“At times we have also proposed a far too abstract and
almost artificial theological ideal of marriage.”
Pope Francis, 2016
Decades after Jesus’ ministry on earth, Mark’s Gospel
appears to shine a new light on how to understand the laws of Moses. Then as
now, and in the time of Moses, it seems people wondered about the right thing to
do when ending a marriage. It seems all are aware that divorce ought to be an exception. In
Mark 10 and Matthew 19, Jesus is pressed about the legitimate way out of a
marriage. Jesus pushes people back to God’s plan for an enduring relationship.
He mentions an exception for adultery. Remarriage is not available in his words.
I noticed the language of Jesus. In the context of making
the point about what the Creator intended, Jesus refers to Moses act as a
situational compromise—Moses wrote that a man ought to give his wife a written
certificate of divorce because of the hardness of their hearts (verse 5). A
couple of Bible scholars informed me that the Jewish culture would have seen
the words of Moses as the words of God, remember Sinai? One said.
But Mark seems to be writing to people following Jesus’
way—not those following old ways—at least not the old interpretations of The Law. Mark may even be writing after the Romans destroyed the Jewish rebellion and erased the Temple. Time and
time again we learn Jesus’ new way of viewing the old interpretations. In not
so subtle ways, Mark makes it clear Jesus is superior to Moses. He does this in
Mark 1:11 and again in the story of the transfiguration (Mark 9: 2-10), which
just precedes this story about marriage and divorce. Mark reminds the readers-- listen to Jesus--not John, not even Moses or Elijah--the proxies for the Law and the Prophets.
For millennia, men have sought ways to break
marriages. In an age of polygamy, men could add a wife so no divorce was
needed when they desired someone else. In an age of monogamy, men looked for reasons to move on to a new
relationship. Interestingly, Mark writes as if women have the right to obtain
divorce as well men (Mark 10: 12). Change is in the air. But it will be centuries
until women have the political rights, religious blessings, and the economic means to free themselves from abusive
relationships.
Unfortunately, when it comes to marriage, many couples
have not persevered through difficult times. Individual rights have taken
precedence over the importance of commitment to a spouse and to children.
Additionally, churches have failed to find effective ways to support
relationships and families. And churches have failed in finding ways to support
those who were in abusive relationships or welcoming those who found survival
in new relationships.
I’m not a Bible scholar nor am I a Roman Catholic but I
see the words of Pope Francis as an attempt to deal with the ambiguities that
Jesus dealt with in front of those who seek to argue about rules and traditions rather than focus on the
plight of the people who bear the brunt of ill-conceived applications of old
laws and traditions. Like Jesus, the Pope holds up the ideal of marriage yet encourages mercy
in dealing with “real families.”
Marriages are the building blocks of society. Of course,
not all couples have children but when they do, families can expand a nation’s
foundation beyond that of a stable couple to a stable family group. The church
can do much to support marriages and families. And this should not be taken to
demean those who live single lives. All people are welcome in the kingdom as
Mark also tries to make clear in the same chapter (e.g., verses 13-31).
To read more about biblical marriage, divorce, and
remarriage, see chapter 8 in A House Divided.
Contact
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Facebook Page: Geoff W. Sutton
Twitter @GeoffWSutton
Website: Geoff W. Sutton
www.suttong.com
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