WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.839 Mark chapter 10, you know, Jesus always gathered a crowd. 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:12.859 ! When he spoke, many came, many healed, many healed, many 00:00:12.859 --> 00:00:18.920 ! many healed, many healed, many healed, many healed, many healed, many 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:22.000 like any religious leader they had ever seen. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:27.200 And he was taking the attention away from the religious 00:00:27.200 --> 00:00:28.179 establishment. 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:37.420 And the Pharisees and the Sadducees, two of the primary sects of 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:43.040 religious establishment, they did not like him getting the 00:00:43.040 --> 00:00:43.359 attention. 00:00:44.760 --> 00:00:46.480 They also didn't like his teaching. 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:49.640 And, well, at least some did. 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:51.539 We know one did. 00:00:51.659 --> 00:00:54.839 John chapter 3 says Nicodemus did because he went to him at night 00:00:54.839 --> 00:00:57.579 probably so people couldn't see him. 00:00:58.619 --> 00:01:01.299 And the reason why they didn't like what Jesus taught was it 00:01:01.299 --> 00:01:02.679 wasn't about rules and regulations. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:04.819 It's not what he focused on. 00:01:05.699 --> 00:01:11.640 He was about freedom and the liberty that only can come through 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:12.459 the grace of God. 00:01:12.459 --> 00:01:20.819 So they questioned him repeatedly in an attempt to corner him, to 00:01:20.819 --> 00:01:26.139 somehow try to make him lose credibility to cause conflict with 00:01:26.139 --> 00:01:31.879 the Romans, which would surely have ended him, and then to 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:34.219 establish a case against him. 00:01:34.979 --> 00:01:36.319 So they did it in many ways. 00:01:36.399 --> 00:01:38.879 They confronted him about eating with sinners and tax collectors. 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:41.500 He shouldn't run with folks like that. 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:45.219 They didn't feel like he fasted enough. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:49.060 He needed to celebrate fasting more than he did. 00:01:50.179 --> 00:01:54.659 They went after him for not acknowledging the rules that they had set up for 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:56.319 the Sabbath day. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:02:02.039 And I talk a lot about this because it highly influences the gospel and the 00:02:02.039 --> 00:02:03.140 stories of the gospel. 00:02:03.140 --> 00:02:07.500 But not only did they believe you ought to honor the Sabbath, but they made up 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.199 rules and regulations to tell you how you should honor the Sabbath. 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:13.680 And if you did not follow those rules and regulations about how you ought to 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:15.800 honor the Sabbath, then you broke the Sabbath. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.920 It wasn't just based on what Scripture said. 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:23.920 As a matter of fact, their rabbinical rules weighed out heavily, more heavily in 00:02:23.920 --> 00:02:26.379 their mind than what Scripture said. 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:28.659 And so they tried to test him. 00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:33.020 They wanted a sign from heaven that would prove him. 00:02:33.799 --> 00:02:37.659 And every time they tried to get him, he stumped them in every way. 00:02:38.699 --> 00:02:44.000 I want you to notice what they go after in Mark chapter 10. 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:47.719 And that's exactly why he discussed it because that's what they went after. 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:49.060 I want you to see this. 00:02:49.139 --> 00:02:51.939 It's in Mark chapter 10, beginning in verse 1. 00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:58.379 And he says, and he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the 00:02:58.379 --> 00:02:58.719 Jordan. 00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:07.219 Now, I have talked about how the gospel of Mark spends a lot of time dealing with 00:03:07.219 --> 00:03:08.079 his ministry. 00:03:08.579 --> 00:03:13.079 And as we get somewhat to a mountaintop, literally to a mountaintop in the top of, 00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:18.860 excuse me, in chapter 9 with the Mount of Transfiguration, when he comes down off 00:03:18.860 --> 00:03:21.539 that mount, he'll begin to make his way towards Jerusalem. 00:03:21.539 --> 00:03:25.179 We're just centering in on the cross and what's to come. 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:31.259 And literally, the first part of Mark chapter 10, verse 1 tells us that directionally, he 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:34.280 is headed now toward Jerusalem. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:39.259 And it's on that way that crowds gathered to him again. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:43.620 And again, as was his custom, he taught them. 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:45.939 And Pharisees came up. 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:52.419 And in order to test him, asked, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:56.639 And he answered them, what did Moses command you? 00:03:57.359 --> 00:04:02.800 And they said, Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away. 00:04:03.579 --> 00:04:09.919 And Jesus said to them, because of your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:15.839 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:20.479 Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife. 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:22.839 And the two shall become one flesh. 00:04:23.099 --> 00:04:26.500 So they're no longer two, but one flesh. 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:32.659 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:37.600 And in the house, the disciples asked him again about this matter. 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:43.240 And he said, whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 00:04:43.900 --> 00:04:50.120 And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:56.920 Now, I want you to understand from the beginning today what the Pharisees were actually trying to do. 00:04:57.560 --> 00:05:02.260 They were not so concerned about his thoughts on marriage. 00:05:02.660 --> 00:05:05.600 Instead, what they wanted was a misstep. 