Do What’s Right
Opening Prayer
Lord God, I want to know more of what is right and good in Your sight so that I might gladly obey.
Read Mark 10:1-16
[1] Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. [2] Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” [3] “What did Moses command you?” he replied. [4] They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” [5] “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. [6] “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ [7] ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, [8] and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. [9] Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” [10] When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. [11] He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. [12] And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” [13] People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. [14] When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [15] I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” [16] And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Why is Jesus so firm in defense of marriage?The Pharisees are busy setting a trap for Jesus here—they know the answer to their own question perfectly well (2-4). With John the Baptist’s denunciation of Herod and Herodias’ marriage lurking in the background (6:17-20), perhaps they hoped that Jesus would meet the same fate as John.
Jesus’ answer points out what they’re doing—allowing the legality of divorce to cloud the issue of whether or not it was right. Divorce was then—as it is now—legal. Whether or not it is right for couples to divorce is a different matter—and with a particular notable exception (Matt. 19:9), Jesus says it’s not.
It’s easy to be blinded by what we think is allowable (or convenient, or easy, or necessary). It can easily get in the way of what Jesus says is right, as the disciples discovered (13,14). Maybe they were still feeling exclusive about Jesus—that he was their property, not to be bothered by the common folk. Once again, Jesus has to correct their misguided behavior. They hadn’t remembered the lesson of the child (9:36,37).
Apply
Pray for anyone you know who is facing a difficult choice. Ask God to help them do what’s right in their circumstances.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me again and again to love and trust You completely, just like a child does.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.