Pharisees came to him, testing
him by saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
He answered, “Haven’t you read
that God who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said,
‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his
wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’ What God has joined together, no one
should tear apart.”
They asked him, “Why then did
Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and leave her?”
He said to them, “Moses, because
of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the
beginning it has not been so. Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual
immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries a divorced
woman commits adultery.”
His disciples said, “If this is
the case of, it is better not to marry.”
He said to them, “Not everyone can
receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. There are eunuchs who
were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were
made so by others; and there are eunuchs who made themselves so for the sake of
God’s kingdom. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
They began to bring little
children to Jesus to touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were
bringing them. When Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to
them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s kingdom
belongs to such as these. Whoever will not receive God’s kingdom like a little
child will in no way enter into it.” He took the children in his arms, and
blessed them, laying his hands on them.
Reflections
In the world of Jesus’ day,
Jewish women had minimal rights. Divorce was quick and simple, could only be
initiated by men, and could be done for any reason; divorced women were left
with no property, no income and no way to support their children. What are some
key factors in building a long-lasting and deeply satisfying marriage? Have you
had opportunity to welcome and bless children as Jesus did?
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for
all the different kinds of families that demonstrate healthy
relationships.
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