Mark 10: 10-16…..Family matters continued.

And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Comment: Yesterday we saw Jesus being straight forward, firm but gentle as He answered the Pharisees who were trying to trick Him with their divorce question. Later when the disciples push for a bit fuller answer Jesus gives an unequivocal answer as to how in God’s sight divorce is wrong and remarriage after divorce is adultery. It reads as if both partners could initiate the divorce process and states that the originating person repeats their adultery if they marry again. This is not palatable to the modern mind, but it is what it says! It is not all that the Bible says on the subject and I find it difficult – I have agony for those caught in painful situations.

It seems as if the disciples had the attitude that children were outside the sphere of Jesus ministry and people shouldn’t waste His time by bringing the ‘to be seen and not heard’ kids to waste His time. His all for child likeness is not a call to childishness but for the completeness of their trusting their elders. Sadly not all elders deserve trust but God most certainly does!

Prayer: May Your standards be my goal, O God!