00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:13.060 They wanted a misstep either in one of two directions, maybe both directions for Christ to make. 00:05:13.400 --> 00:05:21.480 The first one is they wanted him to look lax in what it means to have marital commitment. 00:05:22.420 --> 00:05:23.780 What it really is. 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:34.279 And I want you to remember that in John chapter 8, Jesus is the one that forgave the woman that was caught in adultery. 00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:51.539 And as men confronted her with stones in their hand to throw at her until she died, he knelt down and wrote in the sand and stood up and said, 00:05:51.540 --> 00:05:59.280 Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:04.300 He knelt down again and wrote in the sand again. 00:06:05.020 --> 00:06:08.360 And you could hear the stones fall into the ground. 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:12.240 And the men walked away. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:15.800 What did he write in the sand? 00:06:18.180 --> 00:06:24.800 Well, if you want an interesting theological conversation, you make a pot of coffee and have a bunch of theologians sit around and talk about that. 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:30.639 But whatever he wrote, he confronted those men about their own sin. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:35.060 He stood up for that lady. 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:38.899 And then he told her, you're forgiven. 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:39.980 Go and sin no more. 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:45.959 Change the pattern of your life and don't do it again. 00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:53.699 And if you don't think that got them talking about him, well, I think you're wrong. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:59.060 Why in the world would he give a lady a second chance? 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:03.819 Is he lax about marital commitment? 00:07:05.060 --> 00:07:14.720 The second misstep they were looking for is they wanted him to run up against Herod, just like John the Baptist did. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:20.399 Because John got killed because he spoke out about Herod's adultery. 00:07:21.540 --> 00:07:30.680 And if Jesus is going to say Herod broke the law and was wrong, then he may face the same thing that John the Baptist faced. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:32.379 That will take care of him. 00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:34.680 And that was their strategy. 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:38.860 But I want you to notice what Jesus did when they asked him these questions. 00:07:39.420 --> 00:07:41.720 Jesus took them back to Moses. 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:47.759 When they brought up the possibility of divorce, he took them back further to creation. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:54.459 And he focused on three truths that I want to spend the majority of our time on this morning. 00:07:54.459 --> 00:08:00.419 However, I want to be clear about something before we get started with this. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.479 And I want you to hear me. 00:08:03.579 --> 00:08:07.120 There will be no going backwards today. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:14.100 What happened in your yesterday is gone. 00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:19.780 If you've asked the Lord to forgive you, it's under the blood of Christ. 00:08:20.780 --> 00:08:21.720 You're forgiven. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:23.639 Don't do it again. 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:24.259 Don't do it again. 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:24.860 Don't do it again. 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:28.439 If you've been unfaithful to your spouse, repent. 00:08:29.719 --> 00:08:30.439 Stop it. 00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:32.399 Walk away from it. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:35.580 If you've not apologized, apologize. 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:39.940 Make right whatever you can make right. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:49.000 If you've been divorced, your fault, their fault, as is in most cases, lots of fault to pass around to each other. 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:51.780 That is yesterday. 00:08:51.779 --> 00:09:00.740 Our effort today is not to lament on what could have been in our ancient past or even in our recent past. 00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:08.620 Let's deal faithfully with where we are now and with whatever God has for us in the future. 00:09:08.959 --> 00:09:10.559 Let me tell you what the evil one loves to do. 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:14.539 The evil one loves to drag up whatever God's already forgiven. 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:18.299 And listen, my friend, that's under the blood of Christ. 00:09:18.299 --> 00:09:25.099 And when I say that, what I mean by that is without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:31.279 But because Christ went to the cross and shed his blood, we know now that sin can be forgiven. 00:09:31.939 --> 00:09:37.599 Your past can teach you, but it does not need to control you. 00:09:38.699 --> 00:09:46.079 Regret over yesterday can easily become a distraction for today and faithfulness for tomorrow. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.900 So listen, folks, let's learn from our past. 00:09:50.540 --> 00:09:53.259 Let's live faithful in our present. 00:09:54.300 --> 00:09:59.040 And let's honor God with whatever he puts before us next. 00:09:59.379 --> 00:09:59.639 Amen? 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:00.940 Amen. 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.060 We're backing up today. 00:10:03.520 --> 00:10:04.620 We're moving forward. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:05.620 Three truths. 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.259 The first one is this. 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:12.180 The marriage covenant is formed by God. 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:14.620 You say, well, preacher, that's obvious. 00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:16.539 Well, let me explain that to you, okay? 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:19.700 The marriage covenant is formed by God. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:25.399 When two Christians get together, it's not a friend that brought them together. 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:28.799 It's not the Internet that brought them together. 00:10:30.060 --> 00:10:31.659 It's God that brought them together. 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:34.539 Dawn and I had a mutual friend. 