What Jesus Did : Matthew 19:10-12 - The Gift
by Phil Ware
The Gift - Matthew 19:10-12
The followers said to Jesus, "If that is the only reason a man can divorce his wife, then it is better not to marry." Jesus answered, "Not every person can accept this truth {about marriage}. But God has made some people able to accept it. There are different reasons why some men cannot marry. Some men were born without the ability to make children. Other men were made that way later in life by other people. And other men have given up marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. But the person that can {marry} should accept this teaching {about marriage}." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
God's goal for all people—married or unmarried—is that they live in sexual purity. Some are gifted to be able to do this and remain single with whole-hearted devotion to the Lord. Both Paul and Jesus emphasize that this is desirable, but is not the norm because most of us cannot do that. Only those gifted by God can truly be fulfilled and remain single. The rest of us are not gifted with this spiritual gift. So we are called to honor God with holiness in our walk with him and our spouse.
Today's Prayer
Holy and righteous God, sexual impurity runs rampant in my world. Help me keep my sexual sanity and purity in a day of sexual confusion, sin, rebellion, addiction, perversity, and destruction. Strengthen my resolve to live a holy life of sexual purity no matter what stage of life I find myself in. Thank you for sharing this grace with me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
After Jesus said all these things, he left Galilee. Jesus went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Many people followed Jesus. Jesus healed the sick people there. Some Pharisees came to Jesus. They tried to make Jesus say something wrong. They asked Jesus, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he chooses?" Jesus answered, "Surely you have read this {in the Scriptures }: When God made the world, 'he made people male and female.' And God said, 'So a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two people will become one.' So the two people are not two, but one. God joined those two people together. So no person should separate them." The Pharisees asked, "So why did Moses give a command allowing a man to divorce his wife by writing a certificate of divorce ?" Jesus answered, "Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you refused to accept God's teaching. But divorce was not allowed in the beginning. I tell you that any person that divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of the sin of adultery. The only reason for a person to divorce and marry again is if his first wife had sexual relations with another man." The followers said to Jesus, "If that is the only reason a man can divorce his wife, then it is better not to marry." Jesus answered, "Not every person can accept this truth {about marriage}. But God has made some people able to accept it. There are different reasons why some men cannot marry. Some men were born without the ability to make children. Other men were made that way later in life by other people. And other men have given up marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. But the person that can {marry} should accept this teaching {about marriage}. "-- Matthew 19:1-12 (ERV)
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