Marriage, Sex and Sexuality 4 - Matt.19:1-12
It is a simple matter of observation that the Bible begins and ends with a marriage. In Gen.2, we see Adam wounded, and from his wound comes his bride. There is such a poignant moment in Gen.2:22, when the LORD God acts as the Father of the Bride, and presents His daughter to Adam. At the other end of the Canon we see the reality to which the shadow was pointing: the Church ‘coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride dressed for her husband’ (Rev.21:2). God’s vision for marriage – and particularly His Son’s marriage – shapes all of history.
When we understand that this age has its origin and its destiny in a marriage, we can understand why Satan has always sought to undermine the institution of marriage in society, and the experience of marriage in the lives of individuals. It has been the focus of his ire for all the generations of human history. Again and again he has attacked it, corrupted it, weakened it, sought to destabilise it and undercut it. It is important to realise that there is nothing new under the sun!
In the face of his opposition we find the prophets again and again re-asserting marriage, both as a covenant in its own right, but also as pointing towards the covenant of Christ and His people (Is.54:5; Hosea etc.). We find Jesus Himself defending its integrity against those advocating a first century equivalent of no-fault divorce, and doing so with an absoluteness that is shocking to his own disciples (Matt.19:10). Jesus is not naïve. He understands that His teaching excludes some (including Himself) from personally participating in marriage. He also understands that some are excluded against their will. In a world where sexual expression is seen as a human right, and where (self-) denial is seen as a form of (self-) harm, Jesus’ teaching is simply unacceptable. Again, Jesus isn’t naïve. To even grasp the meaning and significance of marriage, let alone live toward it, is something we can only do through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.
How would you have answered the Pharisees’ question in v.3? How do you think it’s a ‘test’ for Jesus? Where has this language of ‘testing’ been used before in Matthew’s Gospel? What conclusions can we draw?
How does Jesus’ use of Gen.1 & 2 enable Him to chart a path between the horns of the dilemma He faces? What is the significance of Jesus’ correcting the Pharisees use of ‘command’, using ‘permit’ instead?
Read Jer.3:6-14. In the light of all you know about God’s faithfulness, how do you make sense of Jer.3:8?
Do you think that the creation story to which Jesus refers (19:4-6) precludes same sex marriages?
Why does Jesus make an exception for ‘sexual immorality’ (v.9, see also 5:31-32)? Do you think this is the only exception?
Do you share the disciples sense of shock at Jesus’ teaching? Why / why not?
How does Jesus’ teaching in v.12 help us to navigate the complexities of today’s debates about sexuality? …or does it not really help at all? As a Church, how should we respond to Jesus’ categorisations?
