Attempted Murder by Divorce.
(Mark 10:2-12)
The Gospel Lesson found in Mark 10:2-12 is not just about divorce but also about the Pharisees' attempt to trap Jesus, much like they did with John the Baptist. The Pharisees' question about the lawfulness of divorce is a strategic move to put Jesus in a position where He could be condemned, just as John was for denouncing Herod's unlawful marriage.
This provides us with the context for understanding Jesus' teaching about Divorce and Marriage. The Pharisees question Jesus about Divorce, which references a particular situation, namely Herod and Herodias' unlawful marriage. Therefore, we must understand Jesus' response to this question with that situation in mind.
There are several pieces of scripture evidence that this “testing” by the Pharisees is intended to bring a similar end to Jesus, who took the life of John the Baptist.
1. Look.
Looking back to Chapter 6 of Mark, you will see that King Herod put John in Jail because of his wife, Herodias (Mark 6:17), who had Divorced Herod’s brother Philip and remarried Herod for political gain. We are told that Herodias had a grudge against John because John spoke openly against divorce and remarriage, saying, "For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife (Mark 6:18).” This created a murderous desire in Herodias who sought plans to put John the Baptist to death (Mark 6:19).
2. Location.
Mark 10:1- "Getting up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them."
Jesus traveled and taught in the same region that John the Baptist was ministering. This indicates that the community he found himself in knew of John's beheading and the drama surrounding it.
3. Language.
Mark 10:2- "Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife."
Mark writes the question that the Pharisees pose to Jesus using the same language that John the Baptist used with Herod and Herodias (Mark 6:18—referenced above).
4. Law.
Mark 10:10–12- "In the house, the disciples began questioning Him about this again. And He said to them, 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.'”
Jesus doesn’t respond directly to the Pharisees' question but speaks about the Law’s intent. When the disciples question Jesus further in the privacy of a home (away from the public and the Pharisees whose motive is to destroy Jesus), Jesus gives a fuller response. What Jesus mentions in the response is further evidence that He is speaking about the specific situation of Herod and Herodias concerning the wife who divorces her husband.
Generally speaking, it was very rare for a Jewish woman to divorce her husband. Men primarily initiated divorce. Very few instances and cases exist where a woman would initiate the divorce. Still, here, Jesus references that any woman who divorces her husband and marries another man is committing adultery. This statement casts judgment on Herodias just like John the Baptist did.
5. Life.
Mark 3:6- "The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him."
Mark informs us in Chapter Three how the Pharisees conspire against Jesus with the Herodians and how they might destroy Him. Here, in Chapter 10, we see this played out by their question concerning divorce, which is essentially a plot of entrapment to bring the same kind of attention to Jesus that was brought on John, which led to his beheading.
All this evidence leads us to understand that the Pharisees attempted to bring death by divorce. By questioning Jesus about Divorce and what is lawful, they hoped to trap Jesus in a similar situation that John the Baptist was in, hoping to bring the same end to Jesus that happened to John.
Though the context of Mark 10:2-12 is an attempt to destroy Jesus, Jesus does use the opportunity to teach about Divorce and Marriage. This Wednesday, we will take a closer look into what the Bible says about Divorce and Marriage and establish a biblical framework by which we can understand the concerns that surround Divorce and what is permitted, as well as the intent of Marriage and how we can pursue Marriage in a Divorce-preventative way.
Divorce is a painful reality, but it is not the end. In Jesus Christ, there is hope, forgiveness, and new life. Let the gospel be your guide, whether you are experiencing the pain of broken relationships or walking in the joy of a healthy marriage. Embrace the second chances Jesus offers and strive to live according to God's original intent for your life.
Peace be with you!
- Pastor Bruce
