The Pharisees wanted to learn Jesus Christ's opinion on the disputed question of divorce: is divorce permissible, and for precisely what reason? There were differing opinions on this within their own circles. But Jesus' answer astonished everyone: He declared that Moses permitted divorce only...
The Pharisees wanted to learn Jesus Christ's opinion on the disputed question of divorce: is divorce permissible, and for precisely what reason? There were differing opinions on this within their own circles. But Jesus' answer astonished everyone: He declared that Moses permitted divorce only “because of your hardness of heart,” in other words, to avoid something worse, such as husbands murdering wives they no longer loved. God, however, wants husband and wife to attain an indissoluble unity in marriage, to become “one flesh.”
This seems not merely difficult but impossible. The disciples' first reaction, recorded by another Evangelist, is: “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry” (Mt 19:10). The Saviour's assertion that marriage is indissoluble was so astonishing that the disciples asked for an explanation, whereupon He confirmed what He had said before: yes, God asks of us what is impossible by human standards. That is why Jesus says, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
God acts in us and through us when we trust Him completely, just as little children trust their parents. The Greek word “paidia” indicates that the children brought to Jesus for a blessing were no more than seven or eight years old. The disciples evidently did not regard little children as full persons, whereas Christ emphasized that adults need to learn lessons of faith from children.
Having learned faith from children, we shall receive the blessings of the Kingdom of God here and now, and God will accomplish in us and through us what is “impossible with men.”
10
10:1 He cometh thence - From Galilee. Mat 19:1.
10:2 Mat 5:31; Mat 19:7; Luk 16:18.
10:4 Deu 24:1.
10:6 From the beginning of the creation - Therefore Moses in the first of Genesis gives us an account of things from the beginning of the creation. Does it not clearly follow, that there was no creation previous to that which Moses describes? God made them male and female - Therefore Adam did not at first contain both sexes in himself: but God made Adam, when first created, male only; and Eve female only. And this man and woman he joined together, in a state of innocence, as husband and wife.
10:7 Gen 2:24.
10:11 All polygamy is here totally condemned.
10:12 See note at Mar 10:11
10:13 Mat 19:13.
10:14 Jesus seeing it was much displeased - At their blaming those who were not blame worthy: and endeavouring to hinder the children from receiving a blessing. Of such is the kingdom of God - The members of the kingdom which I am come to set up in the world are such as these, as well as grown persons, of a child - like temper.
10:15 Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child - As totally disclaiming all worthiness and fitness, as if he were but a week old.