and say

00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:47.080
 goodbye to his family,

00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.320
 he wasn't fit for

00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:49.120
 service in God's

00:38:49.120 --> 00:38:49.320
 kingdom.

00:38:51.100 --> 00:38:52.800
 And Jesus constantly

00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:54.680
 subverted the ideals

00:38:54.680 --> 00:38:55.500
 about family in his

00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:55.820
 day.

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:58.180
 And if that was true

00:38:58.180 --> 00:38:59.280
 then, how much more

00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:00.039
 is that true now?

00:39:02.260 --> 00:39:04.140
 In our society and in

00:39:04.140 --> 00:39:04.880
 church life, which

00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:06.820
 often idolizes family,

00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:08.120
 Jesus drives a bull

00:39:08.120 --> 00:39:09.200
 dozer through our

00:39:09.200 --> 00:39:09.940
 cultural values.

00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:13.220
 time after time,

00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:14.300
 Jesus insisted that

00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:15.300
 the kingdom mattered

00:39:15.300 --> 00:39:16.139
 more than the family.

00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:19.900
 And the kingdom must

00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:21.059
 come first.

00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:23.980
 That's the same

00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:24.820
 imperative we find in

00:39:24.820 --> 00:39:25.280
 verse 12.

00:39:26.720 --> 00:39:28.400
 So he says to those

00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:29.079
 who can accept

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:29.740
 singleness, they

00:39:29.740 --> 00:39:30.380
 should accept it.

00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:33.700
 He's not saying it's

00:39:33.700 --> 00:39:34.460
 an option you should

00:39:34.460 --> 00:39:34.880
 consider.

00:39:35.019 --> 00:39:35.679
 Jesus is saying if

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:36.380
 you can accept

00:39:36.380 --> 00:39:37.380
 depriving yourself of

00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.179
 marriage to serve

00:39:38.179 --> 00:39:38.800
 Jesus, then you

00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:38.960
 should.

00:39:39.940 --> 00:39:42.320
 So it makes perfect

00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:43.300
 sense that some

00:39:43.300 --> 00:39:44.460
 will choose singleness

00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:45.159
 for the sake of the

00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:47.760
 kingdom over marriage.

00:39:49.820 --> 00:39:50.880
 It's not far-fetched,

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.639
 I don't think, to say

00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:53.240
 that when it comes to

00:39:53.240 --> 00:39:54.139
 being devoted to the

00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:54.960
 kingdom, singleness is

00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:55.159
 better.

00:39:57.720 --> 00:39:58.539
 So let me summarize

00:39:58.539 --> 00:39:59.039
 everything I've been

00:39:59.039 --> 00:39:59.740
 saying at my fifth

00:39:59.740 --> 00:40:00.380
 point, the kingdom of

00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:00.559
 God.

00:40:02.780 --> 00:40:03.900
 What does Matthew 19

00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:05.900
 tell us about living

00:40:05.900 --> 00:40:06.940
 life in Christ's

00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:07.179
 kingdom?

00:40:07.820 --> 00:40:08.960
 About following Christ

00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:09.420
 Christ as king?

00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:11.860
 So firstly, the

00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:12.720
 kingdom gives you a

00:40:12.720 --> 00:40:13.300
 reason to stay

00:40:13.300 --> 00:40:13.639
 married.

00:40:17.139 --> 00:40:17.960
 Who was it that

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:19.880
 made them male and

00:40:19.880 --> 00:40:20.400
 female in the

00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:20.740
 beginning?

00:40:21.300 --> 00:40:21.800
 It was God the

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:22.000
 king.

00:40:23.220 --> 00:40:24.400
 Who decreed in the

00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:25.159
 beginning that a man

00:40:25.159 --> 00:40:25.960
 will leave his father

00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:27.159
 and his mother and be

00:40:27.159 --> 00:40:28.260
 united to his wife and

00:40:28.260 --> 00:40:29.079
 the two will become one

00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.440
 flesh?

00:40:29.559 --> 00:40:30.139
 God the king.

00:40:31.340 --> 00:40:32.579
 Who is it that really

00:40:32.579 --> 00:40:33.760
 joins two people together

00:40:33.760 --> 00:40:34.559
 when they get married?

00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:36.539
 It's God the king.

