A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

MARRIAGE – PART II   

Matthew 19:7- 9 “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.” 

Jesus said that Moses permitted the Jews to divorce because of their “hard hearts.” The Greek word used in this instance by Jesus means obstinate, impossibly stubborn, like a bull that won’t budge. In the common language of today we would describe this person as being bullheaded. In other words, Moses dealt with men who did not want to obey God’s Word. Moses did not establish a new word of God for these men desiring to divorce their wives.   

God’s word did not change. He created marriage as a lifelong union of a man and woman. Moses could not and did not change it. The Jewish men could not and did not either. When they divorced, they went against God’s design for marriage. They sinned. 

“It was sin that wrecked havoc in the marriage relationship. It produced the hardness of the heart which at times made marriage a bond that human beings choose to dissolve.” (Lenski Commentary on Matthew) Dissolving a marriage bears witness only to the hardness, obstinacy, bullheadedness of sinful hearts.   

Like all other sin, Jesus had to die for this sin. This sin, like all sin, must be brought to the cross of Jesus, confessed, repented of and God’s absolution received. Jesus is the only answer. His shed blood alone cleanses this sin. He alone is the one through whom the hearts of those who dissolve their marriages are changed, forgiveness of their “bullheadness” is obtained, and they come back into a right relationship with their God.   

Prayer: Lord, through Your word of Law show me my obstinate sins. Lead me to not only know my sins but also know and receive Your grace and mercy, Your forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

Just as I am, without one plea  
But that Thy blood was shed for me  
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am and waiting not  
To rid my soul of one dark blot,  
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,   
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, though tossed about   
With many a conflict, many a doubt,  
Fightings and fears within, without,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;  
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,  
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,  
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;  
Because Thy promise I believe,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am; Thy love unknown  
Has broken ev’ry barrier down;  
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,  
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.  

Just as I Am, without One Plea // LSB 570