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:36.019 His name is Tim Smith. 00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:48.720 If you are familiar with Josh Howerton, who pastors a large church in Texas, Lake Point Church, he's hot on the media these days, has a lot of good things to say. 00:10:48.939 --> 00:10:52.740 His executive pastor at that church is Tim Smith, our dear friend. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:57.960 And Tim was the youth minister in the church where Dawn grew up. 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:02.820 And he told me about somebody in his church, played the piano there, and he told me about her. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:04.980 And apparently he had said something to her. 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:09.019 And then he called me one day and he lied to me. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:15.060 He wanted me to come by. 00:11:15.160 --> 00:11:17.160 We had taken a common class called Contemporary Religion. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:20.400 He said, somebody's got a question, some religious questions. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.699 And if you've still got your notes, will you bring them up? 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:23.480 I've already packed it up. 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:24.240 He's about to get married. 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:25.919 He said, I've already packed all that up. 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:28.539 Will you bring those over so I can share that with somebody? 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:34.699 And so I walked into his house not knowing that that person would be there. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.240 And that person was Dawn. 00:11:36.419 --> 00:11:41.360 And I walked in with a Kyle Petty Exide Battery tank top on. 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.159 And she has never got over it. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:54.840 Every now and then she wants me to pull it back out and put it back on. 00:12:04.579 --> 00:12:05.759 Get that out of your head. 00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:08.259 That's in the past. 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:13.159 Tim didn't get us together. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:15.439 God did. 00:12:17.579 --> 00:12:19.980 He just played a part in that. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:28.079 God is the one that made man and woman for each other. 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:32.919 And marriage is only between a man and a woman, just as God designed it. 00:12:33.699 --> 00:12:38.500 No matter what the law may say, no matter what culture may say, 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:43.240 if a union is of God, it's from God. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.740 He brought us together. 00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:48.279 Now, does that make it perfect? 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:49.980 Of course not. 00:12:51.060 --> 00:12:54.120 The people that God brought together are not perfect. 00:12:56.120 --> 00:13:04.779 And our lack of perfection and the stupidity that comes forth from it can cause a lot of heartache in marriage. 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:07.779 But it's still a union by God. 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:14.360 Our failures don't change God's design of the marriage covenant. 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:20.700 And Jesus is saying here, yes, divorce is a legal matter, but it's not just paperwork. 00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:23.159 It's not just lawyers. 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:25.199 It's not just technicalities. 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:27.319 Divorce is a heart matter. 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:31.459 Now, there are biblical allowances for divorce. 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:38.080 But that is also only due to the hardness of people's hearts. 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:43.920 Hardheartedness, not being right with God, not listening to the Spirit of God, 00:13:44.400 --> 00:13:53.540 being drawn away from a God-ordained marriage by a wandering mind or by wandering feet or by wandering interest will lead to divorce. 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:55.680 But God didn't design it that way. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:14:00.939 And the question is not, well, when can I get out of my marriage? 00:14:01.479 --> 00:14:04.839 When is there enough for me to get out of my marriage? 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:08.879 What should be allowable for me in my marriage? 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:09.919 That's not the question. 00:14:10.339 --> 00:14:19.839 The question is, what does God want to do in my heart so that I will honor the covenant that he's made between my spouse and me? 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:27.139 Not what does he want to do in my wife's heart, but what does he want to do in your spouse's heart, 00:14:27.280 --> 00:14:34.519 but what does he want to do in my heart so that I'll honor the covenant that he's made between my spouse and me? 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:37.220 God put us together. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:42.019 The marriage covenant is formed by God. 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.800 The second truth is this. 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:47.639 The marriage covenant is not to be broken. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:56.319 Now, in that day, there were two conflicting views concerning divorce. 00:14:57.259 --> 00:15:03.819 And it all came back to an interpretation of Deuteronomy 24, verse 1. 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.980 There were two schools that thought about it. 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:11.279 Now, I'm going to read Deuteronomy 24, verse 1, but I'm also going to read some following passages just so you'll get the context. 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:13.460 Deuteronomy 24, verse 1 says this. 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:25.680 When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he's found some indecency. 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:27.480 That's the phrase we're looking at. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:31.060 Some indecency in her. 00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:35.740 And he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of the house. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:48.940 And if she goes and becomes another man's wife and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of the house. 