00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:39.440
 Who was it that said

00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.500
 what God has joined

00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:43.079
 together, let no one

00:40:43.079 --> 00:40:43.460
 separate?

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:46.199
 It was Jesus Christ,

00:40:46.300 --> 00:40:46.800
 God's king.

00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:50.279
 It's hard to think of a

00:40:50.279 --> 00:40:51.880
 passage in the Bible that

00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:53.960
 makes the lifelong nature

00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:55.340
 of marriage so clear.

00:40:57.380 --> 00:40:58.639
 So to the marriage, can I

00:40:58.639 --> 00:40:59.119
 say this?

00:40:59.259 --> 00:41:00.259
 Even if you can't think of

00:41:00.259 --> 00:41:01.719
 any other good reason to

00:41:01.719 --> 00:41:02.719
 stay married to your spouse,

00:41:02.820 --> 00:41:03.980
 here is one very compelling

00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:04.320
 reason.

00:41:07.320 --> 00:41:09.219
 Do not unjoin what God

00:41:09.219 --> 00:41:09.699
 has joined.

00:41:11.699 --> 00:41:12.860
 And that's a matter of

00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:13.980
 submission to God the king.

00:41:17.659 --> 00:41:18.440
 But to those who are

00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:19.780
 currently single, I say to

00:41:19.780 --> 00:41:20.659
 you, here is a compelling

00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:21.699
 reason to stay single.

00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:22.420
 There are two reasons,

00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:22.679
 actually.

00:41:24.019 --> 00:41:24.880
 The reason that the

00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:26.039
 disciples gave because the

00:41:26.039 --> 00:41:26.880
 commitment of marriage is

00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:27.579
 so great.

00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:30.460
 But there's also the reason

00:41:30.460 --> 00:41:31.639
 that Jesus gave that living

00:41:31.639 --> 00:41:33.000
 life as a eunuch may be the

00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:34.260
 best way for you to serve

00:41:34.260 --> 00:41:35.039
 heaven's kingdom.

00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:39.659
 And of course, no one will

00:41:39.659 --> 00:41:41.440
 voluntarily choose singleness

00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:42.739
 for this reason unless they

00:41:42.739 --> 00:41:45.460
 are powerfully convinced that

00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:46.300
 the kingdom is the ultimate

00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:46.619
 thing.

00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:50.179
 No one will make this choice

00:41:50.179 --> 00:41:51.900
 unless they are persuaded that

00:41:51.900 --> 00:41:53.260
 marriage and sex are part of a

00:41:53.260 --> 00:41:55.360
 fading world and not part of the

00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:55.960
 eternal one.

00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:58.920
 No one will choose singleness

00:41:58.920 --> 00:42:01.599
 for life unless they've come to

00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:03.380
 believe that deep in their soul

00:42:03.380 --> 00:42:06.259
 Jesus offers to all who follow

00:42:06.259 --> 00:42:08.199
 him a far greater joy than

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:09.059
 marriage can provide.

00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:11.500
 Did you hear that sentence?

00:42:14.079 --> 00:42:15.339
 No one will choose singleness

00:42:15.339 --> 00:42:16.839
 for life unless they've come to

00:42:16.839 --> 00:42:18.139
 believe deep in their soul that

00:42:18.139 --> 00:42:20.759
 Jesus offers to all who follow

00:42:20.759 --> 00:42:22.559
 him a far greater joy than

00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:23.380
 marriage can provide.

00:42:23.380 --> 00:42:31.000
 We don't really have many models

00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:32.900
 of people who've chosen singleness

00:42:32.900 --> 00:42:34.059
 for the sake of the kingdom.

00:42:36.559 --> 00:42:37.840
 And I wonder whether that is

00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:39.640
 because we've just not thought

00:42:39.640 --> 00:42:40.940
 seriously enough about these

00:42:40.940 --> 00:42:41.660
 parts of the Bible.

00:42:43.240 --> 00:42:44.840
 I certainly know I didn't before I

00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:45.180
 got married.

00:42:47.160 --> 00:42:48.800
 And I wonder if we really do

00:42:48.800 --> 00:42:49.900
 struggle to believe that the

00:42:49.900 --> 00:42:51.760
 kingdom of God is ultimate.

00:42:53.579 --> 00:42:55.119
 Ultimate in a way that marriage

00:42:55.119 --> 00:42:56.280
 is not and could never be.

