READ: Mark 10:1-12: … “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female. … Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate”.
In a time of broken marriages, divorces, and gender discussions, this word of the Lord Jesus is very relevant. He refers back to the order of the Garden of Eden, reaching beyond Moses’ certificate of divorce. God created human beings as male and female. From the beginning, on the sixth day of creation, and still to this day, the Lord intends for it to be this way. What God joined together in marriage then, He still intends to do so now.
A person should not oppose this work of joining by seeking a divorce. It is important to let the Bible speak not only in the case of marital difficulties but also in discussions about transgender issues and relationships between people of the same gender. Let God’s Word be heard in these matters! He created everything according to His purpose: the distinction between human beings (male and female) and the nature of the union between people (marriage). As He established it in His creation, it remains determinative for our current relationships. Everything should be in accordance with His will and for His glory.
The original mandate of humanity as the image of God still applies to every person, both male and female. The Lord Jesus warns: let not man separate what God has joined together. If we do not align ourselves with God’s order of creation but instead separate what He has joined, we sin against Him. Moses allowing the certificate of divorce did not indicate approval of divorce but was due to the sinful hardness of heart. The purpose of it was to restrain evil in the context of dismissing women.
In Matt. 5:27-30, the Lord Jesus emphasizes the seriousness of the sin of adultery, pointing to the eternal fire in the absence of repentance. The disciples’ questions about this matter (v.10) indicate how difficult it is for humans to accept God’s prohibition of divorce (also see Matt. 19:10).
What does this text say about LGBTQ+?
Singing: Ps. 85:3,4