We promised for better and for worse, but did we ever really imagine how bad the worse can get? This first part of a series on marriage, divorce and remarriage returns to Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisees, who asked whether a man may divorce his wife for any reason (Matthew 19). Instead of joining their dispute, Jesus takes his questioners back to the very beginning, to God’s design, in which two people become one flesh. Listen to a reflection that looks for no loopholes, but reminds us how much weight there is in what God has joined.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- The Pharisees ask Jesus whether a man may divorce his wife "for any reason." What rabbinic debate lay behind this question, and why does Jesus point them back to creation instead of answering directly?
- According to the sermon, the certificate of divorce in Deuteronomy did not establish divorce but limited it and protected the woman. How does seeing it as a permission rather than a command shape our reading of Matthew 19:3-9?
- Jesus says Moses permitted divorce "because of your hardness of heart." How does hardness of heart show up in marriage or other close relationships today?
- The sermon compares divorce to pulling apart two pieces of wood glued together with superglue. What consequences of broken bonds, including across generations, do you notice around you or in your family history?
- The speaker stresses that although Jesus permits divorce for sexual immorality, He calls His disciples to a higher standard of forgiveness, "not seven, but seventy-seven times." Why is forgiveness so essential for a lasting marriage?
- The sermon ends with the image of closing the gate marked "it's over" and throwing away the key. What concrete step can you take this week to strengthen your marriage, or prepare for one, in line with God's design?
