week 19

Psalm: Psalm 8
Old Testament: 2:18-24
Gospel: Mark 10:2-16
Epistle: Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

This week in Genesis we read the story of the creation of woman from the man’s rib.  We all know this story.  The man couldn’t find a suitable helper from among the animals, so God created an equal helper.  Notice a few things.  First, the play on words of the Hebrew which is similar to English.  In Hebrew, the word for man is ‘ish’ and woman is ‘isha.’  They are related in name as well as substance, since the woman was created from the side of the man.  Second, notice that the woman is created from the side.  She is not subservient to the man, but they are equal and she is to help the man.  Finally, in marriage, the two become one flesh.  There is no sense in which the man is over and against the woman in this statement.  They are one and act as one.  One flesh doesn’t leave any room for subjugation, abuse, or maltreatment.

Moving to the Gospel of Mark, Jesus also teaches on marriage.  Some Pharisees come to him undoubtedly trying to catch him in a trap.  They ask if divorce is lawful, which was probably as contentious a question then as it is now.  Jesus responds that Moses allowed for divorce because the Israelites were hard hearted and, we might even say, weak.  But, Jesus goes back to the Genesis account we read earlier in chapter 2.  The original plan for creation was for marriage to be permanent.  In private, Jesus makes it even clearer to his disciples that divorce and remarriage is adultery.  In this conversation we might note the real problem is the remarriage more than the divorce itself, perhaps. 

So, we have two conflicting biblical ideals.  One allows for divorce because the people are weak and hard-hearted.  The other argues that divorce and remarriage are adulterous and thus sinful.  What are we to do?  Let me offer a brief and beginning to an answer.  I think everyone can agree that divorce is never ideal nor should it be pursued without serious thought.  Divorce should never be the first option.  But, I just have to wonder to what extent we are different from the Israelites of Moses’ day?  Although Jesus’ teaching seems black and white, I at least have to imagine that his grace can cover divorce and even remarriage.  It may be that remarriage after divorce is considered adultery, but there are plenty of stories in the Gospels of Jesus embracing and calling the adulterous to follow him.  While God’s ideal for our lives is for marriage to be permanent, we are still humans that live in an imperfect and fallen world where God’s grace will cover us in spite of our hard-heartedness.

We don’t have time this week to discuss the Christology present in Hebrews or the Anthropology present in Psalms 8.  This weekend was crazy busy with my in-laws in town.  Hopefully next weekend we can return to some of the ideas present in Hebrews because I really like that book.

Grace and Peace.