Study of Matthew June 9, 2024 Discussion Question: Are you a defender of God’s idea of marriage? Matthew 19:1 – 15 The majority of Jesus’ ministry happened in Galilee. HE now begins to make HIS way to Jerusalem to fulfill the plan of God. As HE makes HIS way to the cross, we are going to see several challenges to HIS authority. Before we begin, I want to simply ask everyone to allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to speak and minister to you. Don’t close off the Word and the Holy Spirit because you are uncomfortable with the topic. We will not avoid truth even when it is painful 1. Choosing Healing or Entrapment Where Jesus goes people experience healing. The scriptures reveal that HIS healing involved both sickness/illness and diseases. The medical field has a subtle distinction between illness & disease. An illness is a sickness which is temporary. An illness is basically defined as an unwell or unhealthy state of mind or body. Disease on the other hand is a malfunctioning within the body. It tends to be chronic and must be dealt with to remove. The topic that Jesus is about to discuss causes a lot of mental anguish and can produce great depression and anxiety. Illness and Jesus is a healer! Religious leaders come to test, tempt Jesus meaning to ensnare, trap and capture. We are not running from the Word… not trying to entrap anyone… as past pain tries to rise up, remind yourself, the Words of Jesus may cut but they always heal! 2. Case for Marriage & Divorce The religious question is a foolish one but one that men continue to ask. Can I get a divorce for any reason? Jesus answer to the question begins with God’s plan First God makes us male and female… that’s God’s plan. o Fallen man prefers chaos over creative order. Second God has a plan for marriage. o God creates a perfect man with a need… o It is not an easy process… it is understanding that you are to be a companion, a complementor and a completer. And we must get rid of the competition… They ask, Why did Moses allow for divorce? Jesus is blunt…because of the hardness of hearts. The human heart does not have the capacity to receives God’s highest and best and HIS divine intent. Sin always leads us away from God’s best for us. There are permissible reasons for divorce! Jesus states that it is allowable but not God’s design. The translators use the word fornication which implies sexual immorality. This is God’s position on allowable divorce. Every other reason falls short of God’s intent. But what about those who have been divorced…do we blackball them and tell them they can no longer receive God’s grace. God forbid! Let me see if I can help us… hardness of heart is not limited to divorce. In Mark 6 after feeding the 5000… vs. 52 “for their heart was hardened.” – The Disciples had no consideration for the ways of God! Mark 8:17 – 18 “And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?” These are disciples with hard hearts… what does that mean? Hardness puts us where we can’t perceive (thinking), can’t understand, can’t see, can’t hear and can’t remember. 3. Case for Celibacy (vs. 10 – 12) Some are born without the impulse or the ability to have sex. o Born that way or maybe an accident creates it. Then there were some that had been castrated as slaves. Then there are those who consecrate themselves to God and choose not to enter sexual relationship and never marry. Just because God has a high view of marriage, HE does not negate those that choose to be single, and neither should we! We must honor those that choose to live a life of singleness. But if a man or woman wants to be sexually active, then God’s only design for that is marriage! One man & one woman. PERIOD! 4. Care of Children (vs. 13 – 15) Jesus begins with Care for humanity. That brings out those that want to create Chaos in family. And the ones that are impact the most are children. Care leads to comfort to children. Chaos in the family due to hard hearted people creates struggles that children should not have to deal with. There is no such thing as no fault divorce. Actions have consequences and sadly children are punished for the sins of their fathers / mothers. Jesus has an answer for children impacted by the chaos…HE takes them and blesses them. They can still do what is God’s best and highest even with parents having hard hearts.