Today's Passage - Matthew 19:1-12

Matthew 19:1-12   When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.  Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"  "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."   "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"  Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.  I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery"...   This scripture passage is the teaching about divorce.  God truly desires to heal our wounds, and He wants to turn back broken hearts and to make us whole again.  Believers must recognize that divorce is serious matter before God.  When Pharisees came before Jesus, they said that Moses allowed divorces through issuing a certificate.  Actually, this statement had caused major debates among the religious leaders.  There were two camps - One was more liberal and believed that husbands could divorce a wife who didn't please them, and the other was more conservative and believed that divorce is only permissible when wives commit adultery.  Moses allowed the Israelites to divorce because they were disobedient, and lots of husbands divorced their wives for no reason.  The wives lost their protection and suffered tremendously.  In order to avoid such unnecessary sacrifice, Moses mandated that the husbands must certify that they did not divorce their wives for the reason of adultery, so that their wives will be able to remarry later.   According to God's will, the marriage covenant is sacred and should not be easily abandoned.  Back in the Old Testament time, the system of divorce originated from disobedience of people, but it was abhorred by God.  In the eyes of God, adultery is the only reason that justifies divorce, but it doesn't mean that one must divorce a spouse who committed adultery.  We've seen lots of at-risk marriages that, even though extramarital affairs were involved, were ultimately restored by the Lord's love.   May God once again fill us with His love, because in Christ there's no hatred that cannot be forgiven, and there's no resentment that cannot be healed.  In our daily life, we must learn to depend on the Lord's love.  To those who are already divorced, if it's possible, do try to make amends with the former spouses; if it's not possible, just remember that in Christ we are all new creatures, and the Lord's love and comfort will heal you.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, may your Spirit comfort and enlighten the families that are broken.  May the Lord's love once again fill their hearts, and heal all their hatred and wounds.  May the Lord make way for them, and let them experience your abundance in their life.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!             Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!