Matthew shared how Jesus said if the disciple's “righteousness” did not “exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” they would, “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus continued with the example, “You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: ... whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought against you: Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Verily I say unto you, You shall by no means come out from there, till you have paid the uttermost farthing. You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery. But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if your right eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. It has been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement”, and in chapter five and verse thirty-two of his book, Jesus told His disciples,“whosoever shall put away his wife … causes her to commit adultery” where we read:
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery.
The verse reads, “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “I say” which means “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims” “unto you” or “to His disciples”,“that whosoever” which means “that any person or anyone who” “shall put away” or “set free, detain no longer, dismiss, send away, loose his bonds and bid depart and divorce, dismiss from the house and or repudiate” “his wife” which refers to “the person's female spouse”, “saving” or “besides and with the exception” “for the cause” which means “because of the account, regard and consideration” “of fornication” or “pertaining to illicit sexual intercourse, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with close relatives or animals ”. Jesus referred to whoever “divorces” “his wife” with the exception of “illicit sexual” practices.
The verse continues, “... causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery.” Matthew added the word, “causes” which means “makes, bears and produces” “her“ or “the woman who was divorced” “to commit adultery” which means “have unlawful intercourse”: “and whosoever” which refers to “and any person or anyone who” “shall marry” or “will be lead in marriage” “that is divorced” which means “who is set free, detain no longer, dismiss, send away, loose his bonds and bid depart and divorce, dismiss from the house and or repudiate” “commits adultery” or “have unlawful intercourse”. Jesus said if a “wife” is “divorced” by her husband, the husband makes her “commit adultery”, and whoever “marries” her “commits adultery” as well.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how serious Jesus was about “divorce” and its relationship to “committing adultery”. Once again, particularly in the day in which we live, Jesus brings us to the matters of the “heart”. When Jesus was asked about the law Moses shared concerning “divorce”, Jesus said, “For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.” (Mark 10:5) Jesus came to save people from “hard, broken and sinful hearts”, and regardless of what they have done concerning their marriages, Jesus Christ's blood paid the price for every sin, error and wrong. May all who read these words know that Jesus was showing everyone's need for a “Savior” because everyone violates God's law in some way.
Next time Jesus refers to how it was said, “you shall not forswear yourself”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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