Monday 21 November 2011

Background

These verses are a reminder to us that it isn't God's law, orGod's way of working that is flawed, but humanity that fails andgets things wrong. While this passage doesn't take into account theissues of abusive and unhealthy relationships, it actually doesmuch more. The question here isn't really about divorce, but a muchwider issue, and that is our failure to grasp what we should bestriving towards as a people. Jesus tells those who question himhere that they are so much like those who forced Moses' hand onrules and regulations, that they are essentially the samepeople.

Jesus' strong insinuation is that these Pharisees are wasting theirtime even considering the laws which Moses had to enact, becausethere is something much more important to consider, and that isGod's will, which existed before Moses' laws, and will exist longafter, too! When we hear the words that appear in the marriageservice "God so join you together that none shall ever part you",we inevitably think of the joining of that particular pair ofpeople as the inseparable combination, but what if what Jesus isdecrying is all that goes against God's vision for the world? IsJesus saying that our own human solutions for problems are alwaysgoing to cause further issues, and therefore, there always needs tobe an appeal to return to God and God's way? Ever since Abrahamfirst agreed to a divine plan, as recorded in Genesis12, the Jewish people have known of God's route; sometimeswalking as God wished, sometimes struggling to do so.

Jesus gives a certain impression with his response to thisPharisaic questioning. As frustrating as their approach to any kindof theological questioning might be, when what they are so intentupon pulling apart is already a deviation from God's actual hopes,then these Pharisees are barking up the wrong tree. Jesus'frustrations are with the way that Yahweh's followers have moved onfrom the covenants that they were once given, but this problem doesnot seem to concern them.

Imagine if your water pipes burst at home, and you had to sit underan umbrella to watch the TV in order to not get wet. And when youcalled the plumber, instead of them fixing your pipes, theycommented on how you should have bought a better brolly. How wouldyou feel? When Jesus hears questions about the minutiae of Mosaiclaw, you can't help but feel his frustration about the point beingmissed.

To Ponder

Is there anything within your beliefs that needreassessing? What might this be? Perhaps your faith has shifted butyour old beliefs have not.

If Moses' law is a deviation from God's plan,what do you think God's plan for the world might be?