Faithfulness

Mark 10:1-12
1 He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught them again.
2 Some Pharisees came to test him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? ”
3 He replied to them, “What did Moses command you? ”
4 They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.”
5 But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. 6 But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.  7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother 8 and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

GOING DEEPER
Parallel, Related and Referenced Passages
Parallel Accounts: Matthew 19:1-15; Luke 18:15-17
 
1) THE TEST

• Deuteronomy 24:1–4 — Regarding a certificate of divorce.
• Mark 6:17–29 — John the Baptist confronts Herod and Herodias over unlawful marriage and is eventually executed.
• Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32–34 — Jesus predicts His rejection, suffering, death, and resurrection as He heads toward Jerusalem.
• Proverbs 3:5–6 — Trusting the Lord rather than our own understanding.
• Luke 6:46 — “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?”

2) THE TRUTH

• Genesis 1:27; 2:18-25 — “Male and female he created them.”, marriage is as the final part of God’s good creation.
• Malachi 2:14–16 — Marriage as covenant; God’s concern over faithlessness and divorce.
• Ephesians 5:22–33 — Marriage pictures Christ and His church.
• Matthew 5:31–32; 19:9 — Jesus’ teaching on divorce and remarriage, including the exception clause.
• 1 Corinthians 7:10–16 — Paul on marriage, separation, and abandonment.
• 2 Corinthians 6:14 — Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
• 1 Peter 3:1–7 — Witness and conduct in marriage.
• Hebrews 13:4 — “Marriage is to be honored by all.”
• Proverbs 5:18–19 — Rejoicing in the wife of your youth.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 — Sexual holiness and honoring God with the body.
• Romans 7:2–3 — Marriage as a binding covenant while living.

2) TRUSTING HIM

• John 4:1–42 — Jesus and the woman at the well
• Jeremiah 2:13 — God’s people forsake the fountain of living water.
• John 3:29 — Jesus as the Bridegroom.
• Romans 8:1 — No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
• Hebrews 10:19-23 – Draw near because He who promises is faithful.