00:42:58.680 --> 00:42:59.680
 And I wonder if future

00:42:59.680 --> 00:43:00.700
 generations of Christians will

00:43:00.700 --> 00:43:02.539
 not only ask us why were there so

00:43:02.539 --> 00:43:05.059
 many divorces amongst Christians

00:43:05.059 --> 00:43:07.740
 but why there were so few that

00:43:07.740 --> 00:43:09.900
 chose intentional singleness for

00:43:10.820 --> 00:43:11.059
 Jesus.

00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:19.180
 Jesus' own intentional singleness for

00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:20.379
 the kingdom took him to the cross.

00:43:21.919 --> 00:43:24.099
 He spent his single life in order

00:43:24.099 --> 00:43:25.339
 that the kingdom of God might

00:43:25.339 --> 00:43:26.419
 welcome people like you and me.

00:43:29.899 --> 00:43:32.599
 Jesus does not ask anything of us

00:43:32.599 --> 00:43:35.440
 that he has not already done for us.

00:43:37.799 --> 00:43:40.099
 Jesus does not ask anything of us

00:43:40.099 --> 00:43:42.319
 that he has not already done for us.

00:43:44.239 --> 00:43:45.599
 And so if you are single here

00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:47.179
 tonight this evening, Jesus looks

00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:47.679
 you in the eye.

00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:50.659
 Jesus looks you in the eye

00:43:50.659 --> 00:43:52.019
 and he asks whether you would be

00:43:52.019 --> 00:43:53.940
 willing to follow in his single

00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:55.199
 footsteps for the sake of the

00:43:55.199 --> 00:43:55.399
 kingdom.

00:43:59.559 --> 00:44:01.539
 As I wrap up, finally, fidelity to

00:44:01.539 --> 00:44:02.219
 the king's words.

00:44:03.739 --> 00:44:05.299
 It's ultimately the core issue in the

00:44:05.299 --> 00:44:05.899
 kingdom of God.

00:44:07.899 --> 00:44:09.739
 In a very significant way,

00:44:10.399 --> 00:44:12.319
 God's kingship is exercised through

00:44:12.320 --> 00:44:12.920
 his words.

00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:16.780
 He rules us by speaking to us.

00:44:17.880 --> 00:44:19.320
 And to live in the kingdom of God is

00:44:19.320 --> 00:44:20.519
 to hear his words and obey.

00:44:20.640 --> 00:44:22.700
 It is to hear words from Genesis 2

00:44:22.700 --> 00:44:24.160
 like the ones we heard last week

00:44:24.160 --> 00:44:26.960
 that Jesus quotes here and to think

00:44:26.960 --> 00:44:29.140
 very deeply how our lives conform to

00:44:29.140 --> 00:44:29.720
 those words.

00:44:31.360 --> 00:44:33.720
 It's to hear the words that come from

00:44:33.720 --> 00:44:35.519
 the lips of King Jesus himself and

00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:38.240
 reorient our thinking and our feeling

00:44:38.240 --> 00:44:39.740
 and our living around those words.

00:44:39.739 --> 00:44:41.579
 And so tonight we've heard these

00:44:41.579 --> 00:44:43.099
 words from Jesus that marriage is an

00:44:43.099 --> 00:44:43.699
 act of God.

00:44:44.939 --> 00:44:46.579
 That for better, for worse, we're

00:44:46.579 --> 00:44:48.519
 never to unjoin what God has joined.

00:44:50.119 --> 00:44:51.839
 And we've heard a word of invitation

00:44:51.839 --> 00:44:53.779
 from Jesus to consider singleness for

00:44:53.779 --> 00:44:54.439
 the sake of the kingdom.

00:44:55.959 --> 00:44:57.939
 And that invitation comes with a very

00:44:57.939 --> 00:44:59.659
 provoking challenge in verse 12,

00:44:59.779 --> 00:45:00.039
 isn't it?

00:45:00.539 --> 00:45:02.019
 He says the one who can accept this

00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:02.339
 should.

00:45:03.859 --> 00:45:05.379
 So the question I finish tonight with

00:45:05.379 --> 00:45:06.000
 is will you listen?

00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:09.360
 Will you be faithful to the king's

00:45:09.360 --> 00:45:09.659
 words?

