The Pharisees Question to Trap Jesus

By Mary Vee
Mark 10:2-9

Photo by Mary Vee
Jerusalem

Usually when one or more Pharisee asked Jesus a question, they didn't want to be taught. No. Their goal was to trap Jesus or get Him to say a wrong answer.

But He never did. 

Like the time a group of Pharisees approached him near Jerusalem and asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"

These men had studied the Law of Moses. They knew the answer. 

Jesus, God's Son, answered this way. "Haven't you read 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? The two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. What God has joined together, let man not separate."

The Pharisees didn't like the answer. They tried to trap him again with this question. "Why then, did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"

Jesus said, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. Anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

By this time they'd entered a house. The Pharisees stayed with Jesus and his disciples ready to fire more questions. "Explain your answer."

"All right," Jesus said. "Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against his previous wife. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery against her previous husband."

The Pharisees thought about His answer then said, "If this is so, it is better not to marry."

Jesus said, "Not everyone is mature enough to handle living the married life. Marriage isn't for everyone. Some, from birth, never even give marriage a thought. Other never get asked or are accepted. And some never get married for kingdom reasons. If you are capable of living the married life, then do it."

Come back to read more.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.