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:59.460 Or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife after she had been defiled. 00:15:59.640 --> 00:16:01.400 But that's an abomination before the Lord. 00:16:01.680 --> 00:16:07.320 And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God has given you as an inheritance. 00:16:08.140 --> 00:16:09.880 Now, let me first say this. 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:13.540 The woman needs to do a better job of picking a husband. 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:14.160 Okay? 00:16:14.520 --> 00:16:15.780 That's the main thing. 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:22.199 But one is, verse 1 says, some indecency. 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:24.240 Now, what does that mean? 00:16:24.819 --> 00:16:28.240 Well, there was a couple of rivaling rabbinical groups about this. 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:28.559 Okay? 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:30.419 And their interpretation of this. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.360 One rabbinical group said this. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:37.000 They were quite liberal with what indecency is. 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:43.659 And they thought it was okay for a man to divorce his wife for nearly any reason, including, and I quote, 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:45.419 spoiling a dish. 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:49.019 That means burning suppers, what that means. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:56.059 Another rabbinical group was much more strict. 00:16:57.199 --> 00:17:04.240 And they taught that the critical words, some indecency, refers only to premarital sin. 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:11.119 That if a newlywed husband discovered that his new bride was not a virgin, he could divorce her. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:14.439 Of course, if she committed adultery. 00:17:14.439 --> 00:17:15.819 He could divorce her. 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:26.659 He was only considered to have committed adultery if his mistress was married. 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:38.279 It was believed that if a certificate of divorce was given, a man had the right to marry again. 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:47.779 However, the divorced woman would have to seek permission from her ex-husband in order for her to be married again. 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:57.539 Now, ladies, I can tell by the look you're giving me that you're picking up on something that I'll touch on in just a moment. 00:17:57.539 --> 00:18:03.319 But I want to go back to this phrase, some indecency, okay? 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:10.059 Which actually speaks of nakedness that is shameful. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.779 I got to thinking about this. 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.359 Not a whole lot. 00:18:12.419 --> 00:18:13.359 But I got to thinking about it. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:19.419 And I thought, there's a difference in two words that basically mean the same thing. 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:23.700 One of them is nude and the other is naked. 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:27.360 And you got to say it with that twang too, naked, okay? 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:29.039 It's one thing to be nude. 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:34.080 Adam and Eve were nude before they bit the fruit. 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:39.060 And after they bit the fruit, they were naked and they were ashamed. 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:43.220 And what this is talking about is being naked. 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:49.880 This is talking about indecent exposure is what it's talking about. 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:57.220 Now, the big question was, what are the legal grounds for divorce? 00:18:58.360 --> 00:19:02.700 And I've had people ask me this, these kind of questions a lot. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:05.600 And I have biblical answers for such as that. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:11.460 I wrote a paper when I was working on my dissertation, my doctorate, on this very matter. 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:13.759 But let me just be clear. 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:18.059 When it gets to that point, usually it doesn't matter. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:25.500 If a person settles in his heart what he's going to do, that's what he does. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:32.279 If she sets it in her mind what she's going to do, it really don't matter what I say. 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:36.200 Because it's a heart matter. 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.259 That's what Jesus said. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.819 Jesus said it's a heart matter. 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:45.880 However, Jesus emphasized it's not our bond to break. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:54.900 Mark, verse 9, in Mark chapter 10, verse 9, what therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. 00:19:55.120 --> 00:19:56.680 That's not just a line in a wedding. 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.579 It's the truth. 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:00.059 It's the words of Christ. 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:04.140 When we place our lives into his hands, he guides our lives. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.860 He steps our steps. 00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:07.319 He bonds us together. 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:11.179 We don't even consider it our right to break it. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.639 We didn't do it. 00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:13.799 He did it. 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.319 We don't undo it. 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:16.460 He does. 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:24.240 Can you imagine how many marriages would be saved if hearts were not hard and bonds were not broken? 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:29.980 But because both are true, so many marriages dissolve. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:33.120 The bond of marriage is not yours. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.299 You could not have done it on your own. 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.359 It's God's. