FAMILY LIFE
FAMILY LIFE
MARK 10:1-16
Jesus talks about the origin of, and reasons for, marriage.
At the beginning of chapter 10 we come to a change in the location of Jesus’ work. From Galilee he moved to Judea and Perea, the region east of the Jordan (cf. John 13:40; 11:54). At this point Mark concentrates on the teaching of Jesus rather than on his deeds. The opening themes are marriage, children and possessions.
In asking Jesus about divorce the Pharisees may have been putting a catch-question to him: would he in his answer offend King Herod, as John had done, or would he contravene the law of Moses? Or perhaps they wished to know whether he agreed with the more strict or lax schools in Pharisaism. As was so often, Jesus directed them to the authority of the Old Testament law, and then proceeded to elucidate it. The law in Deuteronomy 24:1ff. did not represent God’s ideal for mankind, but was enacted to prevent worse situations arising. Recognizing the existence of human sin and frailty, it took measures to keep it in check. But alongside this frank recognition of the possibility of divorce Jesus placed two radical statements. First, marriage is intended to be a partnership for life in which the couple become “one flesh” (RSV margin), ie “one person” or “one kindred.” Therefore, a stern warning, reminiscent of 9:42, is issued to all who tempt others to matrimonial infidelity (10:9). Second, Jesus stated that if a man divorces his wife to marry another, he is committing adultery against the first wife. This was a new and radical saying, for Jewish law did not regard the misdemeanors of men, but only those of women, as adultery. Jesus here puts woman on an equality with man. The second part of the saying (10:12) which says the same thing about the wife probably has Gentile society in mind, since divorce by a woman was almost unheard of in Judaism.
A story about Jesus’ attitude to children follows appropriately. It tells how he received and blessed them, just as any Jewish rabbi might do. But his words go further than mere blessing. The kingdom of God is only for those who come trustingly and humbly to Jesus like children. Later the story was used in the church in connection with the baptism of infants, but of course there is no reference to baptism as such in it. It simply asserts that Jesus welcomed children, and just as surely did he welcome any adult who came with the right attitude of mind and heart.