Wednesday Evening
Adult Bible Study
Following the fourth discourse, Matthew plunges us into the discussion of marriage. In actuality, this is a legal engagement of Jesus around the laws about marriage. The Pharisees want to know about the “legality” of divorce. It is interesting that they approach the topic from the angle of dissolution of the marriage, not the marriage itself. Jesus turns to God’s understanding of marriage as it takes root in the book of Genesis where it talks about God putting people together so that they should become lonely. God’s intent is that the relationship should be binding and life-long, however, even the Law of Moses makes a provision for divorce in the law because of human hardness of heart and infidelity to each partner. Jesus is clear; divorce is not what God intends in marriage. Divorce is the byproduct of human failure.
Matthew then turns to the question of “fitness” for service in God’s kingdom. Wouldn’t it be better not to marry then? In the discussion, Jesus discusses the fact that some can do it; some can mix marriage and service. The topic then arises regarding those who physically unable to marry. Some are unable because of a biological and congenital castration from birth. Some have had castration forced upon them to make the servants. Some has willingly stepped forward to be castrated them on their own steam. One can legitimately ask why the topic of castration enters the picture at all. There have been throughout history various jobs that have required castration as a prerequisite for employment. In the book of Acts, we run across a Eunuch in a chariot reading from the Book of Isaiah who is converted and baptized. In many times, places and culture, castration for the sake of service was an honored thing. Neither Jewish nor Christian movement has required this. The only thing required for service in Christianity is baptism.
Once again, the disciples were keeping parents from bringing
their children to Jesus. Yet, once again,
Jesus has to teach a lesson about status in the
From the lesson about the sublime faith and trusting dependent nature of children comes the adult question about being saved. What must I do? The answer to the salvation question is doing everything the way God wants it done. That means doing the commandments. Jesus directs this man to the Ten Commandments. Please note, he only directs him to those commandments that govern human behavior toward each other. These the man could do. These, in fact, most of us could do. Then Jesus turns him to look at the first commandment, the one about having no other gods by the One God. To direct the conversation, Jesus directs his teaching to the man’s wealth. Sell all you have and give to the poor. This he cannot do, because in giving up all of the possessions he would have found himself at the other end of the economic ladder. He would have become one of those that world spends a great deal of time staying away from. Jesus asked this man to kick all the external dependency upon these possessions of this world away and cling only to God. Let God me the provider of all daily bread. He could do it. As sophisticated as we all become, when it comes down to the basic, we cling to the things that we know. The bird in the hand is still far more comforting than the two in the bush.
Peter stands as the foil.
We have done that Lord. We have
given up everything to follow you. Jesus
reminds his disciples that they have done the right thing and God has a special
place in the kingdom for all of them.
Rulers! God is going to make them
rulers in the kingdom because of their sacrifice. Jesus turns the eyes to the reminder that
giving up everything for him will bear its own reward in the kingdom.
© The Rev. Dr. Kipp W. Zimmermann,
Wednesday, November 15, 20066