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Family Research Council is serving in the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, & freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
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The Teachings of Jesus: Marriage, Divorce, and Servanthood 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning. Alright. Today, does Jesus speak to political issues? That's 1 of the topics we're gonna cover this morning as our journey takes us to0:21 Mark chapter 10 verse 45. For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. This verse really captures0:33 the theme of the entire book of Mark. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. And as we'll see this morning, that's our example. Alright. Chapter 10 begins a period of Jesus's ministry called the0:45 Perean ministry. This is a time between Jesus's departure from Galilee and his final week in Jerusalem. So during these 3 months, he's in Judea and he's in0:57 Perea. Now that is the east, the area east of the Jordan River, which at the time was under the jurisdiction of Herod. Now there are there are1:09 no new events or occurrences in chapter 10 that we've not looked at before in the book of Matthew and Luke, but that does not mean that there is not new insight. We're gonna find that.1:21 In this chapter, we have the following. We have an attempt to trip Jesus up on the issue of divorce. The Lord, his, we see the Lord's passionate concern for children. We see his1:33 encounter with the rich young ruler. Jesus again tells his disciples of his pending death, a lesson on leadership and ambition, and then blind Bartimaeus. Now I'm gonna focus1:45 on the first and the most controversial portion of this chapter beginning in verse 1. Then he arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the1:56 Jordan. And multitudes gathered to him. And as he was accustomed, he taught them again, notice is it always began with teaching. It was about teaching. The Pharisees came2:08 and asked him, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? Testing him. And he answered and he said to them, what did Moses command you? They said, well, Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and to2:20 demiss her dismiss her. And Jesus answered and said to them, because of the hardness of your hearts, he wrote you that precept. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For2:31 this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the 2 shall become 1 flesh. So then they are no longer 2, but 1 flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man2:43 not separate. In the house, his disciples also asked him again the same matter. So he said to them, whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and2:55 marries another, she commits adultery. Now in this exchange, Jesus addresses gender, marriage, and divorce. I guess he didn't mind being controversial. Now,3:07 if if a church needs an open seat in their sanctuary on Sunday morning, preaching on this passage might solve their problem, or at least that's what some think. So the question is, did Jesus3:18 talk about political issues? Alright. Here's the answer. These are not political issues. These are matters of biblical truth, and the church should be teaching on these3:30 matters. So the Pharisees, they again test Jesus. Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? Jesus takes them back to the very beginning, to the start of creation, before the fall of man. Verse3:42 10 verse 6. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 2 genders, period. Those 2, male and female, 1 each are joined to become 13:54 flesh. Now when we think of marriage, generally, we're thinking of the legal agreement as the Pharisees were here, but marriage is much more than a legal arrangement. It is a4:05 spiritual union that occurs through the physical act of sex, which is by god's design. Through the god designed act of4:17 sex, the 2 individuals are united. There's a physiological and spiritual bonding that takes place. Again, this is all by God's design. That's 1 of the reasons he's so protective about that4:29 intimacy that comes through sex. Now notice why divorce is allowed. The hardness of their hearts toward the truth. Divorce was not God's design, and the4:41 benefits and the protections that flow from God's design of marriage do not flow to the corruptions of his design. That's why we see so many problems in society today. Now I understand4:52 completely understand why pastor do not wanna teach on this passage. There are many folks in our churches who are divorced, and and I know there are some on this journey, as well. So listen very closely to5:04 what I'm about to say. Yes. The the the the scripture makes very clear that the Lord hates divorce. He says that in Malachi. Why? Because divorce hurts people, and God cares about people.5:16 Notice that he says he hates divorce, not those who are divorced. Also, divorce really it it it it not only is there that impact upon individuals who are in that relationship, but5:28 divorce denigrates the union that illustrates Jesus's relationship with the church. It has a spiritual implication. But please hear this. Alright? Hear this. There is healing and restoration through the grace5:40 of God. That does not mean that they're they're not natural consequences of divorce that people will have to face, but it does it does mean that God will walk with you and5:52 strengthen you, enable you to overcome. God loves people. He is compassionate. He is kind. He is caring. He is merciful. And there is nothing beyond the reach of the mercy and the grace of God. But we6:04 need to speak to these things. Our failure to teach the word of God for fear of offending has led to a further departure from the truth and the corruption of God's design to the point where some evangelical churches6:16 are teaching the acceptance of same sex marriage. Once we depart from his truth, there's no telling where we'll end up. I mean, we're we're accommodating various genders in some churches and teaching there are some6:27 evangelical churches teaching that we should use people's preferred pronouns even though we know that is a lie. And I cannot say this more clearly. Such teaching is6:39 heresy, and it is not directed by the Holy Spirit, but it comes from the lawless spirit of Satan. May offend, but it is the word of God. We must preach6:51 the whole counsel of God, even