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.920 It's not to be broken by us. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.480 Third thing is this. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:47.620 The responsibilities of the covenant are with both spouses. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:56.680 And I really believe that this principle that Jesus taught is stronger than anything else we've looked at today. 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.680 Do you remember how I talked a little while ago? 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.920 I know you women do because I remember how you looked at me. 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:09.019 How I talked about how a man's right to divorce and a woman dealing with what was handed to her. 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:13.799 I want you to notice how Jesus handled it. 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:18.160 Because he lifts the role of women. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:21.299 You see it again and again in his ministry. 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:24.119 But you see it in this passage as well. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:28.660 He says a remarkable statement that we just gloss over. 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:30.980 But it was a remarkable statement in that day and time. 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.180 In that culture. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.059 Verse 11 says this. 00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:41.319 And he said to them, whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:49.179 And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:58.779 Now the common thought was that if a woman committed adultery, she should die after the certificate of divorce was issued. 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:04.759 Now although we have a circumstance in John chapter 8 where it looks like that's what they intended to do. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:09.460 The reality is by the time you get to this point in the first century, that didn't happen a whole lot. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.920 That really must have been a scandalous situation. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:18.559 Because the Romans were not big on stoning women because they had been divorced or because they had done something to cause it. 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.899 But that was the thought. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.579 They were good as dead. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:28.720 But culture said very little about if a man was adulterous. 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:41.639 And it was only considered adultery if he committed adultery with a woman who was married to an Israelite. 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:44.059 She's married to a foreigner. 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.179 Didn't really matter. 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.319 She wasn't married. 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.439 Didn't really matter. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:55.940 In other words, the problem as they saw it was he had wronged that woman's husband. 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:58.380 That was the thought. 00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:01.539 Jesus didn't think like that. 00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:04.960 Jesus spoke differently about it. 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:09.600 Jesus says that both adulterous parties are equally guilty. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:17.939 And both man and woman, when betrayed, have equal rights to end the relationship. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.879 Now, does that mean the relationship has to end? 00:23:20.399 --> 00:23:21.399 Of course it does not. 00:23:22.939 --> 00:23:33.740 But the Lord does acknowledge that sometimes sin can so destroy a marital bond that it may not be reconciled. 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.919 Now, how is that relevant to us? 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.099 In two ways. 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:44.839 One is, we live in a day when people are flippant about living together outside of marriage. 00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:53.679 If unmarried and living together, that's fornication and it's wrong in the eyes of God. 00:23:55.459 --> 00:23:57.119 Nothing about it is good. 00:23:58.199 --> 00:23:59.759 Nothing about it is promising. 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:02.740 Nothing about it is God-honoring. 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:05.139 We should not condone it. 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:09.340 We should not turn a blind eye to it. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:13.580 You don't have a right to take a test drive before you buy. 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:27.119 Because the reality is, the chances of divorce in such a relationship are stronger than those who never lived together before they married. 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:30.599 The second reason this applies to us is this. 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:36.039 We live in a day when people are flippant about ending a marriage. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.740 And divorce does not honor God. 00:24:39.459 --> 00:24:40.939 It is a sin against God. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:44.519 Malachi 2, verse 16 tells us God hates divorce. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.859 We should too. 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:52.779 A divorce leaves a nasty scar that comes from the hard heart of a person or possibly a couple. 00:24:52.779 --> 00:25:00.000 Jesus teaches us that the best way to deal with our marriage is to first deal with our own heart. 00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.920 I want you to hear me today. 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:11.559 Not our spouse's heart, but to deal with our heart. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:20.019 Hard-heartedness can cause widespread problems. 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:29.859 And while we're dealing with our own heart, let's pray for the heart of our spouses as well. 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:35.660 God is to be at the heart of a marriage. 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:40.160 And it's not our marriage to end. 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:45.160 It's not our marriage to be unfaithful to. 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:49.660 It is a bond that God made. 