Loopholes (Mark 10, especially verses 1-12)
Loopholes
Read Mark 10, especially verses 1-12
Loopholes. That’s what we’re looking for. We want to obey God, but we don’t want it to be too costly, or too inconvenient, or too complicated. That’s why we need loopholes.
Sure, we’ll keep our marital vows, but not if it gets too hard. We need an escape clause if necessary. Yes, we’ll honor God with our wealth, but not if it gets too costly. We’d like to keep our standard of living if possible. Of course we’ll follow Jesus, so long as we get something out of it….
These are not just contemporary questions: they confront every generation. In fact, they are evident throughout this week’s reading as we make our way through Mark.
Chapter 10 begins with a thorny question about marriage: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (verse 2). It continues with the heartfelt question of a wealthy man: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (verse 17). It concludes with Jesus asking a searching question for his power-hungry disciples: “What do you want me to do for you?” (verse 36).
The first question involves sex and marriage. The second involves money and wealth. The third deals with power and leadership. To put it in contemporary parlance, these are ancient questions about the very modern issues of sex, money and power.
Today we’ll think only about the first of these, as it is found in today’s reading.
Religious leaders came to Jesus asking about divorce. Notice how they frame their question: “Is it lawful … to divorce?” Jesus says, “What did Moses command you?” They respond, Moses allowed….”
Do you catch what is happening here? They are looking for loopholes in the marriage covenant. Jesus asked for Moses’ command; they respond with Moses’ concession.
In response, Jesus stressed God’s original creational intention for humanity: “From the beginning of creation, God created them male and female…. What God has joined together, let not man separate.”
In Matthew’s account of this event, the disciples are horrified by Jesus’ strict enforcement of the marital vow. “If such is the case,” they say, “…it is better not to marry!”
Many modern Christians feel the same way. “Isn’t Jesus a bit harsh? After all, God doesn’t want us unhappy, right? And what’s so bad about living together?”
When we do this, we are doing just what the Pharisees did, who treated marriage like a contract with conditions attached.
Instead, let us do what Jesus did. Let us embrace God’s original intention from the dawn of creation: male and female, joined together in a lifelong covenant, solemnly sworn before God by an unconditional vow.
Are there exceptional cases? Yes. Most scholars agree that adultery, abandonment and abuse are justifiable cases for divorce and remarriage, though reconciliation is preferable if possible.
Is there forgiveness? Absolutely! That is the beauty of the gospel of grace. Just look at the past of David, Paul or Moses. No matter what our past mistakes, God’s will for us is always present tense. What happened yesterday is not nearly as important as what happens next.
Having said that, do not look for loopholes. Look instead to God’s beautiful creational design for the human race: lifelong covenant partnership. It’s a beautiful thing, and we know in our bones that this is what we were made for. Keep that vision before you, and you will not regret it.
Read Mark 10, especially verses 1-12
Loopholes. That’s what we’re looking for. We want to obey God, but we don’t want it to be too costly, or too inconvenient, or too complicated. That’s why we need loopholes.
Sure, we’ll keep our marital vows, but not if it gets too hard. We need an escape clause if necessary. Yes, we’ll honor God with our wealth, but not if it gets too costly. We’d like to keep our standard of living if possible. Of course we’ll follow Jesus, so long as we get something out of it….
These are not just contemporary questions: they confront every generation. In fact, they are evident throughout this week’s reading as we make our way through Mark.
Chapter 10 begins with a thorny question about marriage: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (verse 2). It continues with the heartfelt question of a wealthy man: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (verse 17). It concludes with Jesus asking a searching question for his power-hungry disciples: “What do you want me to do for you?” (verse 36).
The first question involves sex and marriage. The second involves money and wealth. The third deals with power and leadership. To put it in contemporary parlance, these are ancient questions about the very modern issues of sex, money and power.
Today we’ll think only about the first of these, as it is found in today’s reading.
Religious leaders came to Jesus asking about divorce. Notice how they frame their question: “Is it lawful … to divorce?” Jesus says, “What did Moses command you?” They respond, Moses allowed….”
Do you catch what is happening here? They are looking for loopholes in the marriage covenant. Jesus asked for Moses’ command; they respond with Moses’ concession.
In response, Jesus stressed God’s original creational intention for humanity: “From the beginning of creation, God created them male and female…. What God has joined together, let not man separate.”
In Matthew’s account of this event, the disciples are horrified by Jesus’ strict enforcement of the marital vow. “If such is the case,” they say, “…it is better not to marry!”
Many modern Christians feel the same way. “Isn’t Jesus a bit harsh? After all, God doesn’t want us unhappy, right? And what’s so bad about living together?”
When we do this, we are doing just what the Pharisees did, who treated marriage like a contract with conditions attached.
Instead, let us do what Jesus did. Let us embrace God’s original intention from the dawn of creation: male and female, joined together in a lifelong covenant, solemnly sworn before God by an unconditional vow.
Are there exceptional cases? Yes. Most scholars agree that adultery, abandonment and abuse are justifiable cases for divorce and remarriage, though reconciliation is preferable if possible.
Is there forgiveness? Absolutely! That is the beauty of the gospel of grace. Just look at the past of David, Paul or Moses. No matter what our past mistakes, God’s will for us is always present tense. What happened yesterday is not nearly as important as what happens next.
Having said that, do not look for loopholes. Look instead to God’s beautiful creational design for the human race: lifelong covenant partnership. It’s a beautiful thing, and we know in our bones that this is what we were made for. Keep that vision before you, and you will not regret it.