the uncomfortable truths of scripture so that our children will be warned and instructed to avoid the painful paths that others have gone down,7:02 and also so that they'll know that there's restoration and peace and joy. Look, please hear me. My intent is not to offend anyone nor to bring condemnation7:14 for there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. There is forgiveness and freedom for everyone and anyone who will look to Jesus.7:26 But we must acknowledge our need for that forgiveness and look to him. And we can only do that when we look at the truth of his word. It's interesting that after we have7:38 a conversation about gender, marriage, and divorce, Jesus then talks about his love and compassion for children beginning at verse 13. Then they brought little children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples7:50 rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was greatly displeased and he said to them, let the little children come to me and do not forbid them for such for of such is the kingdom of God.8:02 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. And he took them up in his arms and he laid his hands on them and blessed them. Now this should be a clear8:12 warning for us that what is happening in our society today and in our public school systems, keeping the children from knowing the truth and the God of truth,8:24 and even fostering in children a hostility toward God is greatly displeasing to the Lord. And what displeases him should displease us. As it8:36 prompted Jesus to speak out and act on behalf of the children, it should do the same for us. And I'm encouraged to see some of that happening today. As I was reading verse 16 let me read that again.8:48 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed him. As I was reading that, I was thinking, I wonder what happened to those children. I mean, we don't know. It doesn't say anything in the Bible, but9:00 did they grow up and become leaders in the church? How did that encounter shape their lives? I mean, I've just I was just wondering about that. They have the blessing of the lord upon your life, and he laid9:12 his hands on him and bless them. And I think we should be doing the same for our children. We should be laying our hands on our children and blessing them. And and we need to know that god's heart is for children. We've9:22 Talked about this before, but it bears repeating. A worldview is formulated between 15 months of age and 13 years. Most people who come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as9:34 their savior do so as children. So it's so important that we remove the barriers so that children can come to know and hear about the love that God has for9:46 them. And it it really kinda goes back to what he was talking about marriage. Is that how children interact with their earthly9:58 father often shapes their understanding of their heavenly father. So having that stability in the marriage relationship where children grow up with a mom and a dad who are married and love 1 another. And10:10 I know we live in a fallen world. Nobody's perfect. But it's so important because it it it shapes the understanding of children of their heavenly father. Alright. 1 more portion of this chapter we need to look at. Let's10:21 go to verse 35. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him saying, teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. And he said to them, what do you want me to do for10:33 you? They said to him, grant us that we may sit 1 on your right hand and the other on your left in your glory. But Jesus said to them, you do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I10:45 drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They said to him, we are able. So Jesus said to them, you will indeed drink the cup I drink, and with the baptism I am10:57 baptized with, you will be baptized. But to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared. And then the 10 heard it,11:09 the others, and they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. Now this is not the first time that we've seen this. In fact, it seems to be a recurring issue with the disciples. The desire to11:21 exalt oneself, well, I tell you what, that's dangerous territory. You know, Satan's fall was that he wanted to exalt himself above others and he wanted to be like God. And Jesus lays out the11:33 opposite path and that is humble service. Verse 42, but Jesus called them to himself and he said to them, you know that those who are considered11:44 rulers over the Gentiles lorded over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be11:56 your servants. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his12:07 life a ransom for many. And again, another kingdom principle that is counterintuitive to our human nature, not to if if we wanna be great, we12:19 gotta be a servant of all. We wanna lead, well, we've gotta serve. And I think, you know, this is really difficult as human beings. We we we we have ambition. We12:31 wanna be successful. But seeking first the kingdom of God must be first and his righteousness. And12:51 instruction of for the instruction of your word. We thank you for the holy spirit that's leading us on this journey. And I do pray, Lord, that you would help us to13:04 not seek to exalt ourselves. And, Lord, we would understand the principles of the kingdom that those who, Lord, want to lead will serve. And I pray, Lord, also that we13:15 will understand that those things that are biblical and true and are of importance, fundamental importance, lord, have been turned into political issues in our day. And so many13:27 stay away from them because they're considered political. Well, first and foremost, lord, these were issues of biblical truth that your word teaches. May we not abandon them. May we not avoid them. But, lord, may we13:39 embrace them in your way. May we teach them, but more importantly, may we live them out through the strength and the power of the holy spirit. For we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright.13:51 Thanks for joining me this morning. Until next time, keep standing on the word.13:57 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you14:09 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 The Teachings of Jesus: Marriage, Divorce, and ServanthoodComments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
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