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:52.040 And that goes for men. 00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:55.120 And that goes for women. 00:25:56.080 --> 00:26:00.700 Because Christ leveled the playing field. 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:06.880 One person is not more important than the other. 00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:11.000 One person is not more privileged than the other. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:15.980 One person don't have more rights than the other. 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.640 Do you know what else is equal ground? 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:24.039 There's equal ground at Calvary. 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:27.220 I am thankful today. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:33.619 The reason why I stand and do what I do is because, thank God, all are welcome to come to Him. 00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:36.380 He'll take you as you are. 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:39.099 And He'll make you what He'd have you to be. 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:43.579 But we have to acknowledge the fact that we need Him. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:46.179 Give your life to God. 00:26:47.199 --> 00:26:49.480 Give your past to God. 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:52.419 Give your present to God. 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:55.439 Give your marriage to God. 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:58.659 Give all of your life to God. 00:26:59.219 --> 00:27:00.699 Because He's at work. 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.879 He's at work in our lives. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.679 He's at work in our marriages. 00:27:05.199 --> 00:27:07.019 He's at work in our families. 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:08.779 He's at work in our church. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:12.240 To God be the glory. 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:19.960 May we honor God in the most crucial relationships that God places in our life. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:23.240 Because they wouldn't be there without His hand. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:27.700 And they'll only sustain by His hand. 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:29.680 With every head bowed. 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:32.059 And every eye closed this morning. 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:35.220 As I told you from the beginning. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.100 Let's not lament. 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:44.559 Over things that the evil one wants to bring up about us that we can't do anything about. 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:49.960 Instead, let's do something about what we can do something about. 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:55.720 What is it today that needs to be made right with God in your life? 00:27:57.559 --> 00:28:01.059 What is it today that you need to lay down before Him? 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:04.799 It may not have anything to do with the subject matter that I preached on this morning. 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:09.039 Because I realize when the Holy Spirit begins to speak to people about hard-heartedness, 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:13.980 that that area can be in so many different directions. 00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:16.100 It can be so many different relationships. 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.680 It may not have anything to do with relationships. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:20.380 It may just be hard-heartedness toward God. 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:24.480 What is it today that you need to lay down before Him? 00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:29.039 It could be somebody here today and you've never given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.980 You've never asked Him to forgive you of your sins. 00:28:31.060 --> 00:28:32.840 You've never even acknowledged your sins to God. 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:37.880 And I want you to know today that if you'll ask the Lord Jesus to forgive you. 00:28:38.320 --> 00:28:40.840 And to come into your life and save you. 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:43.120 Not only will He take those sins away. 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:52.099 But He will empower you with the Holy Spirit of God to rise above the patterns that you fall into in the past. 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:54.119 He'll save you today. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:58.500 If you don't know the Lord, you come down this aisle as soon as we begin to sing and say, 00:28:58.579 --> 00:29:00.399 Pastor, I need to be saved. 00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:08.679 Maybe you're here this morning and God's dealing in your life in any matter where there's a hard-hearted matter. 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:11.560 You need to lay that before the Lord today. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.580 You can do it at this altar. 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.980 You can do it where you'll stand in just a moment. 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.860 You can do it with me praying for you. 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:20.880 You just do what God tells you to do. 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:30.720 But why in the world would we harbor things in our life today that we can do something about by the power of God? 00:29:31.820 --> 00:29:33.539 Let's lay them down before Him. 00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:37.220 And let Him do what only He can do. 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.980 Heavenly Father, I love you. 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:45.019 And I thank you for the privilege that you give us to look at a passage of Scripture 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:49.240 and to learn from you what it means to be hard-hearted. 00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:53.579 The damage that it does not only to us, but it does to others, dear God. 00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:56.860 I pray today that you'll make our hearts right. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:30:01.259 Help us to leave this place right with you in every way. 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:05.180 In Jesus' precious name, amen. 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.319 Amen.