00:45:12.260 --> 00:45:13.880
 Of course, because of the road Christ

00:45:13.880 --> 00:45:15.159
 walked for us, we know forgiveness.

00:45:17.539 --> 00:45:18.820
 Forgiveness for all our failures.

00:45:19.619 --> 00:45:21.019
 And we have the strength of his Holy

00:45:21.019 --> 00:45:23.280
 Spirit to help us in our obedience.

00:45:24.219 --> 00:45:25.559
 But the key challenge remains.

00:45:26.679 --> 00:45:29.380
 Will your life be marked by fidelity

00:45:29.380 --> 00:45:30.739
 to his words?

00:45:30.739 --> 00:45:34.339
 If you were to flip back to Matthew 17,

00:45:34.519 --> 00:45:35.939
 you would come to the Transfiguration.

00:45:36.979 --> 00:45:38.819
 You'd read the story where Jesus is

00:45:38.819 --> 00:45:39.879
 seen at the top of the mountain with

00:45:39.879 --> 00:45:40.699
 Moses and Elijah.

00:45:41.559 --> 00:45:43.139
 And God's voice thunders down from

00:45:43.139 --> 00:45:43.399
 heaven.

00:45:43.639 --> 00:45:45.899
 This is my son, whom I love.

00:45:46.179 --> 00:45:47.399
 With him, I'm well pleased.

00:45:47.739 --> 00:45:48.299
 Listen to him.

00:45:49.859 --> 00:45:52.639
 And in that moment, God calls on us to

00:45:52.639 --> 00:45:55.659
 recognize Jesus as the greatest voice of

00:45:55.659 --> 00:45:56.139
 human history.

00:45:56.139 --> 00:46:01.139
 He is the one to listen to, even if we

00:46:01.139 --> 00:46:01.980
 listen to no one else.

00:46:04.319 --> 00:46:05.859
 He is the one who tells us what God

00:46:05.859 --> 00:46:06.319
 says.

00:46:06.480 --> 00:46:07.799
 He is the one who tells us what we

00:46:07.799 --> 00:46:09.159
 desperately need to hear.

00:46:09.359 --> 00:46:10.920
 There is nothing more sensible in the

00:46:10.920 --> 00:46:11.639
 world than doing that.

00:46:14.019 --> 00:46:15.339
 He knows you better than you know

00:46:15.339 --> 00:46:15.779
 yourself.

00:46:17.440 --> 00:46:19.819
 Hearing and obeying him is a great act

00:46:19.819 --> 00:46:20.400
 of trust.

00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:23.199
 And so I'm not pretending for a

00:46:23.199 --> 00:46:24.359
 moment tonight that it's easy.

00:46:24.360 --> 00:46:27.260
 But he loves us.

00:46:28.640 --> 00:46:30.260
 And everything he tells you, he tells

00:46:30.260 --> 00:46:30.800
 you for your good.

00:46:32.300 --> 00:46:34.380
 He's the most trustworthy person there

00:46:34.380 --> 00:46:34.680
 is.

00:46:35.480 --> 00:46:36.280
 He is the good shepherd.

00:46:38.380 --> 00:46:40.460
 And so let me ask you, amidst all the

00:46:40.460 --> 00:46:44.300
 voices you're hearing in your life, are

00:46:44.300 --> 00:46:48.620
 you hearing Jesus more loudly and more

00:46:48.620 --> 00:46:51.740
 clearly than any other?

00:46:51.739 --> 00:46:56.159
 And does your life reflect that his

00:46:56.159 --> 00:46:57.539
 voice is the greatest voice in human

00:46:57.539 --> 00:46:57.839
 history?

00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:00.779
 And so I want to urge you tonight to

00:47:00.779 --> 00:47:01.259
 listen to him.

00:47:02.859 --> 00:47:04.939
 And then with humble honesty before God,

00:47:05.019 --> 00:47:06.479
 accept his word and be faithful to it.

00:47:07.759 --> 00:47:09.799
 God says, this is my son whom I love,

00:47:09.859 --> 00:47:11.000
 with whom I'm well pleased.

00:47:12.059 --> 00:47:12.819
 Listen to him.

00:47:13.259 --> 00:47:13.719
 Let's pray.

00:47:13.719 --> 00:47:14.299
 Let's pray.

00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.299


00:47:14.300 --> 00:47:44